Focused on civic engagement, the Tisch College at Tufts is a global leader in educating students in the world of democracy and civic participation and researching the ways to improve democratic systems in the United States and around the world. The College does not feature any work on food systems in its core values or strategic aims, however civic engagement is a vital part of a functioning food system. While food systems on paper may be comprised of farms, infrastructure, people, environments and governments, the path to each of these components often involves changing existing systems democratically. In many places, people have an indirect say in the way their food system works. People can vote with their dollars for local produce or choose to buy organic foods. People can petition their local leaders to ensure food is distributed equitably and can vote people into local or higher-level offices who have improving food systems in their platforms.
While the Tisch College seems like an unlikely place for food systems work to take place, it is ripe for participation with faculty, students, or other schools that work on food systems.
Please contact us if you know about work going on at the Tisch College that you think should be included here!