World Food Day Photo Contest

Hope you all had a wonderful summer! As we gear up for the fall, we are excited to announce our first ever World Food Day photo contest. Every year, people around the world come together to declare their commitment to creating a world free from hunger and malnutrition on October 16th. World Food Day celebrates the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 1945 which was built upon "it's belief that the goal of freedom from want of food, suitable and adequate for the health and strength of all people can be achieved." 

Join us in our commemoration this year by submitting original photos depicting what global hunger and food security means to you. Please include a brief description of the photo submission including details of when and where it was taken. In addition to other festivities we are planning for October 16th (mark your calendars), we hope that this photo contest will bring to our attention the global struggle against hunger and malnutrition as well as highlight the achievements in food security and agricultural development. We also hope that this will ignite great discussions on how we can work together to create lasting solutions to these injustices.

RULES

1. Eligibility

The photo contest is open to anyone living in the Chicago area.

2. Number and Format of Submissions

If you meet the eligibility requirements you may submit up to three photographs. Each photo must be submitted in electronic format. Your photographs may be black-and-white or color. If you submit more than one photo, please make sure to number the photos accordingly.

3. Subject Matter

The only subject matter restriction is that your photo or photos capture an experience or record an observation depicting global hunger.

4. Application Process and Deadline

The photo submissions should be submitted online by Thursday October 11th 2014 to chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com. You can also submit your photos via Facebook or twitter by tagging us.

5. Prizes

3 top submissions will be chosen by a panel of judges after a round of online voting. Prizes will be announced very soon.

6. Important Advisory

All submissions may be used by the Chicago Oxfam Action Corps for display and circulation (with attribution to the photographer). If you submit a photograph it is understood that you have granted this right.

7. Further Information.

If you have any additional questions please contact us at chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

November 13th, 2013 Meeting Minutes

Minutes

Meeting November 13^th, 2013

Hannah’s Bretzel 555 W. Monroe St.

Began at 6:20pm

Note: Jan Donatelli, Ambassador for Sisters on the Planet, attended

Old Business

·         Event Recap for World Food Day potluck and Frontiers of Food Justice

·         Hot Chocolate 5K team raised $240 for Syrian Refugee Crisis Fund

·         Syria Fundraiser will be hosted in conjunction with RefugeeOne. Event details TBD

Behind the Brands Campaign Update

·         Coca-Cola agreed to ensure their upstream supply chain practices do not produce or encourage land grabs. The company confirmed their commitment by creating a timeline with Oxfam.

·         The focus shifts to increasing pressure towards PepsiCo to follow the lead of Coca-Cola. In a race to the top, PepsiCo can continue making strides to come closer to the Coca-Cola in ranking. If you are interested in taking action beyond signing the petition, please contact us for an opportunity from November 18^th-22^nd.

Upcoming Events

·         February- Oxjam Music Festival and Fundraiser

Chicago has been chosen as a pilot city for this unique event. Currently looking for planning committee members for Production, Promotion and Fundraising subcommittees. Large discussion about venues including Bottom Lounge, Old Town School of Music as well as potential media through music reviewers for Sun-Times and WBEZ. This music festival may be a fundraiser strictly for Typhoon Haiyan Relief for the Philippines. Ways to increase fundraising avenues include ticket sales, concessions, and raffle.

If you would like to join please contact us at chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

·         March-International Women’s Day Event March 8^th

Currently looking for planning committee members

All volunteers are invited to the initial planning meeting on November 19^th, 6pm, Corner Bakery on 56 W Randolph St.

If you would like to join us, please contact chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

·         April- Potential Food and Hunger Film Festival

Do you love films? Join us in planning a first film festival! Whether it is choosing a film, setting up concessions, or doing promotion, we would love to have you involved with our team! 

If you would like to join us, please contact chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

Make sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @chiOXFAMaction. If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter, email us to be on the list!

World Food Day 2012...Time to Get HANGRY

“Millions of the world’s poorest people will face devastation from today’s rocketing food prices because the global food system is fatally flawed and policy-makers can’t find the courage to fix it. Policy-makers have taken cheap food for granted for nearly 30 years. Those days are gone.”
Oxfam Media Advisory, August 2012


The food system is broken with the amount of inequalities, effect of climate change, and number of land grabs. 1 in 7 people go to bed hungry. Where is all the food? Established agricultural and economic agencies all agree that the food shortages can be managed. An increasing population and climate changes places a constant crushing stress on natural resources. We cannot afford to waste our food! When we invest in agricultural cooperatives, we invest in smallholder farmers who can provide more food to struggling populations. When we make active decisions about what to buy and how to cook, we can produce healthy meals that support farmers and place less stress on the environment. We can manage these food injustices and insecurities. We can all live better together.

