Greater Louisville Food Council (GLFC)

Transforming the Food System
The Greater Louisville Food Council (GLFC) has been created!

The GLFC is comprised of individuals united in the common purpose of creating an equitable and resilient Louisville regional food system that supports all aspects of the food system – from the producer to the consumer. The Council will guide the implementation of the Food Vision 2030 and spearhead ongoing efforts to create a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food system. 

Greater Louisville Food Council Members

Abbey Bowman-Rogers
Amir Hussein
Andrea Wright
Angelina Strickland
Daishauna Aleman
Emily Smith
Eneitra Beattie
Jane Evans
Jay Luckett
Jo Rodman
Juan Davis
Kaila Washington
Kinshasta Reed
Lakeisha Gardner
Megan Steed
Rhona Kamar
Tay G
Taylor Candey
Taylor Ryan
Theresa Zawacki
Zoha Mian
Zuri Harrison

Join a Working Group

You can join one of the four Working Groups to be part of Louisville’s food justice movement. The Working Groups are guided by the Food Council and will be the primary vehicles for realizing the priorities of the Food Vision 2030 as determined by the GLFC. Anyone interested in advancing the Vision can join one or more of the Working Groups. Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions about the GLFC
What is the time commitment of being on the Greater Louisville Food Council?

Meetings of the full Council are held a minimum of six times per year. Meeting times and location will be adjusted to fit the schedules of the membership.

What kind of people serve on the Food Council?

People who want to be a part of positive change in the Louisville area. People who wish to help increase health equity and food justice in Jefferson County. People who are interested in strengthening the local food economy and making food more accessible.

What are the benefits of being on the Food Council?

A leadership role in your community and your local food system. Council members will be compensated at a flat rate per meeting as funds are available. Each member may choose to accept compensation or donate their time.

What are the responsibilities of being on the Food Council?

Attendance at each of the six annual bi-monthly meetings that happen throughout the year is required. Missing two full Council meetings a year without prior discussion with the GLFC Coordinator is deemed equivalent to resignation. Commitment to be involved with at least one Working Group (see Bylaws for more detail) and to attend at least 2/3 of regularly scheduled Working Group meetings. Missing more than 1/3 of the working group meetings a year without prior discussion with the GLFC Coordinator & Working Group Coordinator is deemed equivalent to resignation.

How does one become a Food Council member?

The application deadline has passed, but each year we will seek applications for new GLFC members as people finish their terms.

Bylaws

I.  MISSION STATEMENT

The Greater Louisville Food Council (GLFC) guides implementation of the Food Vision 2030 and spearheads ongoing efforts to create a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food system.

II.  EQUITY STATEMENT

The GLFC recognizes food as a basic human right. The current practices, laws, and rules that shape our food system are rooted in white supremacy and must be transformed. To work towards a more equitable food system, the GLFC prioritizes policies and projects that promote equity for people who have been systematically marginalized.

III.  GOALS
  1. Guide the implementation of the Food Vision 2030.
  2. Facilitate community engagement to assess and improve the Greater Louisville food system.
  3. Catalyze actions to advance food justice, health equity, environmental justice, and social well-being.
Iv.  ROLE of GLFC

The role of the GLFC is to provide a space for discussion and coordination to strengthen collaborative action, policy, and technical assistance that is responsive to community needs.  

V.  MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Selection Criteria

The GLFC will represent the diversity of our community as a whole. Recognizing the systemic injustices that certain groups in our society face, the Selection Committee evaluates applications with attention to age, racialized identity, gender identity, and zip code of work and residence in order to create a representative Council.  In order to do this, GLFC members will seek members who identify with one or more of these categories:

  • Racialized minority (Black, Indigenous, person of color BIPOC)
  • Woman or Female-identifying
  • LGBTQIA+ identifying
  • Youth (ages 15-25)

Twenty-one (21) is the target number of members for the GLFC. The Council will strive to achieve a broadly representative composition and make an effort to have representation from the list of constituencies below. GLFC members will also meet these requirements:

