Upcoming Meeting: 

July 16 | 6:00 PM | 2424 Dr. MLK Jr. Street

July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

Chair: Jasper

Notes: Charles

Time: Jasper

Present: Bridget, Sierra, Natalie, Dani, James, Harrison, Noah, Ben, Art, Charles, Ruby, Jasper, Fane, Jasmine, Online: Lashonda, Sherdexia

1. Introductions

2. Updates – Sierra (5 min)

   1. Bylaws 

      1. Sierra announced that By-Laws are finished. Yay! DONE! 

   2. Nominations 

      1. Thank you to everyone that submitted their nominations 

3. Commission member nominations

1. Charles by Harrison, Harrison by Charles, Ben by Charles, Kamau Jywanza by Charles, _________, Lashonda by Lashonda, Sherdexia Yarde by Sierra, Alesha Taylor

2. Sierra invited Sherdexia, online, to introduce herself. Studied at Purdue, wrote grants, currently works for Southeast network for black farmers. Lashonda, also online, introduced her own strengths and motivations, ability to see food issues at street level and connecting people to the food system who are not ordinarily represented.

3. Discussion of nomination recommendation process. Vacancies to be filled are from Sibeko Jywanza, Tatiana Rebel, ________, Milele Kennedy

4. Four members to be appointed from community. 

5. Process: Sierra suggested to reduce the current list by elimination. Removed Harrison, Tyesha, Ben, Kiara, 

6. Alesha described her background: focus on the body, whole foods, reconnect people with 

7. Lashonda, Art, Sherdexia, Charles were selected as nominees.

4. Remaining Matters All Tabled to July 9 Meeting

1. Julie’s alternate meeting July 17- who should attend, strategies- Bridget 2 minDiscussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

1. Organize a press conference to provide opportunity to clarify any confusion about the two entities. 

2. Press conference team: Sierra, Art, Jasmine, Dani, Bridget, Harrison

2. Vote on Fiscal sponsorship- Fane and Sierra 

   1. Discussion (10 min- 2 min stack) Considering Flanner House and Earth Charter (ECI) even though ECI is statewide organization and preference is for locally focused sponsor.

   2. Proposal to have a meeting with both FH and ECI to assess comparative strengths. 

   3. ECI meeting: Sierra, Charles, Ruby, Harrison,   FH: Sierra, Art, Ben

3. Membership working group– Noah (5 min)

   1. (5 min, 2 min stack) Disseminate membership document to interested parties

   2. Suggestion to create a platform such as group chat or email listserv to provide forum for entire coalition membership including members, volunteers.

   3. Commission members will not have voting privilege in membership due to potential conflict of interest

   4. Vote on finalized membership guidelines - the working group will print out final guidelines for next meeting

4. Website QR code fix/ access to website  – Sierra/Ceci (3 min)

I. Sierra suggested buying domain name per Kathy Boyles

5. Next Steps - Harrison

   1. Discussion (5 min, 2 min stack)

Harrison suggested focusing on fiscal sponsor, 

1. Ujaama Bookstore July 16th , 6pm

July 2, 2024

July 2, 2024

Chair: Rubi

Notes: Noah

Time: Bridget

Present: Sierra, Natalie, Rubi, Jasmine, Ben, Bridget, Dallas, Noah, Maria, Ezra, Christina, Lashonda, Cecilia, Fane, Dani, Harrison, Art, Anna, Jasper, Ariez, Tawanda, Nicole, Samantha, Rashonda, Gabriela

1. Introductions (10 mins)

   1. Those present shared name, pronoun, organizations they work with, and what side of town they live or work in

2. Updates – Sierra (5 min)

   1. Potluck success

      1. Held at Ujamaa Bookstore. First attempt to do outreach and invite broader range of people in. Natalie did a great job organizing. Better turnout than imagined, will continue to do outreach.

      2. Started with focus on tedious organizational founding documents to be able to move into the “real” work and reach out to people doing food work and connecting with people who need food.

   2. Commission meeting

      1. Executive Board attended; most commissioners support our efforts to organize the Coalition and are speaking to us with the understanding that we are the Coalition. Julie Burns, who was holding forums before we began organizing, is still trying to control the Coalition. Julie wants Sierra to speak at her meetings but Sierra invited Julie to be a part of this Coalition instead.

3. Nominations for Commission document- Sierra (5 min)

   1. ACTION NEEDED: assign volunteers to work on this between now and July 9, so we have our nominations ready

      1. Due date- July 15 (July 9 voting date)

   2. Between now and next week, we need to finalize three nominees for the Commission. These nominees can come from outside the Coalition.

      1. Volunteers to reach out to coalition members to get proposed nominees: Ben, Cecilia, Harrison, Bridget, Maria

   3. Google form and QR code for nominations

      1. On Google Drive—if not in folder (email needed), we will add you

4. Bylaws- Jasmine (20 min)

   1. Received legal counsel review before this meeting; edits made based on lawyer’s feedback.

   2. Jasmine read the bylaws aloud and offered opportunities for edits, questions, or comments. Changes were made to each section of the bylaws. A vote was held to adopt the bylaws as amended, which passed unanimously. Remaining edits may be taken up as an amendment now that the bylaws have been adopted.