This is it. Are you HANGRY that millions of children are starving? That parents, especially women, fight tooth and nail to provide for their children? That people are forced to choose between an education and food? That governments have allowed people to suffer at the expense of political and capital gain?

On Tuesday, October 16th we will celebrate World Food Day. Nations around the world are participating in this international movement to bring attention to agricultural practices and cooperatives. Countries like Canada, Saudi Arabia and the UK host workshops, Hunger Runs and presentations among leaders and citizens alike. This is a time to reflect on how to end hunger, raise awareness on better food production, and strengthen our collective efforts to surmounting the issues seen every day in the food system.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, established in 1945, set the following goals:

• encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end;

• encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries;

• encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;

• heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

• promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world; and

• strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.

In 2011, the FAO resolved that we should turn crisis into stability. 2012 proved difficult with the worst drought in 60 years to United States farmers. You can get involved. Host a World Food Day dinner in your home or at a restaurant. Talk to people about how much you love to eat fresh food from the Farmer’s Market. Discuss the possibility of investing in an agricultural cooperative. Start trying the GROW method at home. Call and email senators to create legislation that improves food aid for those who struggle with hunger. Urge the EPA to waive the ethanol mandate and keep corn for food and not gas!

Our Chicago Oxfam Action Corps team is hosting an exclusive World Food Day dinner at Simply It! Come join us on October 18th for a delicious meal influenced by the GROW method. Meet new people and join our discussion! Sign up at GRUBWITHUS.     


 MNakra

Celebrate World Food Day on the Farm with the Action Corps - Crop Mob to Spence Farm

Join us for the second annual Crop Mob to Spence Farm!  Sponsored by Chicago Oxfam Action Corps, White Oak Gourmet, and the Spence Farm Foundation, we'll be celebrating World Food Day helping out on the farm.

Click Here to Register on Eventbrite

You'll be joining other Chicago area residents who are committed to a sustainable food supply. We'll be taking a bus from Chicago to Spence Farm 100 miles south of Chicago. Spence Farm in Livingston County was first settled in 1830. You'll be joining the Travis Family; Marty, Kris, and Will, descendants of the original settlers. We'll assist them with harvesting organic farm produce and with fall clean-up chores around the farm. Spence Farm supplies leading restaurants in Chicago like Frontera Grill and Blackbird with specialty produce and its famous Iroquois corn.

Because the farms are typically family owned and operated, most of the labor is done by hand. The term "Crop Mob" was coined by city dwellers who have an interest in sustainable agriculture and would like to help more than just by going to the farmer's market or joining a CSA. The "Crop Mob" gives the farmer(s) a valuable source of volunteer labor.

You'll need to bring the following for the trip:

• Packed Lunch
• Hand held gardening or pruning shears to help with the harvestng
• Sturdy shoes or boots and a change of socks.
• Gardening or work gloves.
• A re-fillable water bottle.
• A hat & sunscreen.
• A sweater or light jacket.
• Snacks for the trip down and return home.
• Money in case you'd like purchase some products from the farm. 

Spence Farm will provide beverages and snacks.

Children are welcome, however, but because the bus trip is 2 hours, and the inherent risks of working on a farm, this trip is more appropriate for children over 12 years of age.

The bus will depart from City Provisions Deli & Catering, located at 1818 W. Wilson, Chicago (Ravenswood) at 9:00 a.m., so please arrive No Later than 8:30 a.m

For those traveling to City Provisions via the CTA, they are just steps away from the Damen Brown Line stop, and the Damen bus. For those in vehicles, There's parking for your car anywhere in the gravel parking lot behind the shop (please don't park under the EL! City Provisions cannot be responsible for damage caused by tar falling from the tracks). For those on bikes, there are ample bike racks to lock your bike securely for the duration of the day.

Questions, need to carpool in from the 'burbs?  Don't hesitate to phone Organizer Tom Leavitt at 847-754-0708.

Click Here to Register on Eventbrite