MISSION: Harness the power of the community to create local options for healthy, fresh, and affordable foods; amplify existing resources; and share knowledge and experiences about nutrition, cooking, and wellness.

VISION: A community with the power to access, use, and share fresh food and wellness resources with each other.

FUNDING: The NW Fresh (Northwest Fresh Food Access Council) used capital improvement and education funds from the City of Milwaukee’s Fresh Food Access Fund and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative to address food insecurity in the Westlawn Gardens Choice Neighborhood by developing and strengthening a fresh food ecosystem that is driven by the collective action of neighborhood stakeholders.

The Fresh Food Access Fund grant is part of a larger initiative to shift the food system in the Choice Neighborhood from one that is focused mainly on convenience and dollar stores to one where people have both access to fresh food and feel empowered to use and enjoy it.


OUR STRATEGIES FOR 2023:
 

1. Community Building

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• Community Events: Collaborate with community partners, promote, and put on community events to help share resources and build community power for long-term goals.

• Community Needs Assessment: Lead or support a community needs assessment to help with funding and advocacy in the neighborhood.

• Community Outreach: Canvassing the neighborhood for different fresh food initiatives throughout the year.

• Community Gardening: Continue to amplify community garden spaces as a place for community building and wellness.

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2. Fresh Food Distribution

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• Fresh Food Providers:  Promote and collaborate with NW Fresh partners and explore initial steps to launch new fresh food providers in the neighborhood

• Local Food Production: Support the distribution and production of local produce in the neighborhood from area community gardens

 

3.  Fresh Food Education

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• Healthy Eating & Cooking Classes: Amplify current fresh food education efforts in the neighborhood, especially those that reach youth and seniors

• Neighborhood Cookbook: Support the development and distribution of a neighborhood cookbook