Each month CAGJ is introducing CAGJ staff, activists and interns to our members. Each activist replies to these questions:
What led you to working with CAGJ?
What does food sovereignty mean to you?
Where do you see CAGJ in 5-10 years?
Can you tell us one favorite aspect of your work with CAGJ?
What is one growing edge you think CAGJ can work on?
For the month of March, we are highlighting the work of our intern, Meagan G.! She has been assisting us in the record keeping of membership, been part of our End of Year social media and fundraising campaigns, and popped into our Monthly Organizing Meetings to virtually socialize with some of you. When not attending classes or interning with CAGJ, Meagan enjoys cooking, watching movies with others, incorporating bright colors into her outfits, and helping her mom write emails in English.
What led you to working with CAGJ?
CAGJ is my practicum while I am studying to get a Masters in social work at UW. I have never been in an organization that does community organizing and stuff like that. I am very much used to direct service work.
What does food sovereignty mean to you?
Food sovereignty as I know it is people’s right to determine and facilitate their own food systems. I think a lot about how if we all practiced and acknowledged food sovereignty as our way of life, the world would be a lot better, and not just for us. The landscapes around me would look a lot cooler. Can you imagine getting heirloom tomatoes or eggs on the regular from somebody 30 feet away from you? I don’t usually get opportunities like that. I know some people do, but like many folks I go to a big grocery store chain. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with that.
Where do you see CAGJ in 5-10 years?
I see CAGJ having more…social workers! Social worker volunteers, social worker allies, social worker members. I know a lot of the values we have align with what CAGJ is doing.
Can you tell us one favorite aspect of your work with CAGJ?
I really like the people I work with at CAGJ! They all come from different walks of life, but still have a common ground of wanting to see better food systems for the U.S. and globally. I also really admire how CAGJ has a lot of integrity. Coming from a social work perspective, foundations are important for us to keep doing the ground work. Now I ask myself “Ok, foundations have big money, so what? What specifically are they doing to make things better? Are they making things better?” I guess what I’m trying to say is that CAGJ makes me think about the big picture stuff.
What is one growing edge you think CAGJ can work on?
I think CAGJ will always have to work on this, but they have to adapt to the present. Overall, it still feels like we’re in a weird spot of virtual and in-person events and meetings. Also, I don’t think anyone ever anticipated that in order to make yourself well-known, as an organization, you have to be active on social media. It’s kind of wild.