5. Remaining Matters All Tabled to July 9 Meeting

   1. Julie’s alternate meeting July 17- who should attend, strategies- Bridget 2 min

      1. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

   2. Vote on Fiscal sponsorship- Fane

      1. Discussion (10 min- 2 min stack)

   3. Membership working group– Noah (5 min)

      1. Any changes to be made? Questions? (5 min, 2 min stack)

      2. Vote on finalized membership guidelines

   4. Website QR code fix/ access to website  – Sierra/Ceci (3 min)

   5. Next Steps - Harrison

      1. Discussion (10 min, 2 min stack)

      2. Ujaama Bookstore July 9, 6pm

June 25, 2024 (Community Potluck at Ujamaa Community Book Store, No Notes)

June 18, 2024

18 June 2024

Chair: Brooks 

Notes: Mari

Time: Bryce

Present: Charles, Bridget, Harrison, Noah, Danni, Fane, Brooks, Jasmine, Sierra, Bryce, Natalie, Tyler with Mirror Indy. (everyone consented to photos), Aries, Ben, Samantha W, Kristi

1. Updates – Sierra (3 min)

   1. June 25 meeting at Flanner Farm, new meeting spaces where food advocates are located, or food apartheid locations from July 2 and after. 

   2. Leadership list created from the public forums was provided by the city

      1. ACTION STEP: Email will be sent out to leadership list after meeting tonight( Jasmine)

2. Nominations for Commission document- Mari (3 min)

   1. ACTION NEEDED: We have been asked to provide 3 people to be appointed to the commission, who do we want to place in that room?

      1. Due date- July 15 (July 9 voting date)

   2. Google form and QR code for nominations for commission are getting created and promoted on June 25 meeting (Harrison)

   3. Harrison: The ordinance describes the job role, so please familiarize yourself with this. 

3. Purpose and Mission Statement Document/Bylaws - Jasmine (5 min)

   1. Jasmine: For next week we will be handing out handouts at next week's community meeting and the purpose for this is that we need input by not later than June 25th. And there is a lawyer who is willing to look them over for us. 

   2. Sierra: During the exec meeting we came up with the conclusion and timeline because there was a timeline based on rapid response, but now that we are being asked to do tasks by the commission we have time to finalize things and can take our time.  

   3. Harrison: We have done a lot of the ground work so we did most of the structure and now that there is a new group of leaders, we want to include them. 

   4. Charles: This is good news because working on this committee, it has dawned on me the intricacy of the different food systems. 

   5. Questions? (10 min)

   6. Vote to extend the deadline for the Mission/Vision/Purpose July 2nd finalization and lawyer input 

      1. Passed, no opposition 

4. Legal entity options for structure- Fane (2 min)

   1. Fane: provided 4 options, see document for pros and cons of each organization.

   2. Criteria:  

      1. Need to be food related or be a nonprofit around food justice

      2. In existence for 3 years or more 

      3. Need to be a 501c3 nonprofit 

      4. Be in good standing with community 

   3. Sierra: these are good options but there is the option for folks to add to the list 

   4. Dani: When do we want to finalize, and in my mind it would be better to go local and to focus on the community here in indy. It feels hypercritical. 

   5. Sierra: I agree, PIFF is statewide, however they do have a lot of grant opportunities, and their capacities need to be taken into account. 

   6. Harrison: Please add any 5013c, the statewide focus is okay, because they have a local indy connection that would supply indy fresh food. 

   7. Bridget: What would the fiscal sponsor get?

   8. Sierra: They would take 9% of the money and then we would go under their taxes, but it also depends on the MOU we have with them. 

   9. Bridget: I resonate with the organization's capacity, I don’t have any issue with statewide. 

   10. Jasmine: Statewide would be great but I feel like we need to keep it local first. Maybe we can get some advisors statewide, so that in 1-2 years we can get there. 

   11. Bryce: What is the timeline, because this seems like a transactional relationship. 

   12. Sierra: The contact, and all that will be flushed out, but it doesn't mean that it's just transactional, but also they have the resources and we trust them. 

   13. Harrison: this would be temporary with the hopes of being our own 501c3 in the future. 

   14. LaShadona: I heard you mention that PIFF has great grant writing, and if they are outside of the coalition and are writing the grant, they can charge, a fiscal sponsor is like a purse.   

   15. Voting on the Tentative July 2 voting date 

       1. Passed, no one opposed 

   16. Discussion (10 min)

5. Membership working group– Noah (5 min)

   1. Noah: Added some things the ordinance suggested, and made comments on the bylaws for membership. We will be connecting with Harrison to talk about the mapping.  

   2. Bryce: Is there a timeline of when we are asking all the members to fill it out?

   3. Noah: We can send it out tonight. 

   4. Sierra: Can we have a point of contact from the membership committee? 

   5. Discussion (10 min)

6. CFAC Statement of Solidarity updates – Bryce (3 min)

   1. Bryce: Please read over it, and let us know if it needs any changes, it helps give people context but also gives folks to do that but also have something to track and show that this is the support we have gained, that included community members.  

   2. Half-Sheet Draft

   3. Website addition

7. Next Steps (8 min)- sierra 

   1. Who can help create a logo? 

      1. Volunteer: Jasper 

   2. Next meeting 25th 6pm, (vegetarian recommended) potluck

      1. Flanner Farms 

      2. Volunteer needed to make a flier, please have complete by Wednesday

         1. Volunteer: Natalie already has a flier!!! 

         2. Add the name of the coalition to the flier, and end time, and add vegetarian, and family friendly, and make the text a little bigger, vegetarian recommended. Games, music, food and more. 

      3. Natalie created a sign up sheet for potluck dishes, songs and roles like set up/ tear down/ checkin/ door. 

      4. Natalie: if there are gaps I’ll be working this week to fill in the gaps, can send out volunteer sign up and Jasmine can also help coordinate people.

