“We don't think that systems are people, but, systems are people.” - Keesa V. Johnson, MDES, of Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS)   

In this episode of REAL Talks, Kolia Souza, Food Systems Equity & Advocacy Specialist of CRFS, and Maria Graziani, Food Systems Specialist and Food Impact Fellow with the Federation of American Scientists, host a conversation about how the changing landscape of language used to communicate about food equity, sovereignty, and autonomy is creating barriers to change for people of color.  

In this episode, they were joined by:  

• Rachel Lindvall, Retired Extension Specialist at South Dakota State University
• Keesa V. Johnson, M Des, Food Systems Strategy Design Specialist at MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

The relaunch of this podcast series will focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, across the food and agriculture system. Through this and future episodes, different aspects of this topic will be discussed with members of CRFS and the Racial Equity in the Food System (REFS) National Workgroup. REFS brings together Cooperative Extension professionals and community stakeholders to connect, learn, and collaborate to facilitate change within our institutions and society to build racial equity within the food system. 

These episodes will explore the following questions: 

• Is there adequate funding for programs that are centering Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous voices?
• Is the technical assistance that is being funded adequate for supporting these producers when they are scaling up their businesses?

Listen to their discussion on the podcast!  

You can find the complete transcript for this episode here https://www.canr.msu.edu/podcasts/real-talks-episode-8