Clean water, clean energy and healthy food

Mississippi is a priority place for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and right now the state is in need of our collective help. Many Jackson, Mississippi, residents are without running water after weeks of an all-city boil water advisory. Our community partners, as well as city, state and federal leaders, are working toward solutions. As we work toward build lasting, systemic change, we know there are immediate needs for our friends in Jackson. Please share these resources we compiled with those you might know in the area. 

The Double Up Food Bucks program got a shoutout in a recent NPR article suggesting ways Americans can make healthier food choices. Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program plays a vital role in ensuring better nutrition for low-income children by matching SNAP funds spent at participating locations with money for extra produce. Healthier food. More of it. Reduced price. Good food is good news. 

La Jornada Maya ran a story about a forum in Yucatan, Mexico, called Tierra Nativa: Creciendo juntos (Native Land: Growing together). The forum was held by la Escuela Modelo (also called la Universidad Modelo), Alternativas por el planeta, Ko’oox taani and GT Consultores, with funding from WKKF. Tierra Nativa is a group of family agricultural producers from different communities in the state. The forum trained 50 of them in best practices in business and eco-friendly growing skills they will use as they form a cooperative. WKKF supports la Escuela Modelo’s work with its partners to help increase income generation and organizational self-sufficiency for producers in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Navajo Power is a company of mission-driven individuals committed to developing clean energy solutions that create positive economic change for tribal nations. That statement alone probably explains why they are a WKKF grantee. We’re thrilled to hear Navajo Power has been selected to participate in Apple’s second Racial Equity and Justice Initiative’s Impact Accelerator cohort, which sets them up to receive training and mentorship moving toward a shared goal of creating a greener world.

NPR recently highlighted the 2022 survey released by WKKF grantee National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC). This survey, conducted every five years, presents the challenges and opportunities for young farmers working to build resilient, healthy and equitable communities. More than 10,000 farmers of color across the country shared barriers such as access to land and capital, affordable housing and climate change. We’re proud of the work NYFC is doing to foster a new generation of farmers as diverse as our communities.

Good Housekeeping magazine ran a profile of grantee Magalie Dresse:  “Meet the Talented Haitian Artisan Who Is Determined to Empower Her Country.” The article describes how Dresse developed an interest in arts and crafts growing up in Haiti, and how she turned that into the creation of the Haiti-based home decor company Caribbean Craft in 2006. The company has since grown, surviving an earthquake, a fire and insecurity in the surrounding neighborhoods. Dresse is intent on both supporting local artisans and showing the world a different side of Haiti. 

While many of this week’s U.S. Labor Day narratives focused on “return to work” or “quiet quitting,” it’s also important to consider core bread-and-butter economic issues relating to U.S. workers. WKKF grantee JUST Capital’s latest survey insights reveal that Americans want companies to take responsibility for their workers’ economic security: 84% believe large companies have a responsibility to pay full-time adult workers in frontline jobs enough to make ends meet, and that companies should pay enough so these workers don’t rely on public assistance. And when it comes to investing in workers, people also see a clear benefit to companies. They agree that companies paying a living wage will be more competitive in their industry (71%) and more profitable in the long term (78%). They also believe they will provide better customer service (90%) and greater value to shareholders (59%).