      5. Bryce: Thinking of other roles like who can bring a microphone and speaker.   

      6. For people online: Jasmine will send out the spreadsheet for people to sign up. 

      7. Agenda: food, games, and introduction of the coalition and sharing literature, listening session. 

   3. Volunteer role reminders 

      1. If you volunteer please keep meeting with your group and edit the documents.  

      2. Bylaws team needs to meet

June 11, 2024

Chair: Art, Dani/Bryce

Notes: Mari

Time: Bryce

Present: Charles, Rubi, Fane, Samantha, Art, Harrison, Ben , Dani, Bridget, Natalie, Sierra, Cecilia, Lashonda, Brooks, Bryce, Mari, Jasper

1. Orientation – Sierra (10 min)

   1. Reminder of acronym meanings, Indy Food Access Commision (IFAC) vs. Community Food Access Coalition (CFAC), and why we formed the coalition. Work together but commision is supposed to work based on the coalition's input. 

   2. Moving from Bylaws and Structure to Accountability and Administration 

   3. Milele Kennedy- DCNFP director and IndyFAC co-chair resigned, unknown who will replace her- appointed by Mayor 

   4. Other co-chair Sibeko stepped down and two other community members stepped down– we were asked to choose three commissioners to sit on the Commission. 

   5. Tatjanas update from commission– advocating for us on commission until she steps down, may be able to ask her to serve another term if willing

   6. Commission Culture has not been transparent with the previous community appointees so this can be a chance to hold them accountable and ask the questions we have all been asking for a while. 

   7. Looking for a volunteer to chair with support from Dani and Bryce

      1. Art 

   8. ACTION NEEDED: We have been asked to provide 3 people to be appointed to the commission, who do we want to place in that room?

      1. Due date- July 15

2. Proposal for Meeting June 25 at Flanner Farms, community style, and listening session for coalition- Natalie (5 min)

   1. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

   2. Community event ideas: 

      1. June 25th food for thought potluck at 6pm @ Flanner Farms 

         1. Celebratory: invites local farmers and local food activist and introduce the coalition 

         2. Task: invite the same folks above but we would introduce the mission and vision and then have a listening session for the folks attending to share their insight. 

      2. Listen and Share event: 

         1. Outreach to the unhoused community, and provide a meal and host a listening session for the unhoused community. 

         2. Partner with circle city mutual aid group, during their sunday shares program. And provide food and kits. 

      3. Discussion: 

         1. I think this could be a building of each event first to make it celebratory and bring people in to talk. 

         2. Ceci: Give people passive work, and volunteer their thoughts on paper and pen, but make it more celebratory. 

         3. Harrison: This is a good community outreach opportunity, and when it's chill people give their feedback, and invite people from the space growers, churches, groceries. 

         4. Brookes: Would like hope package to help out

         5. Charles: I would want to know what the clarification is about, instead of making a big address we want to put in the announcement some sort of statement to clarify what we are about. Marketing would take careful planning. 

         6. Sierra: Make it more a get to know each other because part of this is that it allows us to get to know each other. That way we can know each other personally. And I agree how we are going to publice this on social media. 

         7. Ben: If we do include the unhoused population we need to go out and get it out there, one thing we need to do is draw a distant line to what we have been doing vs. what the commission has been doing. 

         8. Motion: to move forward with the food for thought potluck with a passive task. PASSED

3. Purpose and Mission Statement Document Update – Harrison (3 min)

   1. Talk about the progress we have made

      1. Volunteers 

         1. LaShadnoa, Ben, Hannah, Art, Harrison, and Dani, Charles 

         2. Deadline: June 18. 

      2. Harrison: Charles helped create a good structure, and we will continue working on this and including the 5 point program Bryce mentioned. 

4. Legal entity options for structure- Sierra (3 min)

   1. Based on the research that Sierra did 

   2. Fiscal sponsorship is the best visible option in my opinion, it would just be a matter of finding which non-profit we would want to fall under. We may want to come up with an extensive list of options and do pros/cons to each

   3. We should talk to a financial or legal advisor 

      1. Indiana Cooperative Development Center: we still need to decide on an entity structure (please see handout). Deb Trocha

      2. Purdue extension center: Monty

   4. Discussion/research findings (5 min, 1 min stack)

      1. Harrison: What is the biggest difference?

      2. Sierra: Agency has less independence within the agent than fiscal.

      3. Bryce: I thought the sponsorship would be the best option, and I think we should vote today to get this hammered out. 

      4. Fane: The fiscal sponsorship there would come a day that we can restructure, it would not be a permanent decision, it would be a temporary space to hold us. 

      5. Danni: sponsorship makes the most sense, especially as the collective we have been doing all this work, we don't want someone to come in and change the mission and vision. And in the document we write that we should come back to this. 

      6. Charles: Supports the sponsorship

      7. Serra: The organization does not need to be determined today, so the Bylaws and the MOU can reflect that. 

      8. Ben: Do we have a viable sponsor? 

      9. Fane: IndyLib Center, Flanner Farms, Hoosier Young Farmers, PIF

      10. Harrison: I think we have time to think about that 

      11. Sierra: We will have to think about that and how we will be an entity under the sponsor. 

      12. What are the criteria for the sponsors 

          1. Need to be food related or be a nonprofit around food justice

          2. In existence for 3 years or more 

          3. Need to be a 501c3 nonprofit 

          4. Be in good standing with community 

      13. Charles: Do we need any preparation for voting? 

      14. Sierra: I think we need to allow discussion to have pros and cons before we move to vote but I think next week will be more discussion based.  

