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Focus On Food Justice

The annual Do It for Detroit micro-grant
competition expands to include a farmers’
market and food justice fair.

Becky Hurvitz | Special to the Jewish news

W

ho has access to fresh,
healthy food? Who doesn’t?
Where does our food come
from? Who is growing it? Processing it?
What’s in it? Why do some people have
an abundance of food and others go
hungry? These are just a few of the ques-
tions that the food justice movement
seeks to answer. And, while food systems
are flawed across the country, something
exciting is happening in Detroit, the
benefits of which we are only beginning
to see.
A local food justice movement has
emerged and is actively seeking innova-
tive solutions to food challenges and
injustices in Detroit. It’s a movement that
continues to grow as awareness spreads
because once people begin to see the
magnitude of the problem, often they
can’t help but care.
This was the case for Do it for Detroit
(Di4D), a program developed by the
Jewish Federation’s NEXTGen Detroit in
2013 as part of its mission to be the hub
of a young, vibrant Jewish Detroit.
“Do it for Detroit was a response
to the young Jewish adults of Metro
Detroit wanting to be a part of posi-
tive changes in the city,” said Stefanie
Tuzman, NEXTGen Detroit director.
“The NEXTGen Detroit community is
passionate about social justice issues,
and Do it for Detroit allowed us to con-
nect our constituency to amazing orga-
nizations tackling some of Detroit’s most
complex social justice issues.”
In the past, Di4D hosted micro-grant
competitions focused on various areas
of social justice: food, education and
the environment. But for the last three
events, Di4D has partnered with Yad
Ezra and Repair the World to exclusively
focus on food justice.
“Participating in this effort, which
addresses food insecurity and food
justice issues, is very important to Yad
Ezra’s leadership,” said Lea Luger, execu-
tive director of Yad Ezra. “Though there
has been some economic recovery, Yad
Ezra continues to serve approximately
3,000 food-insecure individuals every
month. Any opportunity to highlight
local hunger relief efforts is definitely
worthy of our support.”
On June 23, Di4D will host its fourth
micro-grant competition event focusing
on food justice, sponsored by NEXTGen
Detroit, Yad Ezra, Repair the World and

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28 June 16 • 2016

Hazon, at the Eastern Market on Russell
Street in Detroit.
New additions to the event this year
include an evening farmers’ market
and food justice fair with a variety of
area food-centered nonprofits sell-
ing their locally grown produce and
value-added products, including Keep
Growing Detroit, Brightmoor Artisans
Community Kitchen, Brightmoor Youth
Garden, Brilliant Brine, Green Things
Farm and Hazon. There also will be
informational booths hosted by orga-
nizations supporting food justice in the
community so that attendees can learn
more and discover ways to get involved.
“All of the partners wanted to rein-
vigorate the Do it for Detroit event to
educate our audience about food justice
issues in Detroit while also having a
great evening out in the city,” said Judy
Lansky of NEXTGen Detroit. “The
micro-grant competition is still the heart
of the event and will continue to be, but
with the new additions of the farmers’
market and yummy food, we hope to
attract even more people to this phe-
nomenal, do-good event.”
Three finalists with a focus on alleviat-
ing hunger and promoting locally grown
affordable and nutritious food will vie
for micro-grants of $3,000, $2,000 and
$1,000, funded by the William and
Audrey Farber Family Foundation.
The Detroit African Women’s
Coalition for Liberated Land, Fireweed
Universe City and Detroit Black
Community Food Security Network will
each pitch their initiatives to the live
audience. Event attendees will be asked
to make a $5 donation, which will be
added to the micro-grant awards and
divvied up amongst the finalists.
“Everyone is welcome to come out
to Do it for Detroit,” said Rachel Klein,
Repair the World fellow. “We hope folks
of all ages, from the city and suburbs,
come out to see firsthand some of the
exciting things happening in the world of
food justice in Detroit.”

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Details

Do it for Detroit takes place Thursday,
June 23, at 7 p.m. at the Eastern
Market, 3434 Russell St. in Detroit.
Admission is free, but a $5 donation
is encouraged. Attendees will enjoy a
cash bar and kosher food options.