7:00 - 8:00 AM: Gather in Lobby of Hotel Monaco
Coffee and light breakfast will be available.
Board bus by 8:00 AM
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Day 2 Site Visits
8:30-9:30 AM
Braddock Farms
Join us as we see an example of a large-scale urban farm and hear from Grow Pittsburgh about their efforts teach people how to grow food and promote the benefits gardens bring to our neighborhoods.
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Join us for a tour of the Food Bank and over lunch, a discussion of food distribution, access and policy issues in our region. Among other issues, we will discuss the expiration of Pennsylvania’s statewide waiver from the SNAP program’s rules regarding able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and its effects on consumers and supplying food systems.
Panelists:
- Dennis McManus, Government Affairs Director at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Dawn Plummer, Director, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
- Rochelle Jackson, Public Policy Advocate, Just Harvest (invited)
- Abby Wilson, Policy Deputy Director, Allegheny County Health Department (invited)
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Oasis Farm and Fishery
Join us as we visit the Oasis Farm and Fishery and solar-powered greenhouse, a micro farm with outdoor and indoor growing capacity located in Homewood. The facility, which is a program of The Oasis Project, a community and economic development division of Bible Center Church, Inc. will soon feature STEM classes and cooking demonstrations for neighborhood residents as well.
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Homegrown Gardens
Join us as we take a look at the effects of a Phipps Conservatory program dedicated to increasing community access to fresh produce, promoting better food choices, and improving the overall health of families and children by installing raised-bed vegetable gardens at households in underserved neighborhoods and by providing mentorship and resources.
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Perry’s Honeydripper Corner Store
Much of our last trip in Philadelphia focused on the success of the Food Trust’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative. Join us as we see an example of efforts to encourage healthy corner stores in underserved neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.
***Please note that this agenda may change as speakers and sites continue to be finalized and confirmed. You will be notified if any portion of the agenda that you sign up for is modified.***