Stories of Systems Change

Moment of the Month June 2025: Reclaiming our Community Food System through “Plant Power! A Food Sovereignty Initiative”  The beginnings of a renewed focus in Food Sovereignty On a sweltering hot day in late June, a vibrant crowd gathered in a local park where tents, tables, and a DJ marked  the Fourth Annual Seed Donation event hosted by Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens in collaboration with Mahoning Valley Food Access Director, Sophia Buggs. Beneath one of the shaded canopies, Sophia stood surrounded by trays of starter plants including bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, collard greens, kale, and okra [...]

Stories of Systems Change: Mushrooms on Toast  A Tale of Enduring, Positive Change in the Mahoning Valley Jessica Romeo, Mercy Health Community Health Educator, leads a healthy cooking demonstration at an Urban Wellness Market Jessica Romeo served mushroom toast to intrigued customers visiting the urban wellness market hosted by a small store on the south side of Youngstown. A store that some would derisively call a “corner store,” because from the outside it looks like just another outlet focused on selling cigarettes, liquor, lottery tickets and junk food. Delicious, fresh sauteed mushrooms on toast [...]