Program Agenda

Please stay tuned for additional details.

7:00-8:30am

Transportation to South Shore Cultural Center

In our commitment to reducing emissions and making your conference experience seamless, we’re providing complimentary shuttle service from select hotels to the South Shore Cultural Center.

The shuttle will begin hotel pick-ups at 7:00 AM and run a continuous loop between the venue and select hotels, with the final pick-up at approximately 8:30 AM*. Please refer to the Know Before You Go email or contact us at events@goodfoodpurchasing.org for additional information.

*Due to traffic, times may vary.

8:00–9:00am

Solarium

Breakfast

Light and Seasonal Continental Breakfast with Vegan & Gluten-Free Options.

9:00–9:30am

Robeson Theater

Welcome

Gina Roxas, Potawatomi from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Executive Director, Trickster Cultural Center; Steering Committee Member of Chicago Region Food System Fund

Dr. Kiran Joshi, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health

Alexa Delwiche, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Center for Good Food Purchasing

Linda Jo Doctor, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Hosted by Tiffany Cheung, Chief Operating and Finance Officer, Center for Good Food Purchasing

9:30–11:00am

Robeson Theater

Plenary
The Power of Us: Global Lessons for Building Collective Power Through Food Procurement

Our opening plenary will ground us in the long view—drawing wisdom from Indigenous food sovereignty and international movements that have reshaped food systems amid political upheaval. We’ll explore how tribal nations and countries like Brazil and Spain have used procurement, participatory governance, and food policy as tools for transformation. These stories will lay the strategic foundation for the collaborative work ahead over the next two days—and the decade to come.

Pedro Charbel, Homeless Workers' Movement - MTST (Brazil)

María Carrascosa García, Agronomic Engineer, Project Coordinator, Fundación Entretantos, Spanish Network of Municipalities for Agroecology

Vanessa Miller, Food & Agriculture Area Manager, Oneida Nation

Dr. Cecilia Rocha, Professor Emerita, School of Nutrition, Member, Centre for Studies in Food Security, Toronto Metropolitan University

Closing reflections by Dr. M. Jahi Johnson-Chappell, Director, Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University, Professor, and W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair

Moderated by Dr. Ricardo Salvador, Advisor, HEAL Food Alliance

11:00–11:10am

Foyer

Break

Morning Fuel: Housemade Granola, Fresh Fruit & Breakfast Bars.

11:10am–12:30pm

Dining Room

Cohort Breakout Session
Cross-Pollination Live: Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Cohort

Chicago was selected as the host city for this national gathering not only for its central location and vibrant civic landscape, but also because of the strong cross-sector leadership and commitment the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative has demonstrated in advancing values-based food procurement. Through GFPI’s efforts, the region is a national leader in implementing the Good Food Purchasing Program, developing equitable supply chains, and building a good food culture. As you dive into conversations of your own in this breakout session, take inspiration from Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative sector leaders’ reflections on how good food purchasing has been their connective tissue—the practical work that turned sector relationships from transactional to transformational.

Amy O'Rourke, Cook County Department of Public Health

Kevin Smith, CBM Premier / Cook County Sheriff's Office

Alex Frantz, Midwest Foods

Moderated by Rodger Cooley, Chicago Food Policy Action Council

12:30–2:00pm

Robeson Theater

Lunch & Keynote

Fresh & Seasonal Vegan Soup and Salad Lunch.

Keynote remarks by Dr. Raj Patel, award-winning author, film-maker and Research Professor in the Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin

2:00–3:15pm

Breakout Sessions:
Choose one of the two sessions below

Dining Room

Lead with Vision:
Transformative Supply Chain Strategies

Good food suppliers share their transformative visions for the food system, and how their institutional partners are knocking down barriers to make that vision a reality. Walk away with practical steps to build durable relationships with suppliers that share your values.

Marissa Bell, Lake Travis Independent School Districts

Diego Diverde, Greener Pastures

Anna Haas, What Chefs Want

Jessica Shelly, Cincinnati Public Schools

Moderated by Wood Turner, Agriculture Capital

Solarium

Data and Transparency for Movement Building

What does data transparency mean to institutions and coalitions? What strategies that have worked to improve data collection and transparency? And how is good quality data driving strategy?

Ribka Getachew-McLean, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, Community Food Advocates

Eric Stevens, Boston Public Schools

Aliza Wasserman, City of Boston, Office of Food Justice

Peter Cohen, Center for Good Food Purchasing

Marcos Ceniceros, Warehouse Workers for Justice

Moderated by Winston Moore, Food Chain Workers Alliance / Good Food Communities

3:15–3:45pm

Foyer

Break

Fresh Harvest Break: Veggies & Treats.

3:45–5:00pm

Breakout Sessions:
Choose one of the two sessions below

Robeson Theater

Everybody Wins:
Diversification Strategies That Actually Work

Why do institutions continually stall on their diverse purchasing goals? Why is it so hard for historically disadvantaged vendors to get institutional contracts? Panelists will share how they learned from failures to find success, and one weird trick to finally start hitting your diverse spend goals.

Joanna Dorsey, Black Farmers United NY

Rachel Terry, The Common Market

Heather Nieto-Friga, Supply Change

Alena Paisano, New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association

Moderated by Elizabeth Reynoso, Interise

Solarium

Regional Coordination for Place-Based Commitments

This session will highlight initiatives that bring together partners across multiple cities, counties, statewide and/or across states to improve coordination and collaboration among public food purchasers, supply chain partners, community-based organizations, and governments. What experiences can we take from essential place-based work to inform policy and supply chain coordination within states and across state lines?

Grecia Marquez-Nieblas, Fullwell

Bill Green, Common Market Southeast

Mabel Shiu, Chicago Food Policy Action Council

Tania Taranovski, Farm to Institution New England

Liz Anichini, New Mexico Public Education Department

Amy O'Rourke, Cook County Department of Public Health

Moderated by May Tsupros, Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University

5:00–6:30pm

Dining Room Foyer

Happy Hour

An energetic happy hour featuring a mix of coastal and Southern-inspired small bites with something for everyone (Pescatarian, Gluten Free, Vegan).

Remarks by Betsy Hodges, former Mayor of Minneapolis

6:30–9:00pm

Dining Room

Dinner: Honoring Good Food Leaders

A seasonal vegan mushroom steak entrée with southern family-style sides, followed by a decadent dessert.

Hosted by Monte Roulier, President & CEO, Community Initiatives and Chair of the Center for Good Food Purchasing Leadership Board

Honoring Paula Daniels, Executive Director, Los Angeles County Office of Food Systems; Co-Founder and Founding Board Chair, Center for Good Food Purchasing; Presented by Linda Jo Doctor, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Honoring Joann Lo, Senior Director of Internal Organizing at United Domestic Workers (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930; Founding Board Member, Center for Good Food Purchasing; Presented by Jose Oliva, HEAL Food Alliance and Christina Spach, Food Chain Workers Alliance

Honoring Dr. Ricardo Salvador, Advisor, HEAL Food Alliance; Founding Board Member, Center for Good Food Purchasing; Presented by Dr. Raj Patel, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin

8:30–9:15pm

Transportation to Hotels

In our commitment to reducing emissions and making your conference experience seamless, we’re providing complimentary shuttle service from the South Shore Cultural Center to select hotels.

The shuttle will begin pick-ups at the venue at 8:30 PM* and run a continuous loop between the summit and our two preferred hotels, with the final pick-up at 9:15 PM* from the venue. Please refer to the Know Before You Go email or contact us at events@goodfoodpurchasing.org for additional information.

*Due to traffic, times may vary.

7:00–8:30am

Transportation to South Shore Cultural Center

In our commitment to reducing emissions and making your conference experience seamless, we’re providing complimentary shuttle service from select hotels to the South Shore Cultural Center.