      15. Fane:  A google document

      16. Bryce: Can we assign someone to do this? 

      17. Motion to vote on a fiscal sponsorship vs the fiscal agency.

          1. Passed, no oppossion. 

      18. Motion to vote on not naming a fiscal sponsor today but creating a list of who the fiscal sponsor can be: 

          1. Passed, no opposition 

      19. ACTION STEPS: Create a list of potential sponsors, Fane is creating a google document that she will share out. 

5. Permanent committees to be established after 90 day interim period -Sierra 2 min

   1. Current “committees” will now be called “working groups” because they are not permanent after the 90 day interim period 

      1. Bylaws, mission statement, membership committee, solidarity statement 

   2. Committees will be permanent, guidelines 

    I. Budget, membership, communications, advisory, and executive committee

• These are permanente after the 90 days.

6. Membership working group– Rubi (3 min)

   1. Reminder- 1 more week to have structure for membership 

   2. Creating the application that has demographics and questions around skills and 4 open ended questions around why, conflicts, and what other work in the community they do. What is people's preferred celebration for their work? 

   3. Think of us as a puzzle, what/ who are we missing?

   4. What steps are we going to take that the membership is continuous?  

   5. 6 strategies to consider: 

      1. Training, virtual options, copies of documents and work plans, like a presentation or handouts. 

7. CFAC Statement of Solidarity updates – Bryce (3 min)

   1. Bryce: Gives a history of CFAC and our broad mission and vision, and then calls the people for support. Art had the idea of doing a one page statement on the website and then a shorter form that goes out to the community, and a QR code. 

8. Next Steps (3 min)- sierra 

   1. Next meeting 18th 6pm 

      1. Yes it's on the calendar

      2. The 25th is at Flanner Farms 

   2. Volunteer role reminders 

      1. If you volunteer please keep meeting with your group and edit the documents.  

June 4, 2024

Chair: Dani/Bryce

Notes: Mari

Time: bridget

Present: Mari, Anna, Jasmine, Sierra, LaShonda, Natalie, Fane, Charles, Rubi, Mimi, Art, Noah, Kristi, Aries, Cynthia, Leo, Christina, Dani, Bridget, Destiny, Bryce, Harrison, Cecilia, Kristi, Alesha, Ben, Ren

1. Reminder on Meeting Etiquette – Sierra (3 min)

   1. Chair and Stacking

2. Purpose and Mission Statement Document Update – Mari (2 min)

   1. Vision section- example 5 or 10 point program- (Bryce) 3 min https://indyliberationcenter.org/hope-packages-10-point-program/

      1. Bryce: took inspiration from hope packages based of Black Panther Party, it would be a good day to structure the vision. To have points we can always refer to during the work we do. 4-5 examples are included in the document linked above. We need volunteers to assign this to and help us meet the deadline of June 11th, and please use your personal experience in the food system and what is needed. 

   2. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

      1. Volunteers 

         1. LaShadnoa, Ben, Hannah, Art, Harrison, and Dani, Charles 

         2. Deadline: June 11th.

      2. Discussion: 

         1. Charles: is interested but would feel more comfortable making the document live. 

         2. Harrison: The email that was sent out does have these documents, so anyone has access to make notes on it. And then the executive members would be the ones crafting it into a document. This is a collective decision, so please add to the document. 

         3. Bryce: Make “suggestions” on the document not “comments”  

3. Fiscal sponsorship proposal- Sierra (5 min)

   1. Fiscal sponsorship ideas discussion (10 min, 1 min stack)

      1. Sierra: Propose that the coalition uses a fiscal sponsor and not jump into getting a nonprofit status. It helps with overhead that a nonprofit requires like taxes, employee. A fiscal sponsor would take a small fee from any grants we take in to pay for the overhead part. Most starting groups use fiscal because funders like to see a reputable organization in applying for money. But as a fiscal we are able to leverage the nonprofit grant history, and standing. 

      2. LaShonda: Are you seeking a fiscal agent or sponsorship? Whoever is sponsoring you is more involved and the other one is not as hands on 

      3. Kristie: Is there an organization in mind?  

      4. Sierra: I have thought of a couple of orgs in Indy, and they have to be trusted and aligned with the goals. 

      5. Cece: Is this going to allow us to be indepent 

      6. Ben: In the code, it's saying independent of city involvement not some type of fiscal sponsor/agent.   

      7. Sierra: I think we want to look at sponsorship and not agency. 

      8. Harrison: in the IFAC they said it depends on what the community wants to decide on, it's our decision we make. We want to be able to function while being independent. Like how Jump in is doing with United Way. 

      9. Dani: Are you able to share the organizations Sierra is thinking of? 

      10. Sierra: The Liberation Center, Flanner House, Partners in Food and Farming (PIFF). 

      11. Sam: 

      12. Ben: Is it a driving force to get funding? Is the primary struggle is to garner recognition from Indy? 

      13. Bryce: Would it be good to have some type of fiscal sponsor so we can put it in the bylaws, is a decision we need to make. 

      14. Sierra: We would add an MOU in the contract so we can be protected in that way and it doesn't take away our agency as a coalition. If we are recognized by the city it doesn't mean that we would get funding, and we would need to explore other options. 

      15. Dani: Can I see a show of hands if we want to wait? 

      16. Majority of hands went up for researching and voting next meeting on agent or sponsor 

4. Website updates- Cecilia (3 min)

   1. https://sites.google.com/view/indyfoodcoalition/home

   2. Cecilia: We decided to use a google page, because it's easy to manage. We have what it is, and when it was formed, and meeting minutes and contact list, as we develop more we will add it later on. 

5. Membership Committee – Ana (5 min)

   1. Goals for next meeting

      1. We decided for next steps we would have more of a rough draft for the coalition to vote on, so please add to the document that is linked above. The next meeting is before the coalition meeting on tuesday.  

