Title
To recognize and celebrate Ms. Monique McCoy on being selected as a January 2020 Local Food Action Plan Local Food Champion by the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council
Body
WHEREAS, The Local Food Champion's work embodies one or each of the four goals outlined in the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan which include: enhancing the coordination and communication among existing food resources and agencies; improving access to and education about healthy food, affordable food and local food; increasing the role of food in economic development; and preventing food-related waste
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and the Franklin County Local Food Board was established to oversee, prioritize and guide implementation activities of the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Local Food Council (FCLFC) is an independent advisory council that brings together people from across the food system, from growers to eaters, with a particular interest in people and neighborhoods most affected by food system policies and programs -
WHEREAS, The Local Food Champion Award recognizes and celebrates grassroots community efforts that support the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan’s vision of a fair and sustainable food system that benefits our local economy, the environment, and each of the residents in our community; and
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus & the Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council recognize Ms. Monique McCoy as a winner of the January 2020 Local Food Champion Award as her work embodies the goals outlined in the Local Food Action Plan - “Monique McCoy is the Community Food Access Coordinator at Local Matters. Local Matters' newest food access program, Veggie Van, would not be possible without Monique. Monique has championed Local Matters' development of the Veggie Van as a food access and education initiative. She has worked to identify neighborhood partners who will successfully grow in the food access world alongside Veggie Van. With her guidance, Local Matters has developed strong partnerships with Trio Pharmacy (Linden), Equitas King-Lincoln Pharmacy (Near East Side), Franklinton Farms (Franklinton), and Dodge Recreation Center (West Side) to enhance healthy, sustainable food access in their respective neighborhoods. Looking ahead to the winter season, Monique has continued to develop new partnerships, determined to work with any community partner who is interested in working with this year-round food access point. When the Veggie Van was being developed, Monique ensured that the initiative went beyond basic access. She helped design a mobile market format that would allow for continuous cooking demonstrations and meal preparation education so that anyone who shops at Veggie Van can go home with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare the food they buy. Monique McCoy's work and involvement in the community spans all levels of community engagement. She works to inform the community of the resources available through door-to-door and other grassroots outreach. She consults with existing partners to explore how work can become more sustainable and equitable. She is directly involved in carrying out food access and education work. She collaborates with new partners to create change in our communities. She empowers neighbors to make their own healthy food decisions. There is not a single person more personally involved in this food access and education work than Monique!” - These efforts exemplify Goal B of the Local Food Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, Ms. McCoy’s achievements were honored during a special ceremony at the Franklin County Local Food Council meeting in January 2020; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Ms. Monique McCoy on being selected as the January 2020 Local Food Action Plan Local Food Champion by the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council.