Call for Workshops! 2022 MA Farm & Sea to School Conference

Call for Workshops! Seeding the Future: The Massachusetts Farm & Sea to School Conference | May 16 – May 21, 2022

Proposal deadline (extended): Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Notification of proposal status: March 25, 2022

Conference Overview

This May 2022, Massachusetts Farm to School will host our 6th statewide gathering, the MA Farm & Sea to School Conference. MFTS and planning partners will center the conference on youth leadership and empowerment. The event will also emphasize workshops that address racial, economic, and climate justice in farm to school programming. The workshops should provide all attendees with concrete skills or actionable takeaways and confidence to make a change in their (school) communities.

The conference brings together individuals interested in farm and sea to school efforts in K-12, (including, but not limited to: student leaders, educators, food service professionals, school administrators, wellness & public health professionals, community organizers, policy makers, parent advocates and producers). 

This year, we are shifting from our previous format (day-long, in-person) to a hybrid format. The weeklong event will feature virtual workshops,  panel discussions, and facilitated youth networking as well as in-person regional field trips (on the weekend)!

Call for Workshop Proposals

Conference proposals should relate to the theme of this year’s conference – Seeding the Future. We seek workshops that are engaging, youth centered or youth led, represent a variety of program approaches, reflect the diversity of our state, and promote equity in the farm & sea to school movement.  Workshop sessions can range from 45-75 minutes. You may submit a proposal for a virtual workshop, in-person field trip, or a two part workshop that includes both a virtual segment and a related field trip. 

We are also seeking youth-led workshops, for the youth application, please click here. 

Under the conference theme, topics of interest include, but are not limited to: 

• Student activism and engagement in farm and sea to school
• Farm to school curriculum and classroom instruction
• Climate and environmental justice
• Racial equity and social justice in the food system
• Food justice, access and security
• Creative school and community partnerships that elevate farm and sea to school programs
• Local food procurement 
• Cultural diversity in school meals and farm to school activities 
• Engaging and supporting school food service workers in farm to school work
• Aligning school-based health & wellness initiatives with farm and sea to school programs
• Policy efforts and community organizing on the municipal, regional, and state level to support farm and sea to school programs

Workshop Selection

When evaluating workshop proposals, our review committee will prioritize workshops that: 

• Present with youth and/or speak to how youth is centered in their work
• Provide opportunities for interactive participation of attendees with ample discussion time
• Illustrate innovative approaches to incorporating farm & sea to school in the community, cafeteria, and classroom environments
• Highlight ways in which the farm to school movement can promote racial equity and social justice within the food system
• Include at least one presenter who is a Farm & Sea to School practitioner 
• Are led by individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially those who have been excluded from or underrepresented in the farm to school movement

Submissions

Please submit your workshop here. 

Deadline (extended): March 9, 2022

If online submission is not possible for you, please download this form, complete and mail by March 9th to:
Mass. Farm to School
PO Box 213
Beverly, MA 01915

Questions  

For questions on your workshop submission, please contact Lisa Damon at 413-253-3844 or lisa@massfarmtoschool.org