   2. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack) Fane, Ruby, Art and Anna

      1. Bridget: What are the requirements?

      2. Sierra: I know you are new so please see me after updating on this topic. 

      3. Harrison: All notes are online to read up on. 

      4. Rubi: Looking at the agenda from last week and the only thing we did not complete was coordinate with Mindy, which we will try to do prior to the next meeting. 

6. Bylaws document updates- Harrison (3 min)

   1. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack) 

      1. Harrison: So far the people who commented on it were 3 people. We do have various documents that will be blended together for 2 different docs one for mission/ vision and one for bylaws. On there please keep in mind the language so that it's intentional and inclusive. Trust is a pillar of this so that we can bring accountability to the values, and if we follow the mission we then can vote people in if they do harm. Serve at least one on committee is something to keep in mind. 

      2. Sam: I want to be on a committee but I’ve never been on a committee so I want to try it out first. 

      3. Natalie: What committees exist? 

      4. Sierra: Membership, Purpose and mission statement, bylaws, website 

      5. Bryce: Some committees are going to take longer than others, and my understanding is to get volunteers to help edit the bylaws documents and be able to integrate what the other committees are creating. I don’t have experience with bylaws either so we encourage anyone to try it out. 

      6. Cecilia: bylaws should be added to the website

      7. Harrison: If you feel called to be here please don't be hesitate, we are here to all grow and defend the lands. Land Back. With the ordnance we have a way to do that. 

      8. Cecilia: Are we adding or combing

      9. Harrison: We are combining what all the committees are creating. 

   2. Volunteer assignment 

      1. Jasmine, Bridget, Mari, Sam  

      2. Deadline: June 11th 

7. Proposal to change deadline to June 18th 

   1. Anyone against? Only 4 people. Majority won to move it back. 

   2. Ben: since people in the commission might be moving to not recognize us so we might want to get it done ASAP. 

   3. Sierra: An extra week gives us that time. 

8. Tactics to be recognized with the city – Bryce (3 min)

   1. Statement of intent w/ history connecting it to community 

   2. This will be a good first step, and there might be people out there who can’t be present at the same capacity, and then the people who would be interested in supporting would be signing onto this, and signing onto recognizing this coalition and not one not made by the people. 

   3. Art: would this be for community members?

   4. Bryce: For as many people as possible who want to support. Bryce is volunteering to create the document and get it approved in the next meeting. 

   5. Bryce, Jasmine, Harrison, Natahile, Cecilia, Noah, Art, Kristi 

   6. Deadline: June 18th

9. Next Steps

   1. Review of assignments (division of labor) given this meeting – Mari (1 min)

   2. Goal date for draft of bylaws and charter, June 18th – Sierra (1 min)

   3. If you made a form, please add it to the google share drive right now- Sierra (1 min)

   4. Next meeting: Tuesday, June 11, 6:00-8:00 PM

   5. Coalition training opportunity: June 17th from 11am-1pm est

      1. Sierra is attending and recommends others do also. 

   6. Next meeting information will be on the website.

May 28, 2024

 Chair: Dani A

Notes: Harrison J

Time: Bryce S

Present: Art, Mandy WJ, Cynthia W, Nicole W, Benjamin T, Bryce S, Sierra N, Anna M, Noah L, Xhandi K, Harrison J, Fane H, Bryce G, Danielle G, Cecilia G, Natalie D, Charles H, Ariez C, Dani A

1. Orientation to meetings format – Dani (3 min)

   1. Dani: We are going to get started, I am going to give just a brief orientation for those who were and were not here last time. The way that we are going to run this meeting, every agenda topic has discussion. When opened to everyone, discussion will be listed and you have one minute during stack.

   2. Proposal is something you are putting forth for the group to discuss.  We can discuss those during the meeting. You can make amendments. If you make an amendment, it must be seconded and voted.  A motion, it is to introduce new business.

2. Reminder on Meeting Etiquette – Sierra (3 min)

   1. Privilege and checking yourself

      1. Essentially, I want to go over what Dani mentioned. Check your privilege, make sure you are not over speaking or allowing others to speak. Dani, will make sure that no one double stacks so others cannot speak. Everyone made up those forms and Sierra will send them all together in one email.  One was details on membership in the coalition. 2nd form is for the mission statement and bylaws.  3rd was a feedback form.

   2. 3 forms will be sent out

   3. Leave feedback on form if you are not able to enter stack and have something you'd like to discuss

3. Structure of Coalition So Far – Sierra (3 min)

   1. To give folks more of a visual of the Coalition. We went over different types of membership

   2. 
      

   3. Executive Committee

   4. Memebership committee, volunteers from this group to go over membership qualifications

   5. Non-voting members: community members, eastside community member, farmers bloc

   6. IndyFAC

   7. Committee groups formed for things such as a budget committee.

4. Purpose and Mission Statement Update – Sierra (5 min)

   1. I noticed that, we talked about lots of structure but not our goals. We need incorporate the longs goals. We are here because of food scarcity. We need to take in to account this main mission. We will have a discussion on what we can add to our purpose.

   2. Discussion & Assignments (10 min, 1 min stack)

   3. Ben: We could have a liaison to communicate with outside groups. City appointed official.

Sierra: We can dive deeper into later on.

Cecilia: To address the goal of ending food apartheid and ensuring

Charles: Can you repeat the second part

Bryce: Is that all that is in the charter, is there specific goals

Cecillia: Addressing the immediate needs,

Anna: Maybe address what works and what doesn’t work. What are we going to do with that money.

