Based in Paulden, Juan Aguiar Bravo and Keeton Aguiar established Blooming Reed Farm in 2019, continuing in their family’s deep farming traditions (Juan is the son of Fernando Aguiar, featured later this month). They proudly use sustainable and no-till practices on their land to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. We especially loved adding this farm’s hearty root vegetables to the senior’s produce bags: sunchokes, parsnips, beets, and carrots! Support Blooming Reed Farm this winter by following them on Facebook and Instagram, @bloomingreedfarm and buying their goodies at the Prescott Farmers Market on Saturdays, winter market hours 10am-1pm. Their produce is also available through Sun Produce Co-op for buyers in central/southern Arizona. https://www.prescottfarmersmarket.org/meet-the-farmers/blooming-reed-farm/ #farmerspotlight #azfmnp
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We trust them. We like them. We buy from them. You should too.
Every Tuesday and Friday this December, we will feature all of the local farms and farmer cooperatives around Arizona who helped us deliver $36,000 worth of fresh, high-quality produce to over 1,200 seniors in need through the AZ Farmers Market Nutrition Program (AZFMNP). This special series is our way of showcasing and thanking them, so be sure to share and give them a follow! INNOVATION: Bulk purchasing was a new component of the AZFMNP program this year. Previously in Arizona, $30 worth of farmers market checks or coupons were offered to eligible seniors who participate in CSFP, a monthly commodity food box offered by local food banks. Amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, we had to make a quick change in our coupon model. We decided to bulk-purchase and deliver thousands of pounds of fresh produce directly to food banks and senior housing sites. This adaptation ensured that seniors unable to attend farmers markets were still able to receive fresh produce from their local farmers. It was impactful to support farmers across the state during October and November, which are typically leaner, transitional months as summer crops wind down due to frost and changing seasons, and winter crops begin to mature. We trust these farms and are so grateful for their partnership and their hard work. We buy from them, and you should too! Thanks for following along!#azfmnp Fernando, Margarita, Blanca, and the Aguiar family grow a large variety of crops year-round and chemical-free on their beautiful, lush farmstead in Paulden. The Aguiars of Aguiar Farms are a multi-generational family with immense farming knowledge, work ethic, and big hearts. We’re thankful that they were able to provide storage friendly staples such as onions, potatoes, and winter squash for Senior FMNP participants. You can find their produce weekly on Saturdays at Prescott Farmers Market (winter hours 10am-1pm) and in the summertime at the Flagstaff Community Market. Local folks can order fresh produce and dried herbs through their online shop for farm pickup or no-contact delivery. https://aguiar-farms.square.site/ Discussion Topic: Language and CommunicationsWe chose language and communications for our first discussion because if we have learned anything, we've learned that language matters! Our goal is to recognize how bias manifests itself at Pinnacle Prevention and navigate our roles and actions to eliminate practices that invite/perpetuate bias. Resource Shared: Sum of Us – A Progressive’s Style Guide Here are some of the issue areas we discovered in our discussion:
LANGUAGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTFood Stamps – It is challenging to shift from previous universal term.
