2024 Community Food Systems Mentorship Program Reflections

The 8^th Cohort of the Community Food Systems Mentorship Program has just wrapped up, and we are still taking in and reflecting on the lessons, ideas, and joy that has emerged from our collective journey this year.

Our 2024 cohort is the largest to date (thanks to funding from USDA Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation)! 36 Mentees from 22 states across the U.S. built relationships with our 12 respected Mentors. Over half of these Mentees identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and represent a broad spectrum of food systems work and roles. This year’s Mentees live and work in a variety of settings:  57% work in Rural areas, 67% work in Urban areas, and 10% work within Tribal Nations.

The diverse range of experiences that both Mentees and Mentors brought to the container of this program was reflected in their feedback towards the close of this Mentorship cycle. Overall, we heard affirmations around how transformative and healing it can be to have a space that nourishes Conversation, Confidence, Connection, Collaboration, and Continuity.

Here is a window into what they reflected back to us:

• 95% will make changes to their work or take actions based on what they’ve learned
  
• 95% developed relationships that would enable them to advance their work
  
• 90% felt more confident in their capacity as a food system leader
  
• 90% learned something new that is meaningful to their work
  
• 90% sharpened skills relevant to their work
  
• 86% formed new relationships with each other because of their participation in this program
  
• 100% of Mentees who formed new relationships engaged in some sort of resource sharing, solidarity activities, and/or collaborative work with others in their cohort.
  

“My mentor was such a wealth of knowledge that each conversation we had provided me with deeper insight into food systems work, the groups and areas I’m working with, and even myself. I not only feel more confident in my understanding of what I’m aiming to accomplish, but also in my ability to do so.”`

Both Mentees and Mentors found nourishment and inspiration in getting to know each other better and understanding their work from diverse perspectives within the structure of consistent dialogue. Many Mentees mentioned that through their conversations with their Mentors, they began to gain new insights into how they were approaching their work. Several realized that their actions were being driven by a focus on day-to-day survival and feeling a sense of isolation. Through conversations with their Mentors, they began seeing the value of strategic planning, and considering how to redirect their energy towards enhancing relationships and impact within their communities.

“I have always had the knowledge, wisdom and power regarding land and food justice. My ancestors practiced and celebrated. I am remembering and celebrating the memory through every part of me.“

Both Mentees and Mentors expressed how through relationship with each other, they gained confidence in their ability to show up in their roles and support community-based food system work. Imposter syndrome continues to persist regardless of how long folks have been engaged in the work or what phase they are in their journey. Mentees shared that they felt validated in the value of their individual work in food transformation work, and their own ability to provide guidance to the folks they work with every day. Mentors encouraged their Mentees to move outside their comfort zones; to never underestimate their own power to stand in their truth and priorities; and learn how to call in other leaders to influence the conversation and spark new energy in food systems movements.

“It was so helpful to have someone who truly just wanted to listen and support me through the things I was going through. Also, just how inspiring it is to speak to someone who has so much passion for their work consistently.“

In addition to connections they were making with their Mentors, Mentees invited in deeper connection with each other and themselves. Many made more space and time for growing meaningful connection points with themselves, food, Earth, their families, and their communities. Several spoke about the importance of having the structure and support of connecting with others around the country that are engaged in related work. These types of connection reduced feelings of isolation, increased feelings of hope, and laid the foundations for exploring future collaborations. Feeding connections inside and out also fed the fires of passion, imagination, and possibilities for growth in areas yet unexplored.   

“Knowledge sharing, camaraderie, and a general sense of forward motion really helped ground me in the work I am doing and made me think about the ways we can collaborate across sectors to further advance all of our missions“

We received a lot of gratitude for supporting a network of mentors and colleagues that our cohort can call on for support and collaboration. All of us were enriched and expanded through our learning about projects and initiatives taking place in communities living in other parts of the country. Several mentees reflected on how hearing about what others were doing helped them frame potential solutions for their own communities and gave them new ideas around issues that they have been working with for a while. We were all reminded to both tell the stories and to listen for the stories. There was also a clear ask from the both Mentors and Mentees for in-person gatherings designed to support the nourishment of these new relationships and the growing web of connection across all eight cohorts of the Mentorship Program.

“Mentorship is an amazing way to learn, that I haven’t had a chance to really explore until I learned about FSLN’s program. I am so grateful that I could participate and in addition to all that was gained through the mentorship, I am also taking away the practice of seeking mentorship itself.“

The Community Food Systems Mentorship Program is one of the primary ways in which FSLN is facilitating the flow of intergenerational knowledge, ideas, and resources necessary to support local communities in building more equitable and resilient food ecologies.
This program has served 223 leaders with nearly 2,000 hours of 1-on-1 support since its launch in 2018. With each new cycle of this program, we see how the reciprocity of mentorship is growing a generation that will, hopefully, one day go on to support the next generation of transformative food systems leaders.

If you’d like to support leaders making change in communities across the country, please reach out to Andrew at [email protected] or Shephali at [email protected].

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