OUR VISION
A stronger and healthier L.A. County where communities have sufficient, nutritious, culturally appropriate food supplied by a resilient and sustainable food system.
OUR VALUES
Principle 1
We believe that just and equitable access to healthy and nutritious food is a human right
Principle 2
We believe that coordinated efforts and collective impact can resolve inequities in the food system.
Principle 3
We believe disruptive innovation is a virtue. The Roundtable is an opportunity to discuss ideas, challenge norms and drive effective outcomes.
OUR MISSION
To implement cross-sector solutions to achieve food and nutrition security in L.A. County with a focus on underserved communities.
- Enabling food justice with enhanced access, affordability, and consumption of nutritious food;
- Advancing equitable impact of food public benefits and food distribution programs;
- Generating political and financial support to build food systems that are resilient, sustainable, and equitable.
OUR PROGRESS TO DATE
The Roundtable’s ambitious campaign to fundamentally rethink how we tackle chronic food insecurity in Los Angeles County is nearing the halfway mark. Working together, philanthropy, government, academic and nonprofit leaders have drafted a strategic action plan that will drive lasting and meaningful change.
The plan was unveiled on December 6th, 2022 . The plan can be accessed here (LA County Food Equity Round Table).
Here’s a quick look at our process to develop this plan:
- Launched seven workgroups with more than 200 community-based organizations and engaged with 100-plus food system experts nationwide to inform the Plan.
- Formally identified 14 priority population segments that are disproportionately more vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity, from immigrant to transgender communities.
- Consulted with the public and private sectors to identify food system enhancements to drive cost efficiencies that will support broader nutrition security.
- Addressed gaps in the local supply chain that can help reduce food waste and enable recovery efforts
- Analyzed mobility and transportation barriers to food security and reviewed best practices deployed in other regions to enhance transit access.
- Explored technology and data solutions to modernize our outdated food systems, such as USC-led portal to map all food-related resources and “last-mile” support services in underserved L.A. County neighborhoods WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON HUNGER, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH UPDATE
The Los Angeles County Food Equity Roundtable Director, Swati Chandra, was scheduled to be a panelist at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. If you represent the work done on behalf of the Los Angeles County Food Equity Roundtable and wish to view the White House Conference, on 9/28 please follow this link.
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
The Los Angeles County Food Equity Roundtable is a brand new effort to help address and track the growing food insecurity challenge in LA County. The Roundtable, co-led by LA County and its LA-area philanthropic partners, consists of senior leadership from cross-sector organizations committed to addressing food insecurity.
THE OBJECTIVE & APPROACH
This is a two-year pilot with the objective of developing a comprehensive strategic plan to address food equity issues with a coordinated systemic approach in year one and initial implementation and assessment starting in year two. Together, as a team, the goal for the Roundtable is to develop a comprehensive strategic plan by September of 2022.
Community Food Resources
Transportation Resources
Research & Data Reports
FOOD SECURITY IN LA COUNTY
STAY CONNECTED
If you would like to engage with our work, please contact us at lafoodequityroundtable@gmail.com or sign up for our newsletter using the pop-up box on the right hand corner of your screen.