About FIC
Food in Communities (FIC) is a regional collaborative working to increase equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally important foods through food policies, systems, and environmental changes. FIC aims to support long-term neighborhood and regional-level changes. The intent of FIC is to support priorities driven by its communities and build capacity among community leaders and food policy council, coalitions, and groups to strengthen the local and regional food system.
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Over the past few years, FIC initiative and close collaborators have crafted two regional goals that balance addressing current community food needs and transforming the food system to better serve all residents and contribute to sustainable, local economies. These goals are to
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Leverage existing food systems assets to address urgent food insecurity needs
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Develop and strengthen infrastructure and policies needed for a sustainable and equitable food system
From its inception, FIC has held the following core values:
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We Invest in Long-Term Systems Change
Policy, systems, and environmental changes can contribute to the sustainability of the community vision when they are tailored to the geographic and community context, are long-term in nature, emerge from collaborative, community-driven efforts, and they have many champions.
As we work towards a sustainable and equitable food system. The practice of equity requires us to address and repair the harm imposed on people and communities by racism, classism, and gender discrimination in ourselves, society, institutions, and government policies.
We Strive to Embody Equity
We know that we cannot create equitable and sustainable food systems alone – it will take deep partnerships with grassroots organizations, communities, leaders, and elected officials to leverage expertise, resources, and perspectives across all parts of the food system and root causes of poverty.
We Prioritize Collaboration
Because it demands the creation of new institutions and relationships that honor the humanity and liberation of all peoples, we seek to uplift diverse BIPOC experiences, traditions, cultures, and voices.
We Center Racial Equity
We Commit to Building Community-Based Food Systems
Policy, systems, and environmental changes can contribute to the sustainability of the community vision when they are tailored to the geographic and community context, are long-term in nature, emerge from collaborative, community-driven efforts, and they have many champions.
We Use Our Collective Voice to Address Root Causes
We look at the large systemic issues that impact people who are experiencing hunger, because hunger is a symptom of poverty, housing instability, unaffordable healthcare, and inaccessible education.
Collaboration in Action
Within Communities
​All of FIC's work is done in collaboration. First, FIC prioritizes community partnerships and partners with community members and organizations to
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Identify assets and needs related to food in our communities
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Design and implement food access, food justice, or food business opportunities
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Support local food policy councils or coalitions to advocate for food policies that support community food needs and priorities​​
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FIC's work builds on its partners’ common strengths, including being community-based, having trusted relationships with residents and community leaders, and developing vision for long-term and sustainable changes in collaboration with people most adversely impacted by the current systems.
Between Communities
​Second, FIC is a collaboration between three communities. We have found two beneficial practices from collaborating between communities:​​
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Shared learning: Team members from each team come with different expertise, from zoning to healthy corner stores. Working together, we create structures for teams to share and learn from each other.
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Shared accountability and evaluation practices: The collaboration has built-in reflective practices on an annual basis to evaluate the efficacy of the work. The evaluation is based on principles and values that guide FIC’s work rather than simply counting quantities and return on investment (ROI). Through this work of shared evaluation, the collaborative stays accountable to our communities and to each other in this work.
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To learn more, see resources that reflect how FIC does its work engaging communities.
FIC Timeline
2019
2018
June - The FIC Collaborative was formed with the goal of strengthening food systems across city and county borders and mobilizing public resources for community-led food systems transformation.
FIC began working alongside partners and community members in four cross-jurisdictional focus areas: NW Aurora/East Colfax, Sheridan/West Colfax, SW Adams County, and Wheat Ridge/South Arvada.
2022
2020
When the pandemic hit, FIC quickly pivoted to meet emerging community needs and successfully leveraged funding to support direct food access efforts.
FIC focused on building the capacity of partners through training and support in community engagement, organizing, and civic participation.
2023
2024
By the end of the first 5 years of the grant FIC had supported communities through funding, helped the adoption of multiple planning policies, and built strong, collaborative relationships throughout the Denver metro area.
FIC led a comprehensive GIS analysis, conducted a land use policy assessment, and facilitated policy prioritization listening sessions with community members which led to the current focus on the four priority areas.
Today
FIC works across NW Aurora, City and county of Denver, and Jefferson County to implement action plans shaped by community-driven policy priorities, continuing to advance equitable and resilient local food systems.
What is Policy, Systems and Environment Change?
Imagine you own a gym, and you want to make it a welcoming space for the many families in your community. There are many ways you can do this. You can create programs such as family exercise classes. You can create communications, such as designing advertisements and messaging to reach parents. You can also address policy, systems, and environment (PSE):
Policy
Official laws or guiding principles that determine actions, such as where to direct dollars or how to approach situations.
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Example: Create a policy to give discounts to families or reserve every Thursday night as "family night"
Systems
The mechanics or non-physical things people must interact with in your space to make actions.
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Example: Design a registration process that is easy enough for busy parents to complete.
Environment
The physical surroundings that people interact with.
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Example: Make sure that equipment and space are laid out to keep kids safe and secure.
Why Focus on PSE Change?
Of course, all of these types of actions are important and can even overlap. Focusing on PSE changes addresses root causes and aims to create long-term impact of food insecurity and inequities in the local food system as opposed to only supporting short-term needs. It is a good investment of tax dollars in local communities as FIC partners use these funds to foster resilience in community-based food systems, which has long-term benefits in terms of food security, environmental health, and community pride and wellbeing. By launching and supporting initiatives that address the challenges of availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food in local communities, FIC seeks to reduce the number of residents who need to seek food assistance in different ways.