Conference Update

CTHG_LogoOnly_SqClosing the Hunger Gap
September 13 – 16, 2015
Portland, OR

The 2015 Closing the Hunger Gap: Cultivating Food Justice Conference, hosted by the Closing the Hunger Gap network and Oregon Food Bank, will bring together food banks, anti-hunger advocates and food justice activists from across North America. More than 500 attendees will be in Portland, Oregon from September 13-16 to network, learn about community food systems strategies and create a collective vision. If you believe food banks should expand their efforts beyond food handouts and toward collaborative, community-based empowerment initiatives, this event is for you!
The conference aims to incorporate a broad range of topics including health and nutrition, food hubs, community organizing and strengthening connections between local farms and emergency food providers. Presenters and attendees will represent food banks, farms, and nonprofit organizations focused on health, education and food justice. In addition we will hear from emerging leaders and people most impacted by hunger.

The conference features:

  • A key note presentation by Nick Saul from Community Food Centres Canada.
  • Field trips around the region focusing on labor in the food system, empowerment through food, child nutrition, community economic development and the Columbia River Gorge food system.
  • 32 workshops on topics such as community economic development, how to fund community food system projects and food justice.
  • A fantastic reception featuring food from participants of a multi-cultural food business incubator program, live music and time to connect with other conference attendees.
  • An intensive, day-long course on Food Policy Councils.
  • An open space session where every participant has the opportunity to convene a discussion about what interests them most.

Registration opens June 1. Scholarship applications will be available mid-May.