Food systems leadership is realized when a group of people harmonize their vision for the future they want to create and align their actions so that the sum of what they do together far exceeds what any one individual or organization can do alone.
To achieve this kind of transformational, systems leadership, a unique set of skills must be cultivated and nurtured in every one of us: the ability to see and understand the system we are trying to change, the ability to facilitate reflection, dialogue, and coordinated action, and the ability to serve as a leader grounded in racial and social equity, radical inclusion, and a shared vision for the future.
Though it may seem daunting, there are resources, ideas, and tools to help you access and honor the system leader within.
Explore the Systems Leadership resources below and join the Systems Leadership Discussion Group to connect with peers around this topic.
Featured Resources
| Title | Author | Summary | Year | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorandum of Understanding Template | Wallace Center | Template for a Memorandum of … | 2023 | Collaboration |
| Value Chain Guidebook | Value Chain Initiative | A Process for Value Chain Development | 2005 | Collaboration, Community Economic Development, Distribution, Value Chain Coordination |
| The Value Chain Link | The Value Chain Initiative | An overview of the Value Chain Initiative in Alberta, Canada | 2006 | Collaboration, Distribution, Value Chain Coordination |
| Spectrum of Insitutional Investment | Elliott Smith, Kitchen Sync Strategies | Elliott Smith of Kitchen Sync Strategies outlines the concept of institutional investment in equitable food systems through explaining some of the conditions that make it necessary and defining some terms. | 2021 | Collaboration, Community Economic Development, Farm To Institution, Food Systems |
| Key Components of Success for Institutional Investment | Elliott Smith, Kitchen Sync Strategies | What institutions need to know to move beyond procurement policies and build partnerships for an equitable food economy | 2021 | Collaboration, Community Economic Development, Farm To Institution, Food Systems |
| Toward Market Cities: Lessons on Supporting Public Market Systems From Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Toronto | Project for Public Spaces, Market Cities Intiative | Toward Market Cities: Lessons on Supporting Public Market Systems From Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Toronto This report includes background on the Market Cities Initiative and its research efforts to date, summaries of the three partner city’s findings and recommendations, and broad takeaways for other cities looking to strengthen their market systems or leading their own Market City … | 2020 | Collaboration, Community Economic Development, Policy |
| Solidarity Economy | Emily Kawano | Building an Economy for People & … | Systems Leadership | |
| The Dawn of System Leadership | Peter Senge, Hal Hamilton, & John Kania | The deep changes necessary to accelerate progress against society’s most intractable problems require someone who catalyzes collective … | 2015 | Leadership, Systems Leadership |
| Food System Racial Equity Assessment Tool: A Facilitaion Guide | University of Wisconsin-Extension | Detailed agenda with guiding questions that can be used for hosting discussions around racial equity in the food … | 2017 | Facilitation, Racial Equity |
| Peer Coaching Group Process | Otto Scharmer and Peter Senge | Step by step guidance for conducting a peer coaching … | 2016 | Facilitation, Management, Systems Leadership |