Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asserted that power meant “the ability to achieve purpose and effect change.” While his dreams for racial equality and coexistence are often heralded as his hallmark advocacy, Dr. King’s vision of building community power was underpinned by his calls for deep-seated social, political, and economic justice.
At CSPI, we recognize and uplift the importance of approaching our advocacy within a racial equity and justice framework as we envision thriving communities supported by equitable, sustainable, and science-based solutions advancing nutrition, food safety, and health. Guided by racial equity and justice, we seek to partner with groups rooted in communities most impacted by food system inequities to create lasting change.
In alignment with Dr. King’s theory of change, CSPI developed the Powerbuilding Program in 2022 to support the critical and often unseen community-building work needed for successful policy passage. Through this program, we invest in organizations led by those identifying as Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQIA+, and who are grounded in community solutions that drive equitable access to safe, affordable, sustainable, ethically produced, culturally relevant, and nourishing food. Partner-led projects include three core activities: convening community members, building skills and power, and co-creating programmatic and policy solutions to pressing issues in the food system.
Over the two-year partnership, CSPI’s Powerbuilding Partners have met monthly as part of a cohort that centers on building relationships, sharing resources, and pursuing narrative change projects to disrupt and reframe issues to advance an equitable food system.
Through this partnership, we have the unique privilege to work with and learn from organizations working on the frontlines to advance initiatives in their communities to build power and effect systems change in various spaces across the food system.
At a pivotal time for racial, economic, and food justice, we cannot overlook Dr. King’s bold calls to address the root causes of inequities and their effects on the health, food, and economic disparities experienced by communities of color. We are moved and inspired by our partners’ attention to root-cause issues facing their communities and their innovative strategies to work with their constituents to create a better and more sustainable path forward. We all have much to learn from grassroots organizations working directly with their communities to effect real change, and we invite you to learn from our incredible Powerbuilding Partners.
CSPI is proud to highlight six Powerbuilding Partners for 2024-2025
Sankofa Community Development Corporation (LA) is dedicated to creating simple solutions to real-world problems by building infrastructure that brings clean food, water, and energy to support a resilient community in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward.
Rock Steady Farm (NY) is a multi-racial, queer- and trans-led cooperative vegetable farm and nonprofit rooted in social justice, food access, and farmer training to address barriers for beginning queer, trans, and BIPOC farmers, while creating new pathways to thrive.
Co-op Dayton (OH) develops cooperative businesses that meet community needs, from access to fresh groceries to quality job opportunities, to transform Dayton’s Black and working-class neighborhoods by rooting jobs and businesses locally.
AfriThrive (MD) mobilizes, connects, and empowers vibrant and thriving African immigrant and minority families through access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food, skills development, and economic opportunity.
Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (Zuni Pueblo) ensures that Zuni youth will be healthy and prepared to continue the important traditions of the Zuni culture with youth programs in a community-wide effort to provide healthy spaces for healthy activities.
La Semilla Food Center (NM) creates and supports a more equitable and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte region, building relationships and empowering spaces for youth and families and fostering connections among food, health, and local economies.
CSPI’s Powerbuilding Program has been informed by insights from peer organizations and capacity-building leaders to design an offering built upon trust-based principles. We look forward to gleaning and offering insights from our experience to other peer organizations seeking to support and build the capacity and power of grassroots partners. To again call on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., building power is “not only desirable but necessary in order to implement the demands of love and justice.” We remain steadfast in supporting partner efforts working with communities with the spirit of love and collaboration in the pursuit of justice.