Active Living/Built Environment – Walking, biking, transit
Move away from universal reference to ‘Brown Communities’ Universally Agreed upon actions for pinnacle preventionWe agree to edit/cross-check each other’s work in alignment with guidance. We agree that work to improve language will be ongoing. We agree that discussions will rotate facilitation with a team member volunteering for next facilitation. What are your thoughts? How can we improve our language? We take racism very seriously. It is vital to our mission, and to each team member personally, to keep the conversation going and to fight systematic racism in tangible ways. The first step we have taken as a team is to schedule a bi-weekly team discussion space to:
We don’t expect fundamental change overnight… but there has to be a change, and this is where we start. We challenge and encourage our partners and followers to create a space in your work environment for these discussions. We choose to schedule bi-weekly video calls for one hour on Zoom. Here are the ground rules we abide by: 1. Respect individual experiences. 2. Trust that everyone is doing the best they can. 3. Remember we are all in different places in this work professionally and personally, and that's okay. 4. No one knows everything; together we know a lot. 5. Acknowledge the difference between intent and impact. 6. Don't throw expectations at others without considering your own actions and expectations of yourself. 7. Don’t make assumptions about what others may or may not be doing to tackle racism and oppression in their personal time. 8. Keep this space safe. In the interest of transparency, we will be posting what we have learned from each other and some of the resources we use. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and check our blog frequently for updates. Are you sharing a space like this with your team? Let us know how it’s going for you. Resilience awards are intended as emergency relief for farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and their families. Use of the funds is restricted to household expenses, such as groceries, home utilities, medical bills, counseling, or other household expenses not directly related to the commercial operation of a farm or ranch. The funds may not be used for any business expense or investment. The IRS guidelines regarding direct assistance to farm, ranch, and farmworker families prevent Farm Aid from granting funds to support a farm or ranch and its business costs. Your acceptance of this award signifies your understanding and agreement to these use requirements. Family farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers who have suffered hardship because of the COVID-19 crisis in CO, WY, NM, ID, UT, AZ are eligible to apply. Groups that qualify for preference under this fund are women and/or farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers of color (Black/African American, Asian/Asian American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native). To qualify for this preference more than half of the agricultural business must be owned by individuals who are socially disadvantaged. Successful applicants will receive a one-time $500 emergency resilience award. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed on a weekly basis until funds run out. Checks will be issued to approved applicants within 10 business days of weekly review meetings. Download the applications below and submit online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C78KV3Y or by mail to Nick Levendofsky 900 East Union Ave. Suite 200 Denver, CO 80237. We encourage you to submit your application as quickly as possible, using the online form, to ensure funds are still available. For assistance with this application, please contact Harrison Topp, 303-918-3538, harrison.topp@rmfu.org.
We are all grappling with fear, anxiety, anger, and a host of mixed emotions surrounding COVID-19. As we navigate the ever-changing information and the range of emotions, one thing is overwhelmingly clear – we must do our part. We care deeply for each other as a team, and we care deeply for the community. In Arizona and all other communities where cases of COVID-19 are alarmingly on the rise, we are seeing those cases filter into our own personal circles. The question has become: not IF, but WHEN will COVID-19 impact our team and work directly? While we are proud of our safe and flexible work environment, we know that there are still opportunities for improvement. The goals of the Pinnacle Prevention COVID-19 Workplace Safety and Operational Continuity Plan are to:
We are sharing our plan to be transparent - and to perhaps inspire others to create a version for their team or family. Beyond having a plan on paper, we have also considered the policy, system, and environmental supports that we can implement as a workplace. These supports are both good business practices and good for the long-term well being of the team. They include:
We continue to have honest, vulnerable, and transparent discussions with each other and our partners, listening and sharing about what we all have the bandwidth to handle at any given point in time on top of family demands. Isolation is hard. We are wired for human connection. Despite this – we are playing our part. What’s your plan? Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the liberation of enslaved people in the United States. Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective Jan. 1, 1863, however en-slavers were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order for up to two and a half years. Union troops were called upon to enforce it and General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to inform the last of the slaves that the Civil War had ended and they were free. What followed was a mix of shock and jubilation that resonated so much so that they began celebrating June 19 the very next year in the same town square, and named it combining June and 19th. Today, while not a national holiday, it is observed in the majority of American states by members of the black community. This is only a short synopsis that does not fully encompass the whole story and we encourage you to visit the resources below to learn more about Juneteenth. "Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territories." https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm "We should care because the very fabric of our society depends on our shared religion of inalienable rights. A celebration of freedom for any American is a celebration of the ideals that make our country what it is today." https://time.com/4373253/juneteenth-2016/ "The announcement actually urged Freedmen and Freedwomen to stay with their former owners" https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/06/juneteenth-has-always-been-worthy-celebration/613270/ Black Joy - Not Corporate Acknowledgement - is the heart of Juneteeth https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth The Juneteenth Broadcast: The #HUNGERFORJUSTICE Series http://www.agrowingculture.org/hfj/ About Pinnacle Prevention
