Abstract
This presentation explores Sash to Systems™, a youth-led framework reimagining food justice at the intersection of education, policy, and culture. Developed through the work of Nourish the Future Foundation, this model empowers marginalized youth across the U.S. to critically engage with food systems not only as consumers but as future policymakers, researchers, and educators. We will highlight how students from food-insecure and historically marginalized communities co-create research, curricula, and civic engagement projects that address the systemic roots of food inequity. From launching the Green Gen Z Summit to producing classroom-ready resources, students are leading conversations around school food, urban agriculture, and sustainable sourcing. The ROOTS framework—Resilience, Opportunity, Ownership, Tradition, and Sustainability—serves as a guide for embedding cultural relevance into systems change. Drawing from participatory research, youth summits, and policy deliverables, this session will showcase how young people are shifting narratives and re-centering ancestral knowledge in modern food discourse. While grounded in the U.S., this model speaks to global issues: how colonization, industrial food systems, and education gaps intersect to erode food autonomy. By amplifying youth voices from the ground up, this session invites international dialogue on how food education and justice can be reclaimed across borders. Attendees will walk away with a replicable framework and ideas for integrating youth-led, culturally grounded approaches into classrooms, community projects, and policy work—contributing to a truly pluriversal food future.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Youth Food Justice, Cultural Sustainability, Food Policy, Community Engagement, Education
