Food Sovereignty & Medicine
Racially discriminatory economic and political structures continue to implement barriers to food access. Those living in food apartheids have a higher chance of having chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Fresno Barrios Unidos believes affected communities should have a say in how their food is grown as well as a right to fresh and affordable healthy food (food sovereignty). Food is medicine and our communities deserve to live healthy lives.
Feeding the People
Working alongside Growing the Table, Fresno Barrios Unidos works to distribute locally grown & culturally relevant produce to under-resourced communities. We also support the community in finding ways to reconnect and change their relationship with food.
Community Gardening
Despite being a hub for agricultural production, Fresno and the Central Valley have experienced food apartheid, where access to healthy and fresh food is limited for many residents. This food apartheid is directly linked to the problematic issues facing the region, including poor health outcomes and poverty.
Our program is committed to addressing these challenges by promoting regenerative agriculture, urban agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge as solutions that not only provide healthy and fresh food but also promote environmental sustainability and social justice. By working with the community to create green spaces and promote access to healthy food, we can address some of the key problematic issues facing Fresno and the Central Valley. Our program recognizes the importance of collaborating with local organizations, community leaders, and residents to create a sustainable and just future for all.
- Working alongside Fresno Community Gardens to increase knowledge of horticulture best practices.
- Planting and harvesting healthy produce.
- Sharing resources and labor to alleviate the stress of food apartheid.
Food Sovereignty & Youth Mentorship
Food apartheid affects our community, particularly African American, Latinx, and indigenous families, some of whom work within the agriculture industry. This systemic issue is preventing these communities from accessing healthy, culturally appropriate food, leading to health disparities and a lack of food sovereignty.
To address this issue, we have launched the Food Sovereignty Youth Mentorship program. Through this program, we will train youth in regenerative agriculture and traditional ecological knowledge, empowering the next generation to become leaders in promoting food sovereignty and sustainable food systems.
By investing in our youth, we can create a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for our community. Join us in the fight against food apartheid and support the Barrios Food Sovereignty Youth Mentorship program. Together, we can create a more just and equitable food system for all.
Community Care Circles
Medicine for our communities can’t ignore the therapeutic effect being in community with one another can have. Emotional support, interpersonal connection and fellowship are all incredibly important for our communities and our Care Circles help provide that. To promote mental health and well-being in our communities, it is essential to take a culturally responsive approach that recognizes and honors traditional healing practices and integrates them with modern approaches to mental health care. This includes providing resources and support for healing practices and promoting community-based mental health care programs that are tailored to the unique needs of our communities.
Questions about our Food Sovereignty and Medicine work?
Contact Alex Zubia, Food Sovereignty and Medicine coordinator at xef@fresnobarriosunidos.org
