The feature article of Stanford Social Innovation Review’s (SSIR’s) spring 2021 issue, Philanthropy’s Rural Blind Spot, made a clear and compelling case for why grant makers, even when focused on equity, have historically overlooked distressed suburban and rural communities in favor of their urban counterparts. While investing in densely populated, economically disadvantaged areas has often been regarded as the supposed “best bang for the buck”, the authors of the SSIR article made the case that this traditional system of funding leaves many communities across the country invisible, throwing equity out of the window.

Interestingly, it is not just that funders are not paying attention to smaller communities, but also that many of the communities lack the human capital to apply and make the case for their own needs and innovative solutions.

“…many smaller communities and organizations applying for grants experience a resource cost problem,
wherein the administrative effort required to get a grant outweighs the value of the grant.”

Therefore, cities like Newark and Harlem, boasting high numbers of anchor institutions and non-profit organizations per capita, receive more funding than cities like Bridgeton and Flint, despite similar challenges. Conclusions of SSIR’s research run parallel to the findings captured in Pinnacle Prevention’s recently launched assessment report: Active Living in Arizona’s Rural Communities: A Call to Action.
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In 2019, with funding from the Vitalyst Health foundation, we interviewed and surveyed stakeholders across the state to gain a better understanding of how nonprofit and government agencies can work together with rural and tribal communities to improve opportunities for active living. Through the process, we heard that despite a phenomenon of crumbling infrastructure juxtaposed with a growing desire for safe recreation and transportation facilities, local staff in rural and tribal communities are stretched thin and lack the time to apply or even be aware of grant opportunities. Moreover, local champions lack the capacity to navigate complex grant applications on their own. As a result, local community members continue to lack access to safe places to play, gather, and relax. A stakeholder even asked that an organization step up to serve as a “Match.com” for funders and projects.  
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Thankfully, last year, Pinnacle was also the recipient of a Vitalyst Health Foundation Systems Change grant to develop a collaborative effort focused on improving quality of life across the state through driving active living infrastructure investments into Arizona’s rural and tribal communities. 

The Plan of Action has been to:

• Foster partnership and collaboration around built environment, active living, recreation, trails and land use issues/opportunities;
• Identify assets, needs and wants through listening to community and by engaging with stakeholders;
• Equip local champions and community members to become involved in community planning and development processes;
• Identify and assist with grant applications, and;
• Engage in advocacy and help to develop policy that paves the way for additional funding sources for rural and tribal communities.

Many of these steps are already off the ground. Help us shine the light on some of our state’s Blind Spots. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.pinnacleprevention.org/active-living
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​April 16, 2021: Please keep reading for updates on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) grower debt relief made possible through the American Rescue Plan.
 
USDA has published a Frequently Asked Question document (LINK to attached PDF – can this be hosted as an upload on our website?) which answers some of the most common questions farmers have raised so far regarding eligibility, notification, and process for receiving debt forgiveness.
 
USDA has additional information on their website. Here is a recording and link from a recent listening session: ppt slides here.

​A few key takeaways from that listening session:

• Farmers should contact their local USDA office to ensure they have a completed form AD 2047 on file to designate their race / ethnicity and status as a socially disadvantaged farmer. This is the single most important thing to address right now, as USDA will rely on these records to figure out which loans to forgive.
• Farmers will not be required to apply for debt forgiveness – it will be automated.
• Over the next week or so, farmers with a completed AD 2047 on file should receive a direct notification of their eligibility for debt forgiveness. They will likely need to verify the total amount and return to FSA.

A detailed FSA page can be found here, which includes several resources on debt relief, including the FAQ doc and eligibility: Eligible borrowers include those who identify as one or more of the following: Black/African American, American Indian, Alaskan native, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. The American Rescue Plan Act uses Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 as the definition of Socially Disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
 
For important context about the impact of this overdue news on Black agrarian history, check out these two articles:

1. Civil Eats: https://civileats.com/2021/03/29/tracy-mccurty-has-worked-a-long-time-to-see-historic-wrongs-righted-for-black-farmers/
2. The Counter: https://thecounter.org/black-farmers-discrimination-debt-vilsack-american-rescue-plan-covid-19/

 
Please share this post across your networks to ensure that BIPOC producers across Arizona have information about this new resource.
 
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Have you heard? The new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) were recently released this past month. As we move into 2021, the timeliness and, also the irony, of the release of the guidelines is not lost on us. Timely, in that they were released just in time as 2020 turned to a close. And ironic, that the urge to focus on an ideal diet in midst of an awful pandemic - that is intimately intertwined with the longstanding injustices that are part of our food and health systems – with increased food insecurity, disruptions to our food system, political strife, and food worker injustices. The light of this context make the DGAs feel like a being offered a five-dollar coupon for an on-flight beverage after your luggage was lost and your flight was canceled. But, yet, despite these realities, our understanding of how we all SHOULD eat marches on.
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The evolution of the science that goes into the DGAs is nothing to scoff at. This most recent guidance marks the 9th edition of the DGAs which have been released every five years since 1980. The process of what goes into the final document is extensive.  Final guidelines are made following an extensive scientific review. The committee’s expertise and understanding of the dietary guidelines is well researched, understood, and evidence based, though it is worth noting that concerns related to food industry bias have been raised in the field.

