A long-time supporter of Weavers Way and Food Moxie, I was recently asked to join Food Moxie’s Board of Directors. As someone whose career has involved agriculture, food security and city greening, I was happy to join on and hope to contribute to the organization’s communications, fundraising and personnel transitions.

Why do I give? It would be a massive understatement to say that some of our Philadelphia neighbors lack access to basic nutritious food and economic agency. In fact, roughly 26 percent of our neighbors live at or below the poverty line, and many more are on the edge. So many of our kids don’t see a reasonable future that involves upward mobility. In light of waning federal and state support, traditional means of addressing food security and poverty more broadly require constant innovation. This is where small nonprofits such as Food Moxie fit in and play a vital role. Through programming at Stenton Family Manor, Martin Luther King High School and Saul High School, Food Moxie’s crew supports and inspires students and families around food, gardening and environmental stewardship. Food Moxie Executive Director Jill Fink runs a tight ship in which all stakeholders know where they fit in, how their contribution matters and what constitutes success.

Fully knowing that the efforts of Food Moxie and community organizations cannot stem the tide of citywide poverty, Board members, staff and volunteers nevertheless understand the immense value of contributing to the lives of individuals. When one family experiences social support, enjoys a healthy meal or engages in gardening, their potential to thrive increases. 

It’s not that anyone can wave a magic wand and fix systemic problems. The support provided by Food Moxie can be thought of as a single ingredient in a complicated recipe that requires years of discipline to execute, with the end goal being the growth and development of a new generation of thriving Philadelphians.