Systemic Thinking with Slow Food Washington

This quarter I had the pleasure of collaborating with five other students while working for the nonprofit organization Slow Food Washington. Slow Food Washington is this state’s chapter of the international organization Slow Food, a group dedicated to creating “Good, Clean, and Fair Food for All.” We were given a lot of autonomy on how we wanted to focus our project and ended up centering it around supporting the passage of Washington House Bill 2777/Senate Bill 6463. If passed, this legislation would allow permits for “Micro Enterprise Home Kitchens” where cooks can legally sell food out of their homes. We created a revisable digital media toolkit on how to best engage the Slow Food community in support of the bill.

First page of our digital media toolkit

My overall takeaway from this course is the importance of thinking systemically. We started the quarter off critiquing the individualistic solutions offered in Michael Pollen’s piece and learning about the pitfalls of reductionism. Systemic thinking is critical to unpacking historical legacies and understanding complex connections. Starting off with this literature set the tone for what followed. We were challenged to not just reform but reimagine what these systems could look like. A notable example is Monica White’s Freedom Farmers piece. This intersects food sovereignty with America’s racial history while advocating for community-led organizations that can bolster economic autonomy. These propositions are centered around creating new systems that transcend old, inherently inequitable ones. HB2777/SB6463 incorporates similar thinking. Rather than tackle the large and complex roadblocks to starting a food business (like income inequality, racial inequities, and gentrification), this bill focuses on creating economic opportunities for lower-income individuals through a new alternative. Legalizing home cooking in Washington will provide an abundance of opportunities for diverse ethnic or cultural dining throughout our state; I’m so thrilled I had the chance to contribute in a  small way.

Advocacy day in support of SB6434/HB 2777 at the state capitol (January 16th)

Systemic thinking is of course relevant to our current dialogue around policing — defunding the police (and reallocating funds to appropriate community organizations) creates new systems rather than perpetuating an institution built on racism. Falling back on old ways of thinking is easy but damaging. Challenging ourselves to build a society that offers direct solutions to social ills rather than punishing people for our systems’ shortcomings is difficult but imperative. I’m optimistic that we are at a turning point. I take with me the systemic thinking necessary to dismantling injustice.

 

A copy of our digital toolkit: SECONDDRAFTSLOWFOODDIGITALTOOLKIT

244 thoughts on “Systemic Thinking with Slow Food Washington

  1. Hey. Cool article. There’s a problem with your site in chrome, and you may want to check this… The browser is the market leader and a huge component of other people will omit your wonderful writing because of this problem. Parts Country

  2. Dude.. My group is not considerably into looking at, but somehow I acquired to read several articles on your blog. Its fantastic how interesting it’s for me to visit you fairly often. v76444

  3. Hey, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my sites but looking to change one particular of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it? n1228

  4. Whoah this blog is magnificent i really like reading your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You realize, a lot of persons are searching round for this information, you could aid them greatly. mmswa01

  5. Gaming pc’s aren’t as difficult as you may perhaps think, and creating your very own gaming pc is not as tricky as a whole lot of folks would make you consider. Because you by now have a distinct software in head when constructing your individual gaming machine, there are actually only three main elements you have to have to worry about, and every little thing else is truly secondary: the processor, video clip card, and RAM.

  6. That’s why you have to have effective web based business home keep when it comes to taking items right your individual web-based online business. cash

  7. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks! joker visa

  8. Following study a few of the articles on your website these types of few days, and that i really much like your style of blogging. I tag this to my personal save website checklist and will likely be checking back quickly. Pls check out my personal website too and tell me your thought. b52club

  9. Thanks for the points shared using your blog. Something else I would like to talk about is that weight reduction is not information about going on a dietary fad and trying to reduce as much weight that you can in a set period of time. The most effective way to burn fat is by having it slowly and gradually and obeying some basic ideas which can assist you to make the most from your attempt to shed weight. You may realize and already be following a few of these tips, nevertheless reinforcing knowledge never does any damage. b52club

  10. I think this is one of the most significant info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers cell phone repair

  11. Your writing has a wonderful way of making complex ideas accessible without losing their essential sophistication. The examples you’ve chosen perfectly illustrate each point while maintaining reader engagement 먹튀검증
    .

  12. Hey. Cool article. There’s a problem with your site in chrome, and you may want to check this… The browser is the market leader and a huge component of other people will omit your wonderful writing because of this problem. Prodentim

  13. Nice post. I learn some thing very complicated on different blogs everyday. Most commonly it is stimulating you just read content off their writers and rehearse a specific thing from their website. I’d would prefer to use some while using content on my small weblog whether or not you do not mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link on your web weblog. Appreciate your sharing. 테니스분석

  14. Hey. Cool article. There’s a problem with your site in chrome, and you may want to check this… The browser is the market leader and a huge component of other people will omit your wonderful writing oblem. TONIC GREENS

  15. Hey. Cool article. There’s a problem with your site in chrome, and you may want to check this… The browser is the market leader and a huge component of other people will omit your wonderful writing because of this problem. FITSPRESSO

  16. hello!,I really like your writing so a lot! percentage we keep up a correspondence extra about your article on AOL? I require an expert on this area to unravel my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you. https://jgtv24.com

  17. Ya ampun! Artikel yang mengesankan sekali! Terima kasih banyak, Apakah Anda sedang mencari situs togel dan slot online terpercaya di Indonesia? Tidak perlu mencari lagi! Slot togel terbaik KONOHATOTO78 hadir untuk memberikan solusi terbaik guna memenuhi kebutuhan hiburan online Anda.

  18. It is very interesting topic you’ve written here..The truth I’m not related to this, but I think is a good opportunity to learn more about, And as well talk about a different topic to which I used to talk with others Use code now

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *