Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative
Centering community and convening creating cross-sector partners to increase access to food across Boston.
Objective
Through collaboration, education, advocacy and innovative programming, NFAC seeks to create solutions for a more robust, accessible and equitable food ecosystem in Boston.
About
The Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC) is a community-centered, cross-sector network made up of community residents, community-based organizations, and local healthcare and government institutions.
The collaborative was formed during the height of COVID at a time in which a state of emergency, coupled with an influx of food resources demanded a coordinated, community-led response.
To date, through bi-weekly community meetings, NFAC continues to provide a platform for community residents to design solutions to address food insecurity in their own communities AND for cross-sector partners to convene regularly to ensure programs and resources are getting to those most in need.
It shouldn't be this hard if you have a community wanting to help their own community. It wasn’t until I met with [Vital CxNs] that we started to get food for people that they can depend on.
Carrie D., Dorchester resident & NFAC member
Community Leaders & Partners
Peer-to-Peer Model
In partnership with Mass General Brigham and the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice, we hire and train community members to provide multilingual education, advocacy and enrollment support for government-funded benefit programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and more.
This peer-to-peer model, which activates the power of community voice and builds community ownership, is an example of our reimagined model of community health.
The Work in Action
Create a platform for education, information sharing and community ownership in addition to cross-sector collaboration.
Provide leadership and professional development opportunities to community members, including 2 community leadership positions to lead NFAC’s collective efforts.
Partner with 3 food distribution sites located in Roslindale and Hyde Park that provide culturally-relevant produce to 300+ families on a weekly basis.
Impact
20
Community members participated in paid professional development opportunities in 2024
300K
Pounds of food diverted from landfill & distributed to families in need in 2023
24
Community meetings hosted in 2024, including 9 policy and advocacy-focused educational and listening sessions