Mandy: Can you repeat the topic

Harrison: 

Noting what success looks like, but some kind of quantitative method that we can measure

Sierra: Something Anna said before you talked about, what are we going to do

Bryce: what are the gaps, how can we use that money.  I wonder if that gets us toward the end of this discussion where we can get 

Ben: Maybe we are putting the cart before the horse.

Anna: I completely agree with that.

I really do agree. Since we haven’t gotten the structure yet. We dont have to fully flush out that to start working.

Sierra: How do we want this to look moving forward.  Now we can motion to see how this will look

Harrison

Sierra: Charter and organization documents. I do have an outline, to be recognized as an organization.

Mandy: I can start doing research and start seeing what is working already around the city.

Dani: can everyone add to that document so that we can discuss that during the next coalition meeting. We dont need to reinvent the wheel

5. Basic Expectations/Requirements for Membership – Ceci (5 min)

   1. Cecilia:  and also there own person ego or position. Members promote this as the coalition. Requirements: They should be from Marion County. Vetting process. Blocs representing local groups, community liaison, community outreach member.

Natalie: Members having experience in representing marginalized people. It seems like, in some ways I feel like activition is a privilege and dont have to spend time advocating for themselves.

Fani: To add that, not having to advocate for themselves, as a trans person. 

Ben: It wasn’t meant to be exclusionary.

Cecila: Can be part of the bylaws.

Siera: Maybe part of that work looks like Maybe as we create that membership requirements. I like what you all brought. Folks may not know how based on their education. 

Dani: Just to add on to that, I didn’t think as an activist. As a black person, I was doing this before I was doing this. I was thinking more about those lines. I am a social worker its not like I’m being an activist. Buy in for membership.

Bryce: I was confused about buy in, because that seems like gatekeeping. What about blocs, how can we form memberships.  Maybe these areas are represented and pull from the areas that aren’t being represented.

Fani: I was talking about buy in, not monetary, but request volunteer buy in. I would like to flush out the bloc idea.

Anna: Buy in, people that are already in there that use other means to “buy in”.

Ben: Not everyone can show up so maybe buy in, in other ways.

2. Discussion (10 min, 1 min stack)

6. Creation of Membership Committee – Bryce (3 min)

   1. Bryce: The creation of the membership Committee. So, basically, I think we should have a creation of the committee and take the document.  The volunteers would come up 

Bryce: with a plan of how we will handle memberships. You are essentially going to work on who is a member and who will remain a member.

Dani: If you could pay attention to the online.

Dani: Can we decide with are ok with someone on the executive board being on the membership committee

Bryce: Vote are okay with executive board members being on the membership committee. Majority Ayes

Even tho this is a room full of people, but people might drop off.

Anna: I feel like there may not be people who have the opportunity to be part.

Dani: We want the diversity of thought. 2 maybe enough

Sierra: Proposal to what Cecila says: 5 members of the membership committee with the general body then we won’t need any executive members to join.

Daniella: Alternative proposal: Membership committee may be a permanent position. Have one member from the executive board chairing the committee.

But I think we can still have one to chair it

Do we want a permanent membership committee, Nays

Clarification is permanent or not permanent.

Cecilia: Doesnt mean it will turn permanent after the interim period.

Vote on the interim membership committee, 5-7 volunteer members fill up with the body no executive members with a max of 2 members. Ayes

Volunteers for the membership committee: Anna, Fane, Rubi, Art, Noah

2. Discussion & Assignments (10 min, 1 min stack)

7. Coalition Liaison – Bryce (3 min)

   1. Milele Kennedy and Graham Melendez

   2. Bryce: Motion to table the discussion

   3. Ordinance 337 outlines the Administrator for the Division of Community Nutrition and Food Policy as the chief liaison to the coalition.

   4. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

8. Julie Burns Talks about Forming Coalition Updates and Our Response – Sierra (3 min)

   1. Potential Tactics

      1. Getting on the agenda at the city council and having structure, bylaws, and charter drafted to try and push for recognition of this coalition

      2. Putting out a statement signed by all coalition members establishing ourselves as the independent CFAC recognized in Ordinance 337.

Siera: Julie Burns in creating a coalition. We must speak as a we are coalition. Going to city council meetings and vote on who is on the committee board from the coalition. Open up the discussion of what we want to do as the Indy Food access Coalition.

Food access how long it is going to take us to start having events.

Cecilia: We should invite INDYFAC to events we are holding.

She agress with Cecilia. Food accessibility

Natalie: Dinner and talking with the committee to barriers of food access.

Siera: Pull in what Natalie is doing and follow foodpoliticsIndy on Instagram

Natalie: Julie Burns cannot start her own committee.

Siera: Commission board to support our coalition over what Juilie Burns Coalition creation maybe.

Bryce: They had 3 to 4 years have stalled in making a coalition from Julie Burns.

2. Discussion (10 min, 1 min stack)

9. Next Steps

   1. Review of assignments (division of labor) given this meeting – Mari (1 min)

Siera: Membership committee formed. Meet up when you will meet. Can I write up a outline.  We all work on the mission statement.  Mandy will do research. Feedback form is created. Motion Charter draft of the mission statement and bylaws by June 11th.

