Rural Coalition Assembly and National Rural Gathering
Traditional Food Systems:Building a Future for Our Children
Taos, New Mexico–October 2-3, 2015
Immediately Following NLFRTA 10th Anniversary Conference, join us for preconference on Oct 1
https://www.ruralco.org/category/participate/
Our Assembly and National Rural Gathering will take place in Taos, New Mexico where with our member and local host organization, the Taos County Economic Development Corporation, we will celebrate our shared work with a "Three Sisters Harvest Celebration of Beans, Corn and Squash."
Join us for learning workshops at the Taos County Economic Development Center, a model traditional food hub with more than 25 years of experience in building a traditional food system to benefit the most vulnerable families and children of the region. We will share the innovative strategies we have all developed to strengthen collaboration and traditional food systems as a way to increase resilience, support families, communities and our mother earth, and reduce child poverty and food insecurity. We will revisit our work in building cooperatives and people-to-people trade to build civic leadership and economic power within and between our communities. The event will also include dialogue with our federal partners on our progress and solutions to the challenges we face.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, Host Committee and Members, we urge you to join us in Taos. Your participation will help assure that the diverse producers, farmworkers and tribal and rural communities we together serve are able to gather together to share strategies and, in the face of increased rural challenges, and grow "stronger together."
Lodging (and event on Sat Oct. 3) will be at the Hotel Don Fernando de Taoswhere a block of rooms is reserved for October 1, 2 and 3. The room rate is $49 plus tax – single or double occupancy, and free continental breakfast is provided.To receive thatrate, rooms must be booked by phone – call575-758-4444 and mention TCEDC/Rural Co.
Program Overview:(full agenda available after Sept 18)
Thurs. Oct 1– (NOON-5) – Join the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association Field Visit to the Atrisco Land Grant (near Albuquerque) (evening) – Travel to Taos
Fri. Oct. 2 (8 AM – 9 PM) – (at TCEDC) Opening Ceremony, Hands on Workshops on Traditional Food Systems Knowledge, discussion and analysis of our thoughts and goals for food systems, and Three Sisters Harvest Dinner at TCEDC.
Sat. Oct. 3 (8 AM – 7PM) – (at Hotel Don Fernando) – Interactive Dialogue on Rural Challenges, and Strategies forCivic and Action Leadership to Build a Resilient Food Systems and Communities and a new Future for our Children; with Closing Ceremony, remembering our founding mother Patricia Bellanger and others.
Sun, Oct 4 – Travel home.
We also invite all Rural Coalition delegates to come a few days early to join us for the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association 10th Anniversary Celebration in Albuquerque. (see over)
On behalf of our Rural Coalition Board of Directors, we look forward to your presence. We are stronger together, and we hope you will join us and support and participate in this important event.