Community Learning & Connection Event Series: Speaker Panel

Shalom Farms is excited to host a series of community learning and connection opportunities this season at our Northside farm. Alternating Community Circles led by The Well Collective or Speaker Panels facilitated by Union Presbyterian Seminary will be followed by a cooking demonstration with Chef Jason Muckle of CHEW preparing plenty of generous samples for folks to enjoy together.

All events will take place in our Community Pavilion at the Northside Farm, 1311 Westwood Ave, and will be offered on a sliding scale of $0-15 per person. This helps us cover the cost of compensating speakers and facilitators. Participants that would like to offer payment can do so online ahead of time, or by cash or card upon arrival.

Community Learning Session Agenda (July 13, September 14 & November 9):

10:30 Arrival and settling in. Shalom staff welcomes guests, shares agenda and introduces topic.

10:35-10:45 Opening exercise led by the Well Collective

10:45-11:15 Facilitated panel discussion

11:15-11:30 Questions, comments, community contributions.

Closing exercise led by the Well Collective11:30-noon Cooking demonstration and shared food.

Full schedule of events: 

June 8- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Circle with the Well Collective

July 13- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Learning: How and why have Richmond’s neighborhoods developed over time, and how does this connect to our food system?

Panelists will talk about redlining, urban renewal efforts, annexations of neighborhoods, city planning over time and other forms of development that have shaped the city and created inequitable access to resources like healthy food. As this is a place-based discussion, panelists can offer specific details related to the nearby neighborhoods of Ginter Park, Sherwood Park and Highland park as they’re able, including information about the land Shalom farms on. 

August 10- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Circle with the Well Collective

September 14- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Learning: Land Dispossession, Displacement and Migration

Panelists will talk about land dispossession and forced migration (in Richmond, but in other parts of the world as well) and how this has shaped our food and agriculture system and created a lack of food sovereignty for many communities.

October 12- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Circle with the Well Collective

November 9- 10:30a-11:30a

Community Learning: The Future of Food and Mutual Aid

Panelists will talk about where we go from here and strategies for dismantling and rebuilding our food system in ways that offer opportunities for self-determination, as well as how community care and mutual aid can offer these opportunities and strengthen our collective access to the things we all need and deserve.