PSU hosts Food Justice Symposium

In honor of Food Day, Portland State will host a Food Justice Symposium on Monday, Oct. 22.

corinna scott/VANGUARD STAff

Fresh Produce at the Portland Farmers Market can be purchased with food benefits.

The symposium—put on by PSU’s Food Action Collective, PSU faculty and various community partners—will be held at the Native American Student and Community Center on campus, 4–7 p.m., and is open to all.

Food Day is a nation-wide celebration highlighting healthy, affordable and sustainable food. This is the first time PSU will participate with an event.

“The goal is to highlight the inner connections of our food systems,” said Carolyn White, a graduate student studying research policy in the public administration program and one of the event’s organizers.

The symposium will consist of a welcome and an overview, followed by an hour of panel discussion.

After the panel discussion, there will be a facilitated question-and-answer period with the panelists and audience, leading up to a community dinner and networking time.

Confirmed panelists are Martin Donohoe, a PSU professor of community health and senior physician at Kaiser Permanente; Sharon Thornberry of the Oregon Food Bank; and Jaime Arredondo, board member and treasurer of Capaces Leadership Institute.

Food and drink will be provided by Nawitka Catering, a nonprofit community organization that, according to its website, provides work experience, training and employment for the local Native American community.

White explained that the event is a way for people to become aware and learn more about the food available to them.

“Hopefully people will leave with a better idea of what food justice is,” she said.
The NASCC is located at 710 SW Jackson St.