Food systems is a new arena of U.S. civic life. Until the 21st century, food system planning and policy-making was almost unknown.
Now there are courses, certifications, and jobs in food system planning and policy. In almost every U.S. community — urban, suburban, rural — there are people newly working on food system components, food system coordination, and food system policy. On a daily basis, people with all sorts of backgrounds, skills, and interests are newly applying their civic attention towards rebuilding local food systems while conceptualizing complete farm and food systems.
Debbie Hillman, principal of D. Hillman Strategies, and Evanston Food Council activists are some of those people, working in our hometown while working at all other levels to create networks of networks — a local food and farm economy supported by a our common, global networks. For any specific project, we have access to a national network of associates with a wide variety of food system skills.
