A letter from Food Moxie Executive Director Jill Fink:

Like a moth to a flame, I’ve always been drawn to organizations in periods of start-up or transition. Back in January 2013, when I accepted the position of executive director at Food Moxie (then called Weavers Way Community Programs), I wasn’t consciously aware that the organization was in such a period, but it soon would be. 

With intention and purpose, and supported by an incredible board of directors, we had challenging conversations that led to the organization’s first-ever strategic-planning process. Small and full of potential, we emerged with a road map in the spring of 2014 that built the foundation upon which we stand today. 

Along with revising our mission and vision statements to better reflect the work that we had been doing, we also undertook the task of rebranding to create an identity all our own (and minimize confusion with the co-op that founded us). And now, five years later we are an organization poised to carry out the work that we know needs to be done to help create a fair, just and equitable world — starting in our own community.

Most important, our programs expanded to better respond to the needs of the people we serve: 

At Stenton Family Manor, we shifted from only having kids’ programming on one day of the week during the growing season to now working with family members of all ages, four days a week, year-round. We did this because we believe in strengthening and building the capacity, competence and agency of individuals as well as whole families.

We grew from programs that focused on urban agriculture to adding nutrition and culinary literacy at all of our program sites — a “seed-to-supper” education, if you will — because growing food is only the first step to enjoying a nutritious meal.

Of course, 2017 was a tough year for many of us, and reflecting back on the last 12 months, we know that the needs Food Moxie addresses are only growing. Philadelphia remains the poorest big city in America, with one in four Philadelphians experiencing food insecurity. As we look to the future, our focus is on how we best deliver Food Moxie’s unique programs to those who need them and how to best support our staff in the process. 

In 2018, Food Moxie will use a team-based program-delivery model to increase the ratio of instructors to students, so everyone feels supported. Further, all staff will receive training to become more “trauma aware,” with program staff receiving in-depth training in this area. We’ll continue to explore ways to support participants in their long-term goals to improve their health and nutrition beyond their time in high school or while residing at Stenton.

Over the next year, Food Moxie’s staff and board will embark on our next strategic-planning process and create the map for our next five years. We’re still relatively small and on the precipice of wonderful things to come, and we hope you will stay tuned, and support our work. 

Thanks for making these last five years fly by!