12. Karen Washington: Building a Fair Food System
“The food system doesn't need to be fixed. It needs to change. And that change is shifting power back into the hands of the people who are most affected.”
EPISODE 12 | 36 min | May 23, 2024
For over four decades, Karen Washington has unveiled the inequities in our food system and the challenges to access fresh, nutritious produce in many communities.
As a physical therapist, Karen was committed to healthy living. Her activism took root in 1988, when she transformed an empty lot in her Bronx neighborhood into the Garden of Happiness, which nourished her community and reduced food waste. Karen's efforts grew from there. She spearheaded the La Familia Verde Garden Coalition, knitting together community gardens across the Bronx. And she co-founded Black Urban Growers, bridging the gap between urban and rural farmers. Her pioneering efforts have earned national recognition.
Today, Karen is retired from physical therapy, and she splits her time between Georgia and her farm Rise & Roots in upstate New York. But as you can imagine, her drive remains undiminished. She now champions the next generation of BIPOC farmers, granting them access to land and opportunities for a more equitable future.
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