*Due to traffic, times may vary.

7:30–9:00am

Solarium

Breakfast

Light and Seasonal Continental Breakfast with Vegan & Gluten-Free Options.

9:00–9:15am

Robeson Theater

Welcome & Recap from Previous Day

Tina Castro, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Avivar Capital

Noah Cohen-Cline, Director, Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation

Hosted by Tiffany Cheung, Chief Operating and Finance Officer, Center for Good Food Purchasing

9:15–10:30am

Robeson Theater

Plenary
Looking Forward with Focus: How We Accelerate Good Food Purchasing Momentum in These Times

Our closing plenary bridges two days of relationship-building, peer learning, and collaborative strategizing with a collective commitment to long-term systems change. In a dynamic cross-sector conversation, field leaders will reflect on what it will take to scale successful local procurement models and create the conditions for transformative, system-wide impact. Participants will explore pathways to scale, align around shared goals, and leave with renewed momentum, concrete next steps, and an expanded sense of what’s possible in the decade ahead.

Kendal Chavez, Food and Hunger Advisor, Office of the Governor, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Ribka Getachew-McLean, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, Community Food Advocates

Malik Hamilton, Director of Food Services, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Haile Johnston, Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer, The Common Market

Jose Oliva, Campaigns Director, HEAL Food Alliance

Moderated by Tom Philpott, Senior Research Associate at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for a Livable Future; former food and ag correspondent for Mother Jones

10:30–10:45am

Foyer

Break

Build-Your-Own Trail Mix Bar.

10:45am–12:00pm

Breakout Sessions:
Choose one of the four options below

Oak Room

Documentary Screening: "There is No Free Lunch"

Join us for a special screening of "There is No Free Lunch" with award-winning documentary filmmaker and director, Pedro Charbel.

"There is No Free Lunch" follows three women, Socorro, Jurailde, and Bizza, residents of Sol Nascente (DF), the largest favela in Brazil, as they take charge of one of the solidarity kitchens operated by the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST) on the eve of Lula’s presidential inauguration ceremony in 2023. The documentary highlights the importance of MTST’s Solidarity Kitchens and has been showcased at major festivals in Brazil and Europe, earning several awards.

Robeson Theater

Resourcing the Good Food Purchasing Movement:
From Vision to Strategy to Investment

Building on the morning plenary, this session brings together national and regional philanthropic leaders to explore how coordinated, values-aligned investment can scale Good Food Purchasing. Speakers will share lessons learned, insights from the evolving funding ecosystem, and emerging opportunities to collaborate across geographies. Participants will examine models for aligning public and private capital to support the infrastructure, policy, and ecosystem conditions needed to transform bold procurement strategies into sustained, community-led change and long-term food system transformation.

Sarah Bell, The 11th Hour Project

Linda Jo Doctor, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Julia McCarthy, The New York Health Foundation

Jose Oliva, Growing Justice Fund, Chicago Region Food System Fund, and HEAL Food Alliance

Mark Watson, Potlikker Capital.

Moderated by: Clare Fox, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders

Dining Room

Low-Bid No More:
Best Value Procurement for Everyone

Hear one city’s experience moving beyond lowest-cost bidding toward best value food procurement, and learn from legal experts with the resources to navigate procurement law. This session will help buyers, operators, and advocates know how to approach Best Value strategies, starting now.

Dana Bourne, New York City Mayor's Office of Food Policy

Riley Cooney, Emory University

Mark Izeman, Senior Attorney, NRDC

Moderated by: Molly Riordan, Center for Good Food Purchasing

Solarium

Policy and Campaign Strategy

Good Food Purchasing Program organizers and campaign coordinators will share experiences and reflections from local and state-level campaigns to adopt Good Food Purchasing policies. The conversation will explore how campaigns have responded to opposition to build new political alliances, and what we can take from this to strengthen our political power and practice solidarity across cities and states.

Rodger Cooley, Chicago Food Policy Action Council

Kiara Jackson, Illinois Food Justice Alliance

Taylor Pate, Community Food Advocates

Kara Shannon, ASPCA

12:00–12:15pm

Foyer

Grab & Go Lunch

Artisan Sandwich Boxes.

12:15–1:50pm

Robeson Theater

Cohort Breakout Session
Cross-Pollination and Harvesting

Time to bring it all together! This session offers time to connect with others in your region to discuss what you’re bringing back from the summit, collective commitments, and to hear what attendees in other regions are thinking about as well. What have you heard that has you thinking about your work in a new way? What are you excited about in your work that you want to continue sharing with others? What else do you need to be able to take your work to the next level? What next steps are you committed to?

1:50–2:00pm

Robeson Theater

Closing Reflections

Amanda Eller, Senior Program Officer, Waverley Street Foundation

Alexa Delwiche, Center for Good Food Purchasing

2:00–3:00pm

Transportation to Hotels

In our commitment to reducing emissions and making your conference experience seamless, we’re providing complimentary shuttle service from the South Shore Cultural Center to select hotels.

The shuttle will offer complimentary transportation from the summit to our two preferred hotels, with the final pick-up at 3:00 PM* from the venue. Please refer to the Know Before You Go email or contact us at events@goodfoodpurchasing.org for additional information.

*Due to traffic, times may vary.

9:30am–2:30pm

Optional Bus Tour hosted by the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative Team

Tour 1 has reached capacity and registration is closed. To register for Tour 2, please contact gfpi@chicagofoodpolicy.com as soon as possible.

5:00–7:00pm

Hoste
1857 W 16th St,
Chicago, IL 60608

Welcome Reception

Enjoy a lively mix of Mediterranean, Taco, Fungitarian, and Sweet Treat stations showcasing the flavors of Chicago’s local vendors.

Transportation: A shuttle will begin service both of our preferred hotel locations, beginning pick-ups at 4:15 PM and running a loop between the hotels and venue, with the final pick-up at approximately 5:20 PM*. Last pick-up from the Welcome Reception to return to the hotels is at 7:00 PM*. Please refer to the Know Before You Go email or contact us at events@goodfoodpurchasing.org for additional information.

*Due to traffic, times may vary.

Program Agenda

Please stay tuned for additional details.

7:00-8:30am

​

Transportation to South Shore Cultural Center

8:00–9:00am

Solarium

Breakfast

9:00–9:30am

Robeson Theater

Welcome

9:30–11:00am

Robeson Theater

Plenary The Power of Us: Global Lessons for Building Collective Power Through Food Procurement

11:00–11:10am

Foyer

Break

11:10am–12:30pm

Dining Room

Cohort Breakout SessionCross-Pollination Live: Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Cohort

12:30–2:00pm

Robeson Theater

Lunch & Keynote

2:00–3:15pm

Breakout Sessions:Choose one of the two sessions below

Dining Room

Lead with Vision:Transformative Supply Chain Strategies

Solarium

Data and Transparency for Movement Building

3:15–3:45pm

Foyer

Break

3:45–5:00pm

Breakout Sessions:Choose one of the two sessions below

Robeson Theater

Everybody Wins:Diversification Strategies That Actually Work

Solarium

Regional Coordination for Place-Based Commitments

5:00–6:30pm

Dining Room Foyer

Happy Hour

6:30–9:00pm

Dining Room

Dinner: Honoring Good Food Leaders

8:30–9:15pm

​

Transportation to Hotels

Plenary
The Power of Us: Global Lessons for Building Collective Power Through Food Procurement

Cohort Breakout Session
Cross-Pollination Live: Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Cohort

Breakout Sessions:
Choose one of the two sessions below

Lead with Vision:
Transformative Supply Chain Strategies

Breakout Sessions:
Choose one of the two sessions below

Everybody Wins:
Diversification Strategies That Actually Work