Eat, Drink, and be in Community at the Food Justice Festival

Research in social science shows that when people eat the same food together, they can more easily build trust and cooperation. Which is why Food Justice Northwest Aurora (FJNWA) has designed their annual fall festival as a beloved occasion to draw the community together to share in the abundance of their local food systems, and cultivate a feeling of interconnectedness.

The third in the organization’s history, FJNWA’s Food Justice Festival took place on Saturday, September 21, at the MLK Jr. Library’s Fletcher Plaza. The location purposefully positioned the event in the middle of the public sphere so it could be easily accessed by those already familiar with FJNWA, and happily discovered by those who aren’t.

The festival was created in collaboration with local farmers market hosts Rebel Marketplace, and featured food, music, and activities by neighborhood growers, small food businesses, food trucks, and nonprofit food assistance programs and farms, like Hunger Free Colorado and Nourish Colorado. “We're promoting agricultural production, food access, and entrepreneurship, and showing how food and agriculture contribute to the resilience of our community,” says FJNWA executive director, Caitlin Matthews.

All visitors received a free lunch, and Montessori on Wheels was on site to provide culinary-focused children’s programming designed to build kids’ confidence in the kitchen.

“We invited everyone from Aurora and beyond to come and be part of the community,” Matthews says.

“It’s an open invitation to learn, support, be a part of the local food system. We always look forward to seeing people with all sorts of different life experiences getting together and joining in on the fun.”