What is FeedBack Nashville?

FeedBack Nashville is a citywide effort to build a better food future for Nashville. The initiative will change the way we think about food in our city. Over the next two years, we will bring our community together to understand our current food system and identify community-based opportunities to resolve systemic issues like access to food, food waste, and hunger.

How long will the FeedBack Nashville process be?

The FeedBack Nashville process will take approximately two years and allow for community engagement and input through community events across the city. After the two years, FeedBack Nashville expects to focus on developing the collaborations and securing the resources necessary to implement the solutions we identify.

Why now?

Despite our city’s rapid growth, 12.4 percent of Nashville residents and one in five of its children lack reliable access to food. These statistics are staggering considering farming dominates 41% of the state of Tennessee’s 26.4 million land acres and that food waste is pervasive in our society. What’s more, Nashville has more non-profits per capita than any other city in the US, with more than 100 public and private stakeholders working on food system issues and their effects on Nashvillians. The FeedBack Nashville process will bring many of these organizations together to collaborate on and solve issues within our food system.

What organizations are involved in FeedBack Nashville?

FeedBack Nashville is coordinated by a network of community organizations and leaders in the food space who believe that a different and more hopeful future for food in Nashville is achievable. Supporters include Metro Nashville, the Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the HCA Healthcare Foundation. Convening support is provided by Forum for the Future, an international sustainability and systems change organization.

Founding organizations include The Nashville Food Project, The Store, Brooklyn Heights Community Garden, Tennessee Local Food Summit, Porter Road Grocery, Nashville Community Garden Coalition, and the Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission.

Who is the steering committee?

The FeedBack Nashville steering committee guides the citywide community engagement strategy for the initiative. The committee is made up of 16 community members who represent local organizations and bring personal and professional experiences in different areas related to the goals of FeedBack Nashville.

• Signe Anderson, Tennessee Justice Center

• Ashley Brailsford, Unearthing Joy

• Ella Clay, Healing Minds & Souls

• Kirsten Cottingham, Nashville Community Fridge

• Elois Freeman, Westwood Baptist Church

• Sarah Goodrich, The Store

• Vickie Harris, Community Connexor

• Heather Hoch, Nashville Farmers' Market

• Olivia Jimenez, Urban Housing Solutions

• Edward Kehoe, Open Table Nashville

• Reggie Marshall, Reggie's Veggies

• Afifa Miekael, The Branch

• Stephanie Roach, Urban Green Lab

• Nicole Stuart, Oasis Center

• Patricia Tarquino, Conexión América

• Peter Westerholm, Greater Nashville Regional Council

How do people get involved and help?

To get involved, sign up for information on community events you can attend, follow us on social channels, and most importantly help spread the word by sharing our content on your own social media channels and talking to your neighbors.

What happens when the FeedBack Nashville process ends?

The end of the FeedBack Nashville process will be the beginning of transforming Nashville’s food system into one that is equitable and sustainable. With the support of our partners, implement the recommendations and solutions uncovered during the FeedBack Nashville process at the end of the two-year process.