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RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO AND ACCEPT ANY AWARD FROM THE KENDALL FOUNDATION, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, FOR THE FOOD SYSTEM POLICY DIVISION TO IDENTIFY, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOP A SERIES OF PLANS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND VALUES-BASED INSTITUTIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT AND IN WHICH ALL RESIDENTS WILL EQUITABLY BENEFIT FROM THE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIOECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM.
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WHEREAS: pre-COVID, across New Haven, 22% of the City's residents were food insecure, - with not enough food or money to buy food - much higher than the Connecticut rate of 12% and national rate of 13%; and
WHEREAS: in two recent studies in New Haven - DataHaven's Wellbeing Survey and CARE's New Haven Health Survey - food insecurity impacts 1 in 3 adults in the City's lowest-income neighborhoods that are predominantly Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); and
WHEREAS: in these neighborhoods, food insecurity was notably higher among those not employed at 41.3% and underemployed (working part-time but wanting full-time employment) at 53.9% compared to 18.9% among those employed with a full-time job; and
WHEREAS: these low-income BIPOC communities also endure disproportionately worse health outcomes and increased mortality rates because of systemic and structural inequities, including higher rates of chronic disease, especially among food-insecure individuals, than New Haven's overall.
WHEREAS: food entrepreneurship, as a low-barrier to entry endeavor, has the potential to increase food access and food security, improve health equity, generate income, build skills, enhance vibrant communities, and develop connections to broader efforts to address structural causes of inequities.
WHEREAS: values-based food procurement - the processes thr...
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