The purpose of Austin Eats is to synergize the efforts of the organizations already trying to improve Austin’s food access ecosystem.
About the Austin Eats Initiative:
WHY?
Only 55.4% of Austin’s residents report having easy access to fruits and vegetables.*
OUR PLAN
Austin Eats will synergize the organizations already working to promote healthier food choices across Austin and create an infrastructure geared toward food access. To accomplish this, Austin’s entire food continuum needs to be considered, from community gardens, food pantries, and grocery stores, to food cooperatives, culinary entrepreneurs and restaurants.
Emergency Food Access:
By convening and collaborating with the many food pantries, soup kitchens, and pop-up food distributions that operate in Austin, this group aims to distribute healthy food to families through a more coordinated system.
Grocery Access & Culinary Entrepreneurship:
This working group supports the creation and sustainability of grocery and culinary businesses in the community.
Food Education:
This working group focuses on changing the narrative around food access and healthy habits.
Gardens & Farms:
This working group supports, activates and connects Austin’s network of food growers.
Marketing:
This working group increases awareness of Austin Eats and our projects, making sure the community is informed about food access opportunities and events.
Want to help? Make a donation here.
We are a diverse group of stakeholders that have come together with an holistic approach to achieving long-term sustainable change. Austin’s 90,000+ residents currently only have two full grocery stores available for a community that is Chicago’s largest community area in size. And with the pandemic, Austin’s bare-bones emergency food infrastructure was exposed.
Ways to address the challenges in Austin are outlined in the Austin Forward. Together. plan, a set of goals created by and for the community designed to utilize 23 strategies with 84 total actions to improve seven issue areas by the year 2023: Community Narrative, Education, Housing, Youth Empowerment, Economic Development, Public Safety, and Civic Engagement.
The Austin Eats Initiative was born out of the Community Narrative (CN) issue area in Austin Forward. Together., which describes the community’s desire to revitalize the image and spirit of Austin by creating environments that foster health and wellness and promote healthier food choices across Austin. This community-led effort was made possible through the support of the Austin Fresh Fund.
CULINARY ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANT
2024 marked the first year of this grant that builds partnerships with and supports local food businesses in the Austin community. Five local businesses that aligned with the Austin Eats vision and mission were awarded $9,000. The five grantees are:
QUESTIONS?
To learn more about Austin Eats or Austin Forward. Together., contact Grace Cooper, AFT Lead Organizer, at Austin Coming Together: gcooper@austincomingtogether.org.
WANT TO HELP?
*Source: chicagohealthatlas.org
