On the Table: A Fellowship for Change in the Food Industry

WITH FOODLAB DETROIT

Digital + Print Design / Facilitation / Growth Strategy / Program Planning / Storytelling

FoodLab is a community of food entrepreneurs committed to growing an equitable food industry in Detroit. In 2019, recognizing Detroit entrepreneurs are at the forefront of a movement toward fair labor practices, sustainability, and a commitment to change the industry as we know it, they sought to extend their annual programming into deeper conversations about how these entrepreneurs are making change, what lessons they’ve learned, and how the community can work together to do more.

In previous years, we have worked with FoodLab and its members to develop guiding principles, member expectations, and a self assessment to help businesses achieve more sustainable practices. In response to their interest in diving deeper into the need for change in the industry, we launched a year-long fellowship and roundtable discussion series.

Our roundtable series titled “On the Table” focused on fostering a dialogue around how to improve the labor that’s powering, growing, transporting, preparing, cooking, and serving food in Detroit. During a one-day workshop with FoodLab members we identified the topics, ranging from sexual harassment and mental health to workforce development and open book finances.

Alongside the discussion series, we facilitated the Fellowship for Change in Food and Labor, made up of seven women food entrepreneurs committed to equitable business practices. Over the course of the year, the fellows shared experiences, lessons learned, and resources, leaning on one another for camaraderie, emotional support, and personal and professional growth.

We captured our process and their stories in a print booklet: A Seat at The Table.

In 2020, we look forward to launching a second cohort of fellows and continuing the roundtable series.