The Food Systems Leadership Network is thrilled to offer the ninth cohort of our Community Food Systems Mentorship Program this spring! This program is designed to support food systems leaders through intentional, relationship-based mentorship.
Participants are paired with experienced leaders and wisdom keepers who bring deep knowledge of the field and a long view of systems change. Mentors engage as thought partners and coaches, offering perspective, asking meaningful questions, and sharing lessons drawn from lived experience.
In a time of ongoing change in our communities and in the food systems we steward, mentorship can provide space for reflection, learning, and clarity. Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned practitioner considering what’s next, working with a dedicated mentor can help you navigate challenges, strengthen your leadership practice, and deepen your connection to the broader food movement. The relationships formed through this program are often lasting and continue to inform participants’ work well beyond the formal mentorship period.
Conversation, Confidence, Connection, Collaboration and Continuity – Lasting transformation and healing arise in this space! Check out these reflections from the 2024 program to get a sense of what this is all about.
Program Goals:
By providing a safe, supportive, and structured environment, the Mentorship Program cultivates deep, long-lasting, and intergenerational relationships, supporting leaders to have the fullest impact on their community’s food system and persevere through the inevitable disappointments and frustrations that are part of doing social change work.
Applications are open now through 12 midnight EST on Sunday, March 8, 2026. You can access the application here. Before completing the application via that link, we encourage you to review the questions and prepare your responses using this document.
Check out the recording from the 2026 Mentorship Program Info Call here to learn more about this year’s timeline, application process, etc.
The 2026 program will run from April 6 – July 17, 2026.
Meet the Mentors
We are honored to have such an incredible group of knowledgeable and experienced food systems leaders with a range of expertise as Community Food Systems Mentors. Explore the 2026 Mentor Cohort below and hear from several mentors during our 2022 Mentorship Community Call!
Rich Pirog
Director Emeritus for the Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
Angel Mendez
Executive Director, Red Tomato
Bevelyn Afor Ukah
Co-Director of the Collective on Racial Equity (CORE), Artist, Justice Educator
Nancy Creamer
Professor Emerita, NC State University, Former Director, Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Karen Washington
Farmer/Activist, Rise and Root Farm
Kamyar Enshayan
Director Emeritus, Center for Energy & Environmental Education at University of Northern Iowa
Rev Dele
Grandmother Elder, Mystic, Co-founder of Earth Sanctuary, Soil & Souls, Indigenous Mothers Community Land Trust
Karen Lehman
Principal, Adaptive Leadership, LLC., Former director of Fresh Taste, Strategic advisor to Potlikker Capital
Rowen White
Sierra Seeds and Indigenous Seedkeepers Network
Miles Gordon
Principal, Kitchen Table Consulting
Lydia Villanueva
Director/Founder of CASA del Llano, Inc
Sharon Thornberry
Executive Director, Philomath Community Services
“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.”
– 2024 Mentee
How It Works & What To Expect:
As a mentee, you’ll receive expert guidance and support in a range of leadership capacities and food systems topics. Examples of topics past mentees have discussed with mentors include:
What past mentees had to say:
I learned a great deal through this Mentorship Program and am so grateful for the support I received from my mentor. I am leaving this experience with actionable strategies for improving myself and my organization, as well as a lasting supportive relationship between myself and my mentor.
Having a trusted mentor who I felt totally comfortable being 100% myself with was incredibly helpful and supportive through an intense period of professional growth. There was never any sense of professional formality keeping us from being real with each other, which is a huge part of why the mentorship was such a beneficial experience. The time I took out of my day to connect with my mentor was always reenergizing and made me feel like, I can do this. It’s hard, and I may not feel very confident or like I have all the right tools and skills right now, but I am growing, and I can keep moving forward.
Spring 2026 Mentorship Timeline
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Key Links for the 2026 Application Cycle:
Review the 2026 Application Questions.
Listen to the 2026 Informational Call recording.
Review the 2026 Informational Call Slides.
Check out the Mentorship FAQ for more details.
This program is offered by the FSLN at no-cost to participants thanks to the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and our partners at ISED Solutions via the USDA Community Food Projects National Training and Technical Assistance Center.
Questions? Email [email protected] with ‘Mentorship’ in the subject line.
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