from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD is the world’s only community-supported journal. JAFSCD content is open access (free) thanks to the generous support of our shareholders: the JAFSCD Shareholder Consortium, Library Shareholders, a growing number of Individual Shareholders, and our JAFSCD Partners: |
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The cover of JAFSCD's winter issue depicts Dr. Christine M. Porter’s vision of the bench where friends and loved ones could visit her into the future, which inspired this linocut print by Shannon Conk.
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The winter issue of JAFSCD includes a special section of articles in a festschrift* for Christine M. Porter, PhD. She was Wyoming Excellence Chair and Professor of Community and Public Health at the University of Wyoming. She focused on community food systems strategies for improving equity, health, and democracy, and investing in strategies to diversify who is leading that work. In her honor, the festschrift celebrates her life and work, including by applying her framework for blending epistemological, ethical, and emotional rigor in research for identifying truth and fostering transformation—what she called triple-rigorous research and storytelling.
*A festschrift is a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar. |
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Groundwork for change: Dr. Christine Porter's role in building the Wyoming Food Coalition JAFSCD commentary by Alyssa Wechsler Duba (Wyoming Food Coalition) |
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From a new JAFSCD commentary by Alyssa Wechsler Duba:
In December 2019, diverse organizations and individuals from across Wyoming met in Casper to discuss their unifying love of food. . . . Dr. Christine Porter joined in her capacity as a representative of the Wyoming Food Justice Coalition (WFC), which had first convened earlier that year. At the time, Wyoming was the only state without a food policy council or other umbrella organization representing statewide food systems interests. . . . While motivated individuals who are engaged in all parts of Wyoming's food system collaboratively built WFC, Dr. Christine Porter played a pivotal role in WFC's inception and development. (pp. 23–24)
Modeling her own triple-rigor methods and advocacy, Dr. Porter ensured robust collaboration between diverse members, the development of initial polices and bylaws, and the development of inclusive, equitable, and transparent governance.
To learn more about the Wyoming Food Coalition and Dr. Christine Porter's impact, read the entire commentary for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.151.026 SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
Established in 2020, the Wyoming Food Coalition (WFC) is a statewide network dedicated to strengthening local food systems. Beyond financial and structural support, Dr. Christine Porter served as a mentor to emerging leaders in the WFC, fostering a culture of empowerment and collaboration. Her advocacy for food justice and sovereignty informed WFC’s strategic direction and community-engagement efforts. Christine’s supportive leadership exemplifies how community-academic partnerships can catalyze systemic and organizational change. Read more about the WFC and Dr. Porter's work @JAFSCD: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.151.026
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Photo above: At the Wyoming Food Coalition 2024 Fall Conference, a tasting of local foods was a hit. Photo courtesy of the Wyoming Food Coalition. |
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JAFSCD SHAREHOLDER'S EVENT |
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How can we co-create paths toward sustainable diets?
Join Dalhousie University (Canada) and CIHEAM Montpellier (France) on Friday, February 6 (10-11am ET), for a discussion with researchers dedicated to collaborative and impactful strategies for better food futures. |
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JAFSCD SHAREHOLDER'S EVENT | |
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The 10th anniversary series of Food Literacy for All kicks off on January 13, with guest speakers starting on January 20. Food Literacy for All is a community-academic partnership course at the University of Michigan.
From January to April, Food Literacy for All features dynamic sessions each Tuesday evening (6:30-7:50 pm ET) that address the challenges and opportunities of diverse food systems.
The first session on Jan. 13 gives an overview of food systems and reviews the syllabus and assignments (community members don’t need to attend the whole session). The guest speakers start on January 20. All sessions are on Zoom and recordings are shared afterward.
See the schedule and register for free as a community member on the website. Registration is rolling, so you can sign up anytime. As a registrant, you can attend the sessions that interest you. You register once and will get reminders of each week's webinar. |
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This email is sent to you as a notification of the newest JAFSCD articles and other occasional JAFSCD news. |
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JAFSCD is an open access, community-supported journal! Your library, program, or organization can become a shareholder to help keep JAFSCD's content available to all, regardless of their resources. We welcome anyone to become an individual shareholder; donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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