Founded in 2014, Pinnacle Prevention is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing healthy families and communities. Our mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living. Our team believes all families should have access to healthy food and opportunities to develop healthy relationships with foods. We think all individuals should have access to healthy and safe communities to enjoy physical activity. We work to make these visions a reality across Arizona by offering training, consultation, technical assistance, research and evaluation, advocacy and policy support, community engagement, and community-based programs. You will see us working in neighborhoods, schools, farms, farmers markets, stores, health care settings, with city council, or at the state legislature for a comprehensive approach to addressing community needs. Programs Support Specialist Pinnacle Prevention is seeking a full-time Programs Support Specialist who will support coordination of our community-based programming, primarily focusing on farmers market nutrition programs support and coordination, as well as overall administrative and operations support for the organization. We offer a flexible work environment emphasizing a balance of time working in the office, home, and out in the community. Our office environment is pet and family-friendly meaning it is not uncommon to find a little one, whether on four legs or two, playing at our feet during meetings – a nontraditional approach that the ideal candidate will feel comfortable with. The Pinnacle Prevention office is located in the heart of downtown Chandler, Arizona in a bike/pedestrian friendly environment. This is an exempt full-time position with an annual salary of $42,000 commensurate with experience. Pinnacle Prevention is pleased to offer a competitive benefits package for our team members including a 401K retirement savings plan with employer match; medical, dental, and vision with Pinnacle Prevention covering 100% of the insurance premium costs; we offer generous flexibility for time off and leave; and, we welcome children and pets in our office. Responsibilities The Programs Support Specialist is primarily responsible for daily administrative and operations support with a focus on coordinating programming and implementation efforts for our farmers market nutrition programs. Farmers market programs support responsibilities include (~50% of your time):
Qualifications
Values and Attributes Important to Us
Preferred skills:
We encourage interested candidates to submit a resume and cover letter by email only to adrienneudarbe@pinnacleprevention.org by Friday, June 19th. In your cover letter, please tell us why you are interested in this job, what you like about Pinnacle Prevention, and share examples of experiences that make you a strong candidate. The anticipated start date for this position is Monday, July 6th. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Pinnacle Prevention will not respond to any phone call inquiries regarding this position. Pinnacle Prevention is an equal opportunity employer. Pinnacle Prevention is a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing healthy families and communities. Our mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living to all people. When we say all people – we mean all people. Our mission and purpose are fundamentally tied to equity, and this is why we stand against racism, and the violence and injustices faced by black and brown communities. Black lives matter.
To fulfill our mission, we are committed to ensuring that our policies, systems, and environments help achieve a healthier future for all Arizonans. This starts by addressing the racial injustices and social inequities felt by communities of color that are reinforced year after year through a system that is not currently addressing the roots causes of these problems. All of our work to make healthy communities a reality means nothing if black and brown people are made to live in fear for their lives. We want kids to be able to move and play outside, but this cannot be done if a black mother is afraid for her black son to go out to play at the local park. We want families to have access to healthy foods, but this can’t be done if a black family has to travel miles out of their way to buy fresh produce – and fears for their life on that journey to find food. The trauma of racism has run deep for centuries – deeply systematic and deeply personal. We hear and see your hurt, anger, fear, and grief resulting from the long history of white supremacy. Outrage against the system, in this case police brutality, is necessary to achieve social transformation. Our Pinnacle Prevention team is dedicated to doing the work of social justice, during and after this news cycle, and we also acknowledge that this work is ongoing for us internally. We recognize that we are an organization that is predominately white, but through our privilege there is an opportunity to move beyond just being sympathetic but taking actions to make change. We stand with communities of color by channeling our energy and actions into tackling systemic racism so that we truly can help grow healthy families and communities for all people. Want to take action? Donate to these amazing black and brown led organizations working on food and health justice here in Arizona:
We invite our colleagues working within the food system and built environment system to discuss privilege and work through this with us. The conversation won’t end with the news cycle. Sincerely, The Pinnacle Prevention Team |
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