  • Commitment to transform the Louisville food system into an equitable, just, resilient and sustainable system.
  • Residence in Jefferson County or adjacent counties in Kentucky or Indiana.
  • Attendance at each of the six annual bi-monthly meetings that happen throughout the year is required. Missing two full-council meetings a year without prior discussion with the GLFC Coordinator is deemed equivalent to a resignation.
  • Commitment to be involved with at least one Working Group (see below for explanation), and attend at least 2/3 of regularly scheduled WG meetings. Missing more than 1/3 of the working group meetings a year without prior discussion with the GLFC Coordinator & Working Group Coordinator  is deemed equivalent to a resignation.
VI.  Representation on the GLFC
  1. Farmers and urban food producers
  2. Representatives of non-governmental organizations in related fields (e.g. food security, health, environment, sustainability, etc.)
  3. Residents of these zip codes of the West End of Louisville
    Shawnee [40212, 40211]; Portland [40212, 40203]; Chickasaw [40211]; Parkland [40211]; Park Duvalle [40211, 40210]; California [40211, 40210]; Algonquin [40210, 40208]; Park Hill [40210, 40208]; Russell [40212, 40211, 40203]  *Data from LOJIC
  4. Food chain workers, including but not limited to people employed as farm laborers and/or in the food industry (fast food, restaurants, grocery stores, food packaging, food processing, etc.
  5. People involved in education and training, including but not limited to those employed in the fields of food, agriculture, environmental sciences and/or related fields
  6. People involved in health and nutrition, including but limited to those employed in the field of healthcare, public health, food, agriculture, environmental sciences and/or related fields
  7. People involved in food business community, especially small/independant & locally owned/operated
  8. People involved in food security/emergency food, including but not limited to people employed at food pantries, etc.
  9. Local government representatives [two maximum] – (from Jefferson County and/or adjacent counties in Kentucky or Indiana)
  10. Food waste and/or food rescue worker with primary service in Jefferson County
VII.  TERM

GLFC members will be appointed for two-year terms. Individuals will be allowed to serve consecutive terms. At the end of a member’s term they must reapply to be reappointed to the Council for a 2nd term. The GLFC may fill vacancies by selecting new applicants as needed.

VII.  MEETING FREQUENCY

Meetings of the full GLFC are held a minimum of six times per year. Meeting times and location may be adjusted to fit the schedules of the members. Council members will be compensated at a flat rate per meeting as funds are available. Each member may choose to accept compensation or donate their time.

VIII.  DECISION MAKING

Decisions shall be made by Modified Consensus Building:

  1. A quorum to make a decision consists of at least 75% GLFC voting members.
  2. Hear all viewpoints.
  • Hear and address concerns
  • Hear reservations
  1. Seek consensus.
  2. If there is no consensus, take a vote noting:
  • Blocking concerns
  • Stand aside (Abstain)
  1. Decision shall be made by 2/3rds of the quorum
  2. When decisions cannot be made by 2/3rds majority, distinguish types of disagreement as either:
  • Can live with it
  • Strong disagreement
  1. If more than 1/4th of the quorum strongly disagrees, reopen for discussion to reach compromise with at least 2/3 majority. Tabling a decision until the next meeting or special meetings or an email decision allows for people to have additional time to consider the issues and discern the best path forward.
IX.  AMENDMENTS

The bylaws may be amended with a 2/3rd vote of the full Council following a two-week notice of the proposed change. 

X.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The GLFC will be guided by an Executive Committee of four people, which is responsible for ensuring that the Council’s work is in alignment with the goals of the Food Vision 2030. This group will develop agendas, convene meetings, facilitate decision-making and draft reports in cooperation with the GLFC Coordinator. The Executive Committee supports Council members to represent the Council in media, and community and government relations.

The GLFC will have two Co-Chairs, one Vice Chair, and a Clerk. The roles and responsibilities of each position will be decided upon by the Executive Committee in conjunction with the GLFC Coordinator. Local government representatives may not serve on the Executive Committee.

The role of the Co-Chairs includes but is not limited to…

  1. Facilitating meetings
  2. Setting meeting agendas
  3. Ensuring implementation of meeting action items for continuity of work
  4. Responsible for official communications with Council members including but not limited to scheduling meetings, meeting follow up, etc.

The role of the Vice Chair includes but is not limited to…

  1. Facilitating meetings in the absence of the Co-Chairs
  2. Completing various tasks as assigned by the Co-Chairs
  3. Fiscal management, as needed

The role of the Clerk includes but is not limited to…

  1. Recording notes for all meetings, if the clerk is absent a Staff member may do so.

Additional committees may be created and convened by the Executive Committee as needed. 

XI.  STAFF

The GLFC Coordinator will be responsible for working with the Clerk to set agendas, maintain the email distribution list and other administrative duties as necessary.  The GLFC Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the Council’s involvement with Working Groups. Interns and volunteers may assist the GLFC Coordinator in this process. The GLFC Coordinator reports to the Executive Committee of the GLFC.

XII.  WORKING GROUPS

The GLFC may convene Working Groups to serve as coordinating bodies of on-the-ground implementation of the Food Vision 2030. As community needs change, Working Groups may be reconfigured to meet those needs as determined by the GLFC. All Council members are required to be involved with at least one Working Group. Meetings will be scheduled by each Working Group.