Julie Coen blurb

This summer I spent what was actually eight weeks but felt like no time at all working at First Congregational Church as part of their Food Justice Ministries. I learned that every day can be completely different for a nonprofit and had the chance to do a little bit of everything, from typical tasks such as ladling out soup to unexpected undertakings such as preparing to move the entire organization into a new space and researching a variety of cold storage options for that space. In this way, I had the perfect opportunity not only to cultivate valuable personal and professional skills such as flexibility and vision, but also to gain insight about the multifaceted efforts of nonprofits, including how they network with other organizations and businesses in order to provide for the individuals they serve.

Obviously, I also had a great time discovering all sorts of things about food! By learning about gardening and beekeeping as well as food preparation, I participated in a simple version of the process connecting farms and tables and subsequently began to recognize the value of small farmers and generally knowing where my food comes from. By engaging in discussions about food deserts and other overarching problems but also interacting daily with people in need, I discovered a lot about both the big picture and the individual consequences related to that picture. Finally, by attending weekly meeting with other fellows, I observed a significant number of other social issues that tie into food insecurity here in Memphis and the food system in general. For example, a lack of transportation can effectively necessitate fast food, and there are definite links between improper nourishment and health difficulties such as diabetes.

Last but not least, this summer I got to really connect with Memphis. I ate at a whole list of restaurants based on recommendations from my Memphian coworkers, trekked to locations off the beaten path and even got lost once or twice, and attended events such as PechaKucha Night, where a number of qualified presenters each lectured for several minutes about their experiences with food.  Most importantly, I experienced firsthand both pride and hope for Memphis and had the chance to interact with a diverse range of local individuals, even if they were extremely different from me and our initial attempts at conversation were a bit awkward.

Ironically enough, all of this activity has led to a lot of reflection for me. To return to the first of so many discussions that were part of this year’s Summer Service Fellowship, I now think that I am called to serve because I want to actively affect a societal transition from our current circumstances to where we want to be, and I want that “we” to be made up of individuals rather than big corporations. More specifically, I believe food justice is an immensely important issue because it touches everyone in distinct ways.