It is also worth noting that the intent of the DGAs are in the interest of public health. The new DGAs state that key tenants of writing the guidelines are that it must: represent the totality of the evidence examined, address the needs of federal programs, reduce unintended consequences, follow best practices for developing guidelines, and use plain language. For many, these DGAs are useful for making functional food choices. In reality, humans don’t just eat for nutrition. Nobody will argue that nutrition matters; however, food is also a source of pleasure, of community, of family, of history and tradition, and life. Context also includes social and historical constructs and systems that influence choice, availability, and relationships with food. We hold in equal regard the context of eating as we do the nutrition the food provides. The complexities behind the reality of our relationships with food, and why we champion certain foods and vilify others are deep.

And there are consequences, unintended or not, from failing to include these contexts.  From solely an individual behavior lens, research is continuing to mount on the impact of restriction and feeling restricted on our relationships with food with expectations that individuals should meet nutrient guidelines and patterns. Even expecting individuals to make nutrition the priority of every meal, greatly ignores the reality of life and role of psychology and environment in eating. Add in the context of poverty, food insecurity, trauma and loss of food traditions lecturing about healthy eating starts to feel like victim blaming. Our health, our diet, and wellbeing are intimately and intricately intertwined with larger systems that shape us. Things beyond individual responsibility and control. Deep rooted systems tied to historical and ongoing forms of racism, oppression, and poverty. There is design behind what is available to us and what shapes why we eat what we eat.

We are happy to see that there is recognition of the importance of reducing unintended consequences, but do these words have meaning or just a placation? The truth is, despite 40 years of increasingly detailed guidance, Americans are no closer to achieving them. The guidelines acknowledge that over time, eating patterns in the United States have remained far below the dietary guidelines recommendations. These trends are evident across all socioeconomic levels. So why are we offering slightly modified guidelines over and over every five years and expecting a different result?

What about holding the industry and systems that shape food choices accountable? Despite clear understanding of how increased sugar intake, salt and saturated fat impact health, food environments are no closer to matching the guidance. How can we expect Americans to prioritize nutrition when they are battling for basic needs, coping with injustice, and living in environments designed to add harm?

Obviously, this context matters.  So, when sharing and interpreting this information, in the face of the many reasons behind why people eat what they eat, let us resist the urge to double down and smugly argue “eat less, move more.”  Perhaps it is time to instead, look deeper into the contexts not included, to listen and revise our approach. In the context of moving into 2021, with the light on systemic racism, structural issues, and systemic traumas, it is time to shift power. Maybe folks aren’t meeting the guidelines because our food system is unjust. How about we stop putting the burden of meeting the guidelines on the individual when the guidelines are better targeted to the system itself.

​We won’t see trends improve in meeting the dietary guidelines until the emphasis of meeting these guidelines is targeted back at not focusing on changing the individual, but rather changing the system.
 

So many food banks and senior housing sites graciously worked with us (on very short notice!) to distribute fresh produce bags to seniors that they serve through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Senior FMNP)

We were able to deliver produce bags for seniors throughout the Valley by teaming up with:
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St. Mary’s Food Bank in Surprise
Desert Mission Food Bank in north Phoenix
Justa Center in central Phoenix
Nourish PHX (formerly ICM Food & Clothing Bank) in central Phoenix
Azcend Community based in Chandler
Mercy Housing sites in Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, and Guadalupe

We simply could not have served 1400 seniors without the dedication of so many individuals behind the scenes. From the Mercy Care Resident Services Coordinators, to the food bank directors, to everyone who helped unpack hundreds of bags from our van, many souls came together to provide delicious vegetable bags for our senior neighbors. #AZFMNP

Blue Sky Organic Farms is a diverse, family-run organic farm growing 120 crops in Litchfield Park in the West Valley of Phoenix. Led by David Vose and Sara Dolan, the farm grows year-round in the challenging Phoenix climate.

We were grateful to add their sturdy+tasty green kale, purple kale, and Swiss chard to senior FMNP produce bags, and it got rave reviews! We also want to thank David and Sara for their efforts to protect farmland, and encourage folks to sign up for important updates on farmland access in Maricopa County here: https://www.goodfoodfinderaz.com/save-farmland


You can find Blue Sky’s produce for sale at their farm store (4762 N 189th Avenue, Litchfield Park,85340) on Weds/Thurs/Fri 12-5pm or Saturdays 9am-3pm
or
Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market
RoadRunner Park Farmers' Market
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market
Uptown Farmers Market on Wednesday
Gilbert Farmers Market
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They also offer Double Up Food Bucks Arizona at the farm store, and participate actively in Sun Produce Co-op. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for fresh, organic produce updates.

Thank you Sara, David, and team!