Louisiana Food Fellows
The Louisiana Food Policy Council (LaFPC) is proud to carry forward the Louisiana Food Fellows program from Louisiana Central, building on its 10 year legacy of cultivating leadership for healthy, just, and resilient food systems. This transition strengthens our commitment to empowering community voices, especially in rural and BIPOC communities, and aligning leadership development with statewide food policy efforts.
About the program
The Louisiana Food Fellows program is a four-month, virtual leadership cohort designed to equip participants with practical skills, deep knowledge, and strong connections for advancing food systems change. We bring in nationally recognized speakers to help instill knowledge and confidence in participants. After the program, Food Fellows are invited to an alumni network that helps you stay connected to each other, the work, and the policies that shape our food system. During times such as these, having connected, trained and passionate advocates is more important than ever.
Program Snapshot
Details
Four-month virtual cohort, from October through February with ~4 hours of class and some homework per month
Who Can Apply: Emerging leaders in Louisiana food systems- rural and BIPOC community members are encouraged to apply.
Cost: Free to participate
Stipend: $750 provided to each Fellow after graduation
Topics Covered: Food systems, equity, organizing, policy, sovereignty, economics, leadership in action (see schedule below!)
Outcomes: Fellows leave confident, connected, and ready to lead — many continue into LaFPAC working groups or policy advocacy
Why This Matters
By bringing the Louisiana Food Fellows into LaFPAC, we are connecting emerging leaders directly to the heart of food policy advocacy in our state. Participants will not only gain knowledge and skills, but also a place in a collaborative movement shaping a healthier, more equitable Louisiana food system.
Timeline
Applications will be accepted online from September 2rd to September 22.
You will be notified of your status: accepted, waitlisted, or declined within a week of the application deadline.
You will be asked to affirm your acceptance within 1-2 days of the notification if you are offered a spot in the program.
Not replying will be taken as declining and your spot will be offered to the next candidate.
Program Dates
The Louisiana Food Fellows program consists of the following workshops and graduation ceremony. Each are 6PM - 8PM
October 19: Program Orientation
October 23: What is a Food System
November 13: Food System Equity & Justice
December 4: Communications for Organizing & Leadership
December 18: Food Policy
January 15: Introduction to Food Sovereignty
January 29: Food System Economics
February 5: Moving policy to action in Louisiana
February 19: Graduation with Keynote.
Program Eligibility
Participants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
Must be interested in, or already actively engaged in, food systems work in your own community.
Be available to attend each program workshop, the graduation ceremony, as well as complete any necessary work between workshops.
Computer (a cell phone is NOT an allowable substitution)
Internet access
*If eligibility requirements create barriers to your participation please consider applying and use the space provided on the application to explain the situation so that we may assess our ability to work with you to overcome the barrier.
Program Eligibility
Participants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
Must be interested in, or already actively engaged in, food systems work in your own community.
Be available to attend each program workshop, the graduation ceremony, as well as complete any necessary work between workshops.
Computer (a cell phone is NOT an allowable substitution)
Internet access
*If eligibility requirements create barriers to your participation please consider applying and use the space provided on the application to explain the situation so that we may assess our ability to work with you to overcome the barrier.
Program Expenses
There is no cost to participate in LFF, however, admission is competitive and participants are required to attend each workshop and complete all assigned work in order to graduate and receive the certificate of program completion.
If there are potential barriers to your participation that we may be able to address with you (lack of internet, lack of computer, verbal/written communication needs, other) there is room on the application to explain the situation. We encourage everyone with an interest to apply and we will make the program accessible to all participants to the extent it is feasible.
Get in Touch
Funding for Louisiana Food Fellows is through the USDA Sustainable Agriculture and Education Research Program.
Louisiana Food Fellows would not be possible without deep collaboration with the Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition.
Interested in learning more about our policy work in Louisiana? Reach out to Margee@Louisianafoodpolicy.org