Let’s Feed LA: emergency food relief reveals the power of collaboration
March 20, 2021 Michael R. DimockAt about the time the pandemic hit in March 2020, ROC had entered a partnership with Wholesome Wave to aid them in bringing a new nutrition incentive technology to under-resourced families in Los Angeles and Sacramento counties. But with a request from the Los Angeles County Emergency Food Security Branch, ROC and Wholesome Wave had […]
Read MoreA Resilient and Equitable Food and Farming System in California
March 17, 2021 Roots of ChangeToday, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D- Hollister) made an exciting announcement about a bill he just introduced called the Equitable Economic Recovery, Healthy Food Access, Climate Resilient Farms and Worker Protection Bond Act (AB 125). If you missed it live, you can watch the press conference here. Roots of Change is a member of the diverse […]
Read MoreAssessing 2020 and Looking Ahead
December 23, 2020 Roots of ChangeRemarkably, the pandemic’s forced isolation has had a silver lining! I sense that as a nation we are quieter, less peripatetic, more rooted in our communities. I see more reflectiveness, interest in dialogue and commitment to antiracism work. More folks are shopping for healthy local food, cooking at home, growing gardens and preserving the harvest. […]
Read MoreReflections on the Moment
November 25, 2020 Roots of ChangeWith over 250,000 Americans dead, family members unable to gather to celebrate, the economic destruction of the pandemic, and a year of racial and political conflict, giving thanks might feel a bit difficult for some. Nevertheless, I would like to share my list of positive developments from this year. I hope you have one too. […]
Read MoreThe Logjam in Meat Processing is Killing Producers & Meat Plant Workers
October 28, 2020 Roots of ChangeLast month I mentioned the tragic events surround the death of poultry processing workers at a Foster Farms plant in California’s San Joaquin Valley. It is a sad fact that along with hospitals, elder care facilities, prisons and homeless shelters, meat processing plants are the work sites with the greatest COVID-19 infection rates. Closely stationed […]
Read MoreReflections on the Moment
September 3, 2020 Roots of ChangeI believe resilience may prove the key word for this century. The word simply means the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. As most will acknowledge, this century will bring plenty from which to recover. Resilience is the response we need. Fortunately, the word is in the air. I read many articles, hear conversations and […]
Read MoreThe Larta Institute Offers Good News in Hard Times
August 20, 2020 Michael R. DimockThere are fires in all directions of the nine Bay Area counties of northern California and over 370 statewide. All of this in the midst of serious level of Covid-19 infections in our state. This is the scenario I feared as COVID took hold in March and April. The climate crisis exhibits a horrifying growth […]
Read MoreTime Will Tell, But Real Change May be Possible
July 9, 2020 Roots of ChangeReflections on the Moment: The Black Lives Matter movement fills my mind. It is framed by COVID-19 and the rants of a racist President who seems committed to destroying the nation’s cohesion. Ironically, this may cure the dis-ease that has plagued the national soul for centuries. Perhaps delusions are being revealed and rejected in favor […]
Read MoreA Call to Action: Here is How to Create A Better Post COVID-19 World
April 17, 2020 Roots of ChangeWe have entered the age of cascading natural disasters. These disruptions are defining our future. Scientists tell us more killer pandemics lay ahead. As do more mega droughts and extreme weather events that will cause massive floods, polar vortexes, unprecedented winds with immense fires and interminable power shutdowns. Most of the nation’s political leaders remain too enthralled […]
Read MoreHappy New Year! A Brief Report on Our Work
January 6, 2020 Roots of ChangeBelow are brief recaps for our 2019 work as well as what we see for 2020. Fostering Many Dialogues Dialogues are conversations in which people think together to derive more understanding and conviction and they are the center of our Flipping the Table podcast. I have wonderful memories of podcasts with many powerful leaders. If […]
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