Hartford Food System Receives Grant to Invite Tanya Fields to Speak at 2013 Community Food Security Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Angela G. Colantonio, Angela@hartfordfood.org, (860) 296-9325

HARTFORD, CT – Hartford Food System has received a grant for $1000 from Connecticut Humanities on behalf of the City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy to invite Tanya Fields to speak at the 2013 Community Food Security Awards.

The 2013 Community Food Security Awards will be held on October 16^th, World Food Day, from 5 to 7:30 PM at the Downtown Branch of Hartford Public Library, and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Kitchen at Hartford Public Library from 5 to 6pm and will be followed by a special presentation by Tanya Fields and the awards ceremony. The Awards have been raising public awareness of food insecurity and highlighting successful community programs that increase food security since 1997. This year’s honorees are: Charmaine Craig from Knox Parks Foundation; Summer of Solutions; The Hartford; and the Husky Programs at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Public Health and Health Policy.

The award ceremony features a talk by Tanya Fields, an urban farmer, social entrepreneur, and founder of the BLK Projek in the Bronx. Inspired by her experiences as a single working mother living in a marginalized community, Tanya Fields founded the BLK ProjeK in 2009 as a response to sexist institutional policies, structurally reinforced cycles of poverty, and harsh inequities in wealth that result in many women being unable to rise out of poverty and sustain their families. Tanya earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Baruch College. She is a talented speaker, writer, and columnist for EBONY.com. Tanya will share valuable information about her experiences building community involvement, interacting with City officials on efforts to increase community food security, working in a low-income urban setting, and engaging in grassroots advocacy. The City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy is grateful for the generous support of Connecticut Humanities, allowing us to bring Ms. Fields to Hartford.

“These Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate amazing individuals and organizations who work every day to make our community healthier and more food secure.  We hope that hearing about the efforts in other cities through speakers such as Tanya Fields will inspire us to make even greater progress,” said Martha Page, Commissioner and Executive Director of Hartford Food System.

For further information and to confirm your attendance, please email Angela Colantonio at Angela@hartfordfood.org or call (860) 296-9325.

About Connecticut Humanities:

Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities that funds, creates and collaborates on hundreds of cultural programs across Connecticut each year. These programs bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to express, share and explore ideas in thoughtful and productive ways. From local discussion groups to major exhibitions on important historical events, CTH programs engage, enlighten and educate. Learn more by visiting www.cthumanities.org.

About Hartford Food System:

For 35 years, Hartford Food System, Inc. has been dedicated to addressing problems of food security in Hartford. Our mission is to fight hunger and improve nutrition for disadvantaged members of our community through sustainable, non-emergency strategies. We do this by implementing programs to improve access to nutritious and affordable food, help consumers make informed food choices and advance responsible food policies at all levels of government. Learn more at www.hartfordfood.org. Follow us at facebook.com/hartfordfoodsystem.