INDIANAPOLIS — The Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) and the Centers of Wellness for Urban Women, Inc., announced the opening of applications for the 2019-2020 Neighborhood Food Champion program, designed to support residents in the community who are engaged in addressing food access issues in their neighborhoods.
Each Neighborhood Food Champion selected will receive comprehensive training to sustain a community project, as well as a funding award to support the project’s implementation. In supporting these Neighborhood Food Champions, the City aims to strengthen the skills, abilities, and resources available in our neighborhoods in order to develop a network of alternative, sustainable food access outlets across Indianapolis.
The Neighborhood Food Champions program was successfully piloted in 2017 with funding from the Indy Food Council and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Ultimately, the program will empower its participants to enrich their communities’ food systems and quality of life by bringing their ideas to fruition.
Participation in this program requires:
• Interest in the food issues of your community.
• Attendance at weekly 2-hour workshops for 10-11 weeks.
• An identified food-related project to work on developing.
• A proposal submission after 10-week program.
• A presentation to other participants in the program and members of the community.
• Must be a resident of Marion County and 16 years of age or older.
Applications are being accepted until Nov. 30th. The Centers of Wellness for Urban Women will select 20 Neighborhood Food Champions from the pool of applicants, with the program to begin in February 2020. The application can be completed online www.cwuwonline.org/sprout