Our Food, Our Future: A Gathering of the Connecticut Food Sovereignty Collective

November 15, 2025 | Margaret E. Morton Government Center, Bridgeport, CT

We learned about and practiced food sovereignty together at the Our Food, Our Future Gathering of the Connecticut Food Sovereignty Collective. Thank you for everything you brought — your insights and experiences, food donations, questions and feedback all contributed to a fruitful day! The Connecticut Food Sovereignty Collective has newly formed to meet an increasing need for organizing around food sovereignty, the inherent right of all people to shape and control our food, where it comes from, and how we are treated in the food system. Founded by leaders from Liberated Land Cooperative, Radiance Gardens, Fridgeport, the Turtle Island Steward Collective, Rooted Solidarity @ Wesleyan University’s Bailey College of the Environment, The Foodshed Network, Food Rescue US, and Connecticut Food System Alliance, our purpose is to build collective power for democratic, interdependent, regenerative food systems. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the exchange of knowledge and ideas at our gathering! Thank you to our childcare providers and interpreters for making this event more inclusive and accessible!(See list of all speakers and vendors at the bottom of this document)

Next steps:

$10 Million in State Bonding for Community Food Organizations: Together, we wrote more than 60 letters to Governor Lamont demanding the release of $10 million for equipment and support for community food programs. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE! Please be sure to follow up with your legislator to make sure this is prioritized in the next legislative session (February 2026). See a letter template and phone script here. Stay tuned for more information about delivering the letters to Governor Lamont!
Stay in touch: the Connecticut Food System Alliance listserv is a community bulletin board for Connecticut food and farm news, events, and updates, including policy action alerts and legislative updates. Join the listserv here.
Support Indigenous Sovereignty: We gathered on unceded Paugussett lands to learn about food sovereignty, which is deeply connected to indigenous sovereignty and land stewardship practices. If you are able, please consider contributing to the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Reservation through CashApp or Venmo to Clan Mother Shoran Piper: @Shoran-Piper

Panelists & Workshops

Link to slides

Link to program (workshop descriptions)

Local Food Sovereignty in Bridgeport (welcome & introductions): Reggy St. Fortcolin, Fridgeport & Diego Osses, Green Village Initiative
Reclaiming Our Land Loss (Vetiveah Immanuel & Janelle Newell)
Planting Seeds and Nurturing Community Food Systems (Christine Caruso, Wesleyan Bailey College of the Environment; Jenna Vandonselaar, New Britain ROOTS; Mia-Lillian Powell, Middletown Public Schools; Lennon Favreau and Sophia Karson, Wesleyan)
Grassroots Organizing in the Black Feminist Tradition (PT Partners)
Strategies for Connecticut Food Sovereignty (Malana Rogers-Bursen, Wesleyan Bailey College of the Environment & Meg Hourigan, Connecticut Food System Alliance / Hartford Food System)
Food Sovereignty Panel: Karen Saggese of Food Rescue US Fairfield County moderated this panel featuring:
- Liz Wimpfheimer, Fairgate Farm
- Debbie Thomas-Sims, East End NRZ Market & Café
- Deja Smith, Khemis Vegan Cuisine
- Vania Galicia-Bacilio, Grow Windham

Caterers

Thank you for an abundance of delicious food from:

Excess food was taken home as leftovers, distributed through PT Partners, and donated to Fridgeport.

Mutual Aid & Food Sharing

We collected and distributed dozens of food items at the mutual aid table in addition to a seed swap; some of the food was taken home by attendees and the rest went to Fridgeport. Thank you for bringing what you can and taking what you need! We take care of each other.