Nonviolent Carbondale is a coalition that organizes and supports activities that foster nonviolent and compassionate interactions in the community. 

Let's celebrate the coming of spring with "11 Days for Food Justice," February 21 - March 3, 2013. Multiple community events will explore where food comes from and all the steps and missteps it takes to get to our table. See Food Justice Resources for more information about food justice.

As the Nonviolent Carbondale coalition working toward food justice, we believe the following statements to be true, and we encourage community groups, organizations, families and individuals to discuss these issues, and take action to remedy the problems and realize the ideals of food justice here in Carbondale.

• Food justice begins at the local level.

• Food access is often limited by cost, location, cultural appropriateness, education, healthfulness and other barriers.

• A just food system begins with the cultivation of a healthy sustainable environment. It extends to equal economic opportunity for farms of all sizes, onward to fair labor practices for food workers. It culminates in equitable access to healthy food for people at all economic levels.

• Food systems become more sustainable when the distribution from farm to table is equitable and community driven.

• Compassionate food production, distribution and preparation must benefit all communities.

• Food justice can exist only under conditions that preclude racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression, prejudice and injustices.         
  

• Barriers to a just food system can be remedied by carefully examining and adjusting our food production, consumption, distribution and preparation practices.
  

• People do an injustice to themselves by eating poorly, and an injustice is done to them when they do not live close to healthy affordable food.
  

• Commercial practices, federal incentives, and other factors often favor large corporate farms over small local farms, as well as processed food over fresh. For example: 

                    --  It can be difficult for local farmers to secure shelf space in grocery stores, or to supply food to
                        restaurants due to national contracts and other policies favoring uniformity across stores or
                        restaurants in multiple locations.

                    --  Schools and other organizations face similar obstacles to providing local produce.

                    -- This creates economic barriers for the local farmer.

                    --  It hinders sustainable cultivation of land.

                    --  It restricts access to fresh food. 

Questions about the Food Justice theme can be directed to:
Elissa Johnson, Co-Organizer, Carbondale Winter Farmer's Market
Email: eliss.uhj@gmail.com
Phone: 618-924-4222

Questions about how to participate in the 11 Days for Food Justice (or the history of Nonviolent Carbondale's 11 Days programs) can be directed to:
Jessica Bradshaw, Carbondale Human Relations Commission, Chair
Email: jbradshaw21@yahoo.com
Phone: 618-203-9626

You can also visit us on Facebook. "Like" our page to stay update on events and information!

Our full list of events is now finished and available at /11-days-for-food-justice-schedule.html

Our meetings are free and open to the public. There is no official membership in Nonviolent Carbondale. If you're interested, come to a meeting!

Our collaboration began in 2011 as a project of the Carbondale Human Relations Commission and has since expanded as a group with many community partners who work together to create awareness-raising events and activities that promote nonviolence. These efforts produced the "11 Days for Peace," September 1-11, 2011. Various organizations and groups in the community produced more than 30 events dedicated to nonviolence and peace-making. Next, the "11 Days for Compassion" took place May 1-11, 2012, featuring more than thirty five compassion-themed events. More than 4,500 people participated, and thousands more were reached through the local press.