2. Goal date for draft of bylaws and charter – Sierra (1 min)

3. Next meeting: Tuesday, June 4, 7:00-8:00 PM

May 22, 2024

 Chair: Dani A & Bryce S

Notes: Mari L

Time: Bridget

Present: Art,  Amber, Mandy WJ, Nicole W, Alesha T, Bryce S, Chrissy S, Kristi SW, Ian O, Bridget O, Sierra N, Devyn N, Anna M, Mari L, Noah L, Shalise L, Harrison J, Fane H, Sarah H, Danielle G, Cecilia G, Natalie D, Leonardo C, Ariez C, Brooks B, Julian A, Tina A, Dani A

1. Names and introductions – who are you, what organization, and why are you passionate about the food system? (10 min)

   1. Orgs: KI-growing good in the hood, Octavia Visionary Campus and Mynant farms, Leo’s alkaline water and cooking classes, Central IN DSA, Flanner Farms, PSL and Indy Liberation Center, Social Workers, University Students, Indy Food Politics, Urban indy, May’s Page Garden, DIPIN (Diabesties program), Several community members, Soul Food Project, Growers Co-op, Grocery Stores contractor, Teachers Union, AmericaCore Member/Forger, 

   2. Themes of why: Access to healthy food, Connection to small farms and policy, affects our mental health and physical health, Food as a tool to build community, human role in the natural environment, Making growing accessible to people, Food Apartheid, Community can get the job done, the inequality of food access, Create the systems we need, Using the math to tell the story and create change, Asset Based Community Development, 

2. The Struggle So Far and Orientation to the Center – Sierra Nuckols and Bryce Stockslager (10 min)

   1. Sierra: After years of passion and activism we have created the coalition despite the gatekeeping. We are changing the narrative, and are creating a food system that is inclusive and access to healthy affordable food. We will be proactive, accountable and powerful. 

   2. Bryce: Thanks for making the commitment to come out today and welcome the liberation center. The liberation center is fostering a sense of collectively, 2 orgs who are part of the centers are hope packages, focus invitations (Re-entry program). The Liberation Center would be a good space to hold the coalition. After seeing the stalling of the creation of the food justice coalition and meanwhile applying for grants in the coalition's name. How will the coalition be different? 

3. Danni: The chair of the meeting: Making sure we are staying on the topics of the agenda, and using stack to speak and she will call you to speak your opinion. 

4. Interim Executive Committee for a 90-day probationary period, and re-election will occur after 90 days. Sierra – (3 min)

   1. After much feedback. There is a need for re-election to be inclusive of new and interested potential members/leadership. During the 90 days we will lead the structure, and also open up the space for people who are interested in joining leadership. There will be an application process. 

   2. Authority to prioritize tasks and make decisions as needed in between regular coalition meetings (which serve as the highest decision-making body).

   3. President – Sierra 

   4. Vice President – Harrison 

   5. Treasurer – Jasmine

   6. General Secretary – Mari-Luna

   7. Designated liaison – Proposed candidate from president with role as communicator between coalition, the city, and IndyFAC, should be someone trusted who has experience with coalition building. 

   8. Discussion (10 min, 1 min stack)

• Anna: would love to hear the background more in depth as to why the folks were elected. Clarification and suggestion: What is your background in food? And also propose it to be a 60 day probationary period. 90 days is too long. 

• Sierra: This came out after one of the focus groups that was led by engaging solutions hired by Julie Burns and after having the same meetings it felt like another attempt to gatekeeper. So this happened organically and came together and said let's establish this. 

• Harrison: I went in thinking they wanted us to start the coalition and then seeing that wasn't the meeting focus the community took our power back and did it. I also wanted to help out and signed up as VP. 

• Jasmine: I was the treasure and something needed to be done and it was done, and I also wanted to say I do not oppose the 60 days idea. 

• Danielle: 60 days is way too short for us to get anything set up. 

• Porsha: works for the northwest food council, and I understand where Anna is coming from considering everything that is going on. It’s important to know the subject matter experts in order to be heard. 

• Cristi: Having done local, state, and national building for 90 days is too short, and the people who are in leadership are very capable. 

• Ceci: We get to define was leadership looks like 

• Devin: 90 days is too short, and it's’ up to us to define it moving forward. And the 

• Harrison: For this point is to decide what we are going to do moving forward. 

• Mandy: You are doing the clean up, and if you get this organized and done right you can have some heavy hitters supporting you. But a strong foundation is necessary. 

• Group vote: Any opposed to the 90 days? no one in favor. 

• Ceci: Motion to add designated liaison discussion to the next meeting: no one opposed

Proposal of External Advisory Committee – Sierra (2 min)

1. Advisory committee appointed by acting president- stakeholders who can help advise structure, organization, and membership requirements of coalition. Won’t be part of the executive board and who is knowledgeable of the food system, and would advise the executive team. 

2. Should include individuals who have significant experience with coalition work and/or food system work.

3. WILL NOT serve as acting members on the coalition, but WILL provide support and guidance to all members and committees.

1. Discussion on structure (10 min, 2 min stack)

   1. Would the advisory meeting be for the first 90 days or continuously?

      1. Continuously. 

   2. Harrison: It’s wise to have external input. 

   3. Ceci: would not be part of the membership, external only. 

   4. Bryce: With people who might not be able to be part of the meetings, be able to still participate. 

   5. Krisit: We need to be clear about the language. 

   6. Danielle: They are appointed by the acting president, because I know people who would be doing a good job, but will be willing to take it out. 

   7. Noah: Have the executive community come up with a list of names in the next meeting the full membership body appoints them. 

   8. Motion to vote for the creation of the advisory committee with the task of the executive team creating a list of names we will vote on in the next meeting: No one opposed: 

Proposal of Membership Committee – Sierra (2 min)

4. Committee of active members of the coalition that serves to vet new members, proposes that 5-7 of the 13 founding members form an interim membership committee to help vet and process member applications, with the help and guidance of the advisory committee.

