Tribute to Evan Weissman on behalf of the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance

Abstract

First paragraphs:

Professor Evan Weissman was a driving force behind the formation of the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA)—a newly established food policy council based in the city to which he was so deeply com­mitted. Evan was a tireless advocate for the need for coordinated efforts across the food system in order to achieve the transformational change he saw as foundational to achieving justice for all. SOFSA’s work will be just one of the many pieces of the enduring legacy of the life he lived and the values he held so deeply.

By building a robust network of partners across sectors, SOFSA aims to strengthen our local food system so that it works for all people in our community. We believe that the health of our neighbors and our environment are deeply intertwined. In order to ensure that both can thrive, we must dismantle the structural systems that drain resources from our community and the land on which we depend. Yet to do this, we cannot operate in isolation. We must pool our collective wisdom and amplify existing assets to catalyze the change we seek. . . .