​​In the new year, the United States legislature will introduce the 2018 Farm Bill. Here is some information on what the new bill will contain and how it will impact you if it’s passed.

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​With the end of October nearing, National Farm to School Month is also coming to a close. But this doesn’t mean that Farm to School efforts have to end! These programs promote connections between students, schools, and local farmers which should be celebrated and implemented year-round. 

It's National Farm to School Month, and this week we're celebrating with some of the wonderful numbers behind the movement! Check out our infographic to learn more about farm to school programs, as well as their impact across the country and in our state.
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​​October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections between schools, local farmers, and food. Farm to School Month is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of farm to school programs as a way to improve child nutrition, support local economies, and educate children about the origins of food.

​​Today, August 17 is acknowledged as a National Nonprofit Day (NND)!
 
On August 17, 1894, the Tariff Act enforced the first federal income tax on corporations, which incorporated exemptions for nonprofit corporations and charitable institutions. Many things have changed since then, but nonprofit exemptions remain, and nonprofit organizations benefit our society in numerous ways.
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​TigerMountain Foundation is “planting the seeds of change,” in South Phoenix, one community garden at a time. Founder Darren Chapman, who started the program in 2008, works with groups of potentially at-risk youth, veterans, homeless populations and people who have previously been incarcerated. Those involved with the program learn about gardening and landscaping, as well as essential work and life skills.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
 

Giving back to the community and generous entrepreneurship aren’t typically the first things on a child’s mind, especially during summer vacation. But for 11-year-old Brooklyn Klein, the urge to make a difference drives her to give back to her community each week. ​

​At Pinnacle Prevention, we believe it takes a village to make a meaningful difference. Our state is full of individuals and organizations that are passionate about creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems across Arizona. In March, we released a report that digs in to what these organizations are doing, and how a collaborative statewide network could help improve food systems in communities across the state.
 
These organizations and others work to fill gaps and advance their community’s food system, but each faces similar challenges throughout their work. Each organization featured in the report advocates for a statewide network of collaboration to address many of these challenges, and also enhance success.
 
“By creating a network of networks that shares a vision, collective objectives, and common data,” the report says, “the local organizations will see where they fit in the big picture, where activities align, and how to build and learn from one another.”

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by advertisements that make it seem imperative for us to express our love for friends and family with purchased goods. From staples like flowers and candy to bank-breaking jewelry and five-star restaurant reservations, decades of Valentine’s Day marketing have effectively equated love with flashy gifts and showy displays of affection.

Valentine’s Day as we know it in the United States primarily focuses on romantic love, often downplaying or outright excluding the relationships we have with family and friends. Alternatively, the Valentine’s Day equivalent celebrated in many Latin-American countries is “El Día de Amor y Amistad,” or “The Day of Love and Friendship.” In countries such as Colombia and Bolivia, the focus on both love and friendship encourages the celebration of our relationships with families and friends alongside relationships with significant others.

​Here are some ideas for how to celebrate this Valentine’s Day as your own personal day of love and friendship: