Post-election reflections from CISA
Like many of you, we have been sitting with the results of the presidential election and thinking about how the coming years will look for our work, for the many communities and constituencies that we serve, and for our partners.
Our non-profit status precludes CISA from taking a public position on political candidates, but we certainly understand that the nation’s choice of president has an immense impact on our food system. We’re proud to work in partnership with people who have a wide range of viewpoints, and we believe that our work – and the local food system – is strengthened by the commitment and care of people with differing perspectives and backgrounds. In a time of deep division, we return to CISA’s core values –respect, equity, and collaboration – as we work towards a local food system that is resilient, diverse, and just.
Today, we are focused on the effects the incoming administration may have on the many immigrants whose labor scaffolds our entire food system, along with the human toll on their families and communities. We’re thinking about the many people with lower incomes who count on government support – including SNAP, school lunches, and WIC – to feed their families. We’re thinking of our small local farm businesses who are trying to carve out a viable future in the face of ever-increasing corporate consolidation in the food industry. We’re thinking of the environment and climate change, and especially the young people who are fighting for a livable planet. And we’re thinking of our brave, visionary allies whose work centers food justice and racial equity in the food system.
CISA’s vision is of a local food system that meets all of our needs equitably and with abundance. The scale of our work is small in the face of global competition and national strife, but our choices and the challenges we take on can have an immense impact on our tables, our neighborhoods, our towns, and our commonwealth. We are grateful for the farmers and the workers who grow and process our food, for neighbors who support them by choosing local, and for the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone working towards a better, fairer, stronger local food system. Together with you, as we have for over 30 years, we remain committed to this important work.