5. Determines the application process for new members. 

6. Initial Membership Term: Set an initial term, 90 days, for founding members, during which they serve as interim members.

7. Reapplication and Reelection:

   1. Founding members reapply for membership along with new applicants.

   2. Applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee.

   3. All members, including founding members, are subject to the same criteria and evaluation process.

8. General Election: After 90 days, conduct a general election where all current and new members vote on the reapplications.

9. Membership committees should come up with a mechanism for community feedback (e.g., open community meetings to ensure the coalition is listening to and integrating feedback from community members as needed).

10. 21 people are needed, 

2. Discussion (10 min, 2 min stack)

   1. Any proposed candidates need to be approved by the interim membership committee. 

   2. Christie: I would say we don’t limit the number of coalition members, if we are having an application process and vetting. 

   3. Mimi: Do you see any benefits of limiting the number?

   4. Sierra: Making sure the people in the coalition are politically aligned but I’m open to different suggestions. 

   5. Bryce: I think there still should be some limit to“voting” members so we can hold a meeting and make choices, we can have people be members but there is a voting body. 

   6. Harrison: I proposed we have different coalitions of different areas like groceries, growers etc. and they make up the coalition. 

   7. Devin: Something we could do is do a membership application and then leave that and then put a number limit on voting. Where there is a path from regular member to voting member. 

   8.  Porscha: Shouldn’t be too many people so that we can make sure we are acting on our demands to IFAC. 

   9. Ceci: I think it makes sense I would like to see how members can hold voting people accountable. 

   10. Jasmine: Too many people can get confusing, and I propose that we divide people to represent different sides of the city and they would then talk to the organizations on their part of town. 

   11. Mandy: I would like to pay attention to zip codes and making sure we cover all of Marion county. 

   12. Harrison: I think that the people in the community should be voted or then we will be becoming like IFAC. 

   13. Bryce: Intentionally there has to be some attempt of the people in the room voting themselves in. And there will be some process to get that feedback. 

   14. Harrison: We want to make sure we aren’t being biased. 

   15. Sierra: Something to name is the concern for a smaller group approach and not a large group discussion. But between the larger group we have to consider how long it takes to move forward while not gatekeeping. 

   16. Danielle: The 5-7 people are able to apply for membership as well? and are we creating organizations or individuals? 

   17. Sierra:  That would be up to the group, the intentional members do we want to hold an election and the timeframe? 

   18. Harrison: I propose an interim period where we vote to have a membership committee. 

   19. Ceci: I propose to pass with the 21 people, and type up why they nominated those people. 

   20. Natalie: membership should be if you are willing to come to meetings and I am hesitant for the application, and need a visual map of the organization. 

   21. Sierra: 5-7 people would decide the above and then bring it back to the larger group, and create the application process. 

3. Motion to move this to vote on the next meeting: 12 people in favor, and 10 people against: motion passed. 

3. Basic Expectations/Requirements for Coalition Members – Sierra (5 min)

   1. Brainstorming basic expectations up for discussion and entry into by-laws

      1. Attend 80% of meetings. 

1. Discussion (15 min, 2 min stack)

   1. Assign the task of creating an application process and sending it to all interested in being a member.

   2. What are the requirements for voting members? 

   3. harrison: propose we move this discussion to the meeting, 

   4. Danielle: I wanted to table because we haven’t defined what a member does. 

   5. Motion to send volunteers the ideas of membership and then bring it up for next meeting: 

   6. Motion to volunteers: Ceci and Christine: no one opposed. 

Purpose and Mission Statement working group – Sierra (2 min)

1. Who wants to volunteer to work on a mission statement between now and the next meeting? 

   1. Volunteers come forward, 2-3 needed

2. Discussion (5 min, 1 min stack)

   1. Harrison: Second, add your background to that mission statement. 

   2. Jasmine: I don’t think we should 

   3. Motion to create a live document where people who feel called to can work on that document: passed 

      1. Mari will create the document and will be sending it out with the email Ceci and Christine will send out and present it to the group in a formal format. 

   4. Motion to have a survey sent out at the end of the meeting where we can ask what did you like, and what needs to change and ideas for the next agenda. 

Devin: volunteered to make the survey. 

      5. Next Steps – Secretary (5 min)

1. Each attendee should examine draft bylaws and other organizing documents before the next meeting.

2. Meeting next Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 PM (meet every week initially while getting off the ground?)

   1. Motion to set this meeting date and time: no one opposed, motion passed 

   2. Motion to discuss at a later time if we are making these meetings public? Motion passed. 

   3. Sierra to Proscha: based on your experience, when is this a good time to open it up to the public? 

   4. Porscha: Figure out bylaws, and the structure with this group and then open it up to the public. You don’t want it to be too soon. 

   5. Christie: I think there needs to be more people but I think that is why we have to have those 90 days to have a structure in place. 

   6. Motion to first get structure in place like bylaws and then have this discussion again once we are organized in that capacity to open it up to the public: no one opposed, motion passed

   7. Conversation for next meeting: how does the city interact with this work and have them recognize the group. 

   8. Porscha: Everything that can be done can be done at the same time if we do the work in groups. We just have to make sure we show up strong and get in connection with the city council. 

      1. First we have to decide on a liaison. 

3. Focus group meeting Thursday, May 23 at the boys and girls club next to the finish line on the far east side from 5:30-7:00 pm (what should our tactics be? Should we attend?).

   1. Background: It’s the same focus group by engaging solutions based on the public forums. 

   2. Motion to send a group of representatives from the interim leadership team and promote the meeting next tuesday at the meeting. Motion passed. 

      1. Devin, Sierra, Nathlie, Harrison, and Art will be attending