SPRINGFIELD EATS YEAR 3 

Key

SPFC: Springfield Food Policy Council

MM: Mercy Medical Center (Trinity Health) 

SQ1: Square One

OPCS: Open Pantry Community Services 

GTC: Gardening the Community 

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

HIP: Healthy Incentives Program 

SDOH: Social Determinants of Health

Note: The quotes you read on this site are from conversations with the core partner leads. Some of the quotes are comments from multiple partners. 

End of MASSUP YEAR 3 SUMMARY

• MassUP funding supported partners to convene and strategize for mutual aid during the crisis of the pandemic

• Enabled partners to build power and share what that looks like with colleagues

• BIPOC-led Springfield organizations increased their influence and leadership; white-led organizations increased antiracist understanding capacity & hired Springfield leaders of color

• Nimbleness: organizations took advantage of emergent opportunities and pandemic challenges by hiring staff; developing new positions; launching pilot projects that influenced creation of new funding streams; influencing policy and government funding

• Strides made to align state, federal, private, health care funders to better respond to food insecurity and access challenges

• Structural and protocol improvements in Healthcare/hospital, early care, food pantry operations to streamline SNAP sign-ups and advance food access

• Built digital story, and graphics, to advocate for permanent HIP

• Liz O'Gilvie was invited to serve on the MA Health Policy Commission Advisory Board influencing conversations about food, health, community conditions, and racial equity

“What’s different to me in this group: if systemic racism is the reason most people can’t secure healthier food for their families, this partnership chips away at dismantling by uncovering, gaining knowledge and  skills to speak with more confidence about hard truths. The work our partnership does is so different. We took time to build trust. The depth of the relationships over such a short period of time, they feel like relationships I’ve been in for 20 years; I think it’s because we tackle topics that are so deep. This happened because we started with the work that other people seem to never find time for.” 

Year 3 Advocacy and Change Efforts

YEAR 3 Building Capacity Efforts

"I’m most excited about the more equitable budgeting conversation. The money comes to our institution, and I want to be transparent about it. We – partners – talk about - Is the allocation right, do we need more/less? What do folks need to join at the table? Can we have open conversations for people to get there? "

Leveraged Funds for Change

Springfield Food Policy Council's Digital Story: Gardening the Community 

“We became a place to exhale and a shelter for each other.” 

“I am learning, and growing, hearing folks talk about things that aren’t normally talked about in meetings.” 

YEAR 3 Evaluation Documents

(Scroll within an image or click on the arrow in the right corner for full view)

“It’s so hard for me to articulate what it felt like - Will I again in my life have a moment where three young Black men were leading teaching modeling for so many other younger Black and Brown men? This summer was incredibly hard. I got to be with you and the kids. All I had to do was order lunch. These young Black men held the space..What does this mean for them: a Black man getting  PhD on his own terms, studying something he wants to study? They are getting it.”

Y3, Cumulative MASSUP Outcomes 

 Graphic Image by Teyo Leslie Saree: sareela88@gmail.com