Four Females Fighting For Food Justice That You Follow

These are four amazing humans that are actively working towards food justice for their communities and the health of the land.

As a blogger and nutritionist, I have spent years in the online "food" space. I have written lots of content on the newest "superfoods" and the benefits of nutrient-dense diets, but I feel like I've done a disservice by not using my platform to share about the incredibly important topic of food justice.

The food justice movement is rooted in the fact that the way our food system currently functions is inequitable. This can be seen when looking at statistics for food insecurity across races. The food justice movement looks at vehicles of systemic oppression – income, race, and colonial impacts. It looks at land and environmental justice. It addresses migrant farmer’s rights. It addresses climate change. The aim of the food justice movement is to move populations and communities towards food sovereignty.

I am no expert in this topic, but I think it's vital that people in the nutrition space talk about this and shed more light on the movement and the people who are actively fighting for this movement. Here are four women that are doing the work every day to make our food system equitable for all.

Leah Penniman

Instagram - Vogue Magazine / Via instagram.com

Leah is the co-director and farm manager of Soul Fire Farm - an organization committed to ending racism and injustice in our food system. Soul Fire is a community-run farm that centers Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). They work diligently to raise food in a way that honors the Earth and their ancestors. Not only that, but they pass these traditions onto the next generation of activist-farmers as they continue the fight for food sovereignty. At the time of this writing, Leah also hosts a Facebook live called "Ask a Sista Farmer." From Leah, "This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks." You can follow along on Instagram @Soulfirefarm.

Cheyenne Sundance

Sundance Harvest Instagram / Via instagram.com

Cheyenne Sundance is the founder of Sundance Harvest. Sundance Harvest is a Toronto-based urban farm that is built on the foundation of food justice and fighting against oppressive food systems. Sundance Harvest not only produces sustainably-grown food, but also provides education and resources for other people to do the same in their own area. From the website, "Food justice and food sovereignty is at Sundance Harvest’s core! Those most marginalized in the food system must be in leadership positions for true food justice." Keep up with Sundance Harvest on Instagram at @sundanceharvest.

Valerie Segrest

Native American Agricultural Fund / Via nativeamericanagriculturefund.org

Valerie Segrest, an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is a food educator who focuses on native and local food systems. She works as the Regional Director for Native Food and Knowledge Systems for the Native American Agricultural Fund. I first heard of Valerie on the All My Relations podcast where she talked about the concept of food sovereignty and the negative impacts of colonization of native food systems. This was the first time I heard of the idea of food sovereignty and it really changed my perception about the role I play in the nutrition world. She also did a popular TEDx talk on the subject. You can watch the video here: https://tedxseattle.com/talks/food-sovereignty/. She expertly weaves nutrition, culture, storytelling, tradition, and more to help educate and heal her community.

Yemi Amu

Deem Journal / Via instagram.com

Yemi Amu is the founder and director of Oko Urban Farms in New York City. Oko Farms is an aquaponics farm and education center that actively works to fight climate change and food insecurity in the community as well as teach people of all races and socio-economic backgrounds about aquaponics farming. Yemi directs all the programs on the farm, community-related activities, and has helped create and maintain 20+ edible spaces within the city. Yemi's farm offers produce, education around aquaponics farming and building, school and corporate-based trainings, and workshops (that you can do online!). Keep up with Yemi and Oko Urban Farms on Instagram at @okofarms.