PUBLICATIONS
Fruits and vegetables top the list of locally produced foods served in U.S. schools
According to USDA’s Farm to School Census, 36 percent of the U.S. public school districts that completed the questionnaire reported serving at least some locally produced foods in school lunches or breakfasts during school years 2011-12 or 2012-13. The DOD Fresh Program allows districts to use USDA funds to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables through the Department of Defense, which provides information to districts on foods that are sourced locally. Read more here.
Foreclosure Crisis Fueled Dramatic Rise of Racial Segregation: Study
The foreclosure crisis that drove approximately 9 million people across the United States from their homes disproportionately displaced black and Latino households and led to a spike in segregation along racial lines, a new Cornell University study finds.
Percent of residents receiving SNAP benefits in 2014 declined in many States
USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served an average of 46.5 million people per month in fiscal 2014. The percent of Americans participating in the program declined from 15.0 percent in 2013 to 14.6 percent in 2014, marking the first decline in the percent of the population receiving SNAP since 2001.
EPA Office of Sustainable Communities Offers Two New Economic Development Resources for Small Towns and Cities
- The report, “How Small Towns and Cities Can Use Local Assets to Rebuild Their Economies: Lessons from Successful Places”, draws on these case studies to offer strategies other communities can use.
- Through the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program, EPA has released the report, “Using Smart Growth Strategies to Foster Economic Development: A Kelso, Washington, Case Study”
LEARNING
WEBINAR: “Creating Equitable Food Systems with the Healthy Food Financing Initiative” by Policy Link on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 2:00 PM EST.
WEBINAR: Citizen Planning Academies, Thursday, June 11, 2015, 3-4 p.m. EDT
Citizen Planning Academies are community education programs that build local leadership, increase awareness, and broaden involvement in community planning. Wayne Senville, publisher and editor, PlannersWeb.com; Leanna Lawson, chairperson, Rockingham County Citizens' Academy; and Kathleen Osher, executive director, Transit Alliance, join CommunityMatters® for an hour-long conference call on June 11. They’ll share ideas and tips for starting a citizens’ academy in your community.
Can online engagement help reach the Environmental Justice and traditionally underrepresented populations? This webinar will explore key strategies and critical success factors. The presentation will be followed by an open Q&A session.
Date: June 24, 2015 (1:00 – 1:45 pm ET, 10:00 – 10:45 am PT)
NEA is offering two different webinars, on July 29 and August 5. Each session will be at 3:00 EDT. Registration for the webinars will be available in July in the webinar section of the NEA website. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or with project-specific questions.
WEBINAR SERIES: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) released the schedule of free webinars that will be provided as part of the Capacity Building Initiative’s “Financing Community Health Centers” series. The technical assistance webinars, held between June 2015 and July 2015, will provide Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with best practices on successful financing from leading experts in the field.