Partners honored with James Beard Foundation 2014 Leadership Awards

At its annual conference in October, the James Beard Foundation honored its 2014 Leadership Award recipients, recognized for their significant contributions toward creating a more sustainable and healthful food system and ensuring that all people have access to good, healthy food.

Two of this year’s five Leadership Awards winners are pioneers who have partnered with WKKF’s Food & Community program over the years:

Ben Burkett, state coordinator for the State of Mississippi, Federation of Southern Cooperatives; president of The National Family Farm Coalition and a member of Via Campensina, is recognized for his advocacy for and support of the American family farm, helping ensure the rights of every individual to wholesome food, clean water, air and land. 

Navina Khanna, a Movement Strategy Center innovation Fellow, is recognized for her efforts to engage young people and organize communities toward creating a more equitable and ecological food system.

Other recipients of the 2014 James Beard Foundation Leadership Awards include author and journalist Mark Bittman, writer and professor Michael Pollan and urban farmer and community activist Karen Washington.

“We’re pleased to salute all of the 2014 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award honorees for their significant contributions toward improving our food system,” says Carla Thompson, vice president – program strategy at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “Each has played a vital role to increase healthy and affordable food access for vulnerable children and families.” 

The James Beard Food Leadership Awards highlight the ongoing work of bringing meaningful change to U.S. food systems.