Working groups are currently being updated as we launch our new APA FOOD division.  

APA FOOD members can select to be involved in one or more of the following working groups. Membership in a working group is not a FAPA FOOD membership requirement, but provides an opportunity to collaborate with other APA FOOD members on specific activities and projects. A working group term of commitment is one year, beginning May 1 and ending April 30 of the following year. This corresponds to the timeframe for a working group’s Annual Work Plan.

Working Group Descriptions

Working Group Responsibilities

Joining a Working Group

Working Group Descriptions

Education Working Group – The purpose of this working group is to share and promote educational, pedagogical, skill building and professional development resources for students, educators and professional planners. Resources are geared towards those currently studying, teaching or working in the area of food systems planning, as well as those interested in incorporating food systems planning into their research, teaching or professional practice. (Megan Bucknum, Coordinator)

Policy Working Group– The purpose of this working group is to (1) share resources related to local and regional policy development to create healthy food systems (such as serving on local, regional or state food policy councils, including food systems in comprehensive and sustainability plans, etc.), and (2) advocate for local and regional food systems planning issues within state and federal policy. (Marcia Caton Campbell, Coordinator)

Working Group Responsibilities

Individuals

• A one-year commitment is encouraged for all working group members. A term of commitment begins May 1 and ends April 30 of the following year.
• Working group members will be required to fill out a commitment form that acknowledges shared expectations, including the goal to work on at least one action item and participate in minimum number of working group conference calls.
• All committed working group members will receive acknowledgment of their involvement on the APA FOOD website.

Group

• Each working group is expected to produce an Annual Work Plan (beginning May 1 and ending April 30 of the following year) that includes a minimum of one goal and two action items. This plan will be presented annually at the in-person meeting at APA’s National Planning Conference in mid-April of each year.
• Each working group is responsible for authoring content for their specific working group page on the APA-FIG website.
• Each working group is responsible for authoring quarterly updates to be posted to the APA-FIG website working group page.
• Each working group is responsible for coordinating and identifying authors for a regular blog post contribution.

Joining a Working Group

There are two ways to join a working group, either at the beginning of a term (before May 1) or in the middle of a term (after May 1).

How to Join a Working Group at the Beginning of a Term

How to Join a Working Group Mid-Term

If you are interested in joining a working group mid-term (or after May 1), follow these steps:

• Step 1: Review the descriptions for each WG.
• Step 2: Choose a WG and review its Annual Work Plan and quarterly updates. These Annual Work Plans and quarterly updates are posted on the following pages:
  • Research WG: https://apafig.wordpress.com/workinggroups/research/
  • Communications & Outreach WG: https://apafig.wordpress.com/workinggroups/communications-outreach/
  • Policy WG: https://apafig.wordpress.com/workinggroups/policy/
• Step 3: Identify 3 actions of interest that you would want to work on for the remainder of the term.
• Step 4: Contact the WG Coordinator to inquire about the status of the 3 actions of interest and opportunities to get involved with the implementation of those specific actions.
  • Policy | Marcia Caton Campbell | marcia.catoncampbell@resilientcities.org
  • Education | Megan Bucknum | bucknum@rowan.edu
• Step 5: Fill out this commitment form to join the WG for the remainder of the WG term.