ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT

The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger began as an idea in 2016, realized as a five-year plan and roadmap in 2018, and formed as a collective impact organization in 2019. Since then, we have evolved with our statewide network of partners to become even more community-centered and responsive as a convener, connector, and facilitator in Colorado’s food systems space.

We believe that equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally affirming food is a basic human right. And, our communities should have the power to choose what they eat, where it comes from, how it’s grown, and when it's available. Our work is now guided by these two principles of food justice and food sovereignty as part of our organizational transformation in 2024.

As a community hub that’s welcoming and inclusive, the Blueprint is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all of our work. We invite people from different parts of the state, organizations and groups, and life experiences to join us in collaboratively working towards our goals and vision for all residing in Colorado.

OUR VISION, MISSION & VALUES

Vision:

• A Colorado where everyone can access the food they choose, where they want it, and when they need it. 

Mission:

• Building a movement for a more responsive, equitable, and sustainable food system by shifting power to our Colorado communities.

Values:

• Be Bold
  We must be bold, brave, and innovative to achieve our vision. We navigate hard conversations with confidence and care.

• Own Our Actions 
  We do what we say we will do. We operate transparently and hold one another accountable.

• Stay Curious
  We create space for our community and one another to question systems and traditions, consider new perspectives, and challenge the status quo. We are always learning and will shift our approach when necessary. 

• Respect One Another 
  We respect the expertise gained through each of our lived and living experiences. We acknowledge one another’s experience through our commitment to patience, empathy, equity, and accessibility for all. 

• Work Together 
  We know that we work better together. We are relationship builders who believe in the transformative power of collaboration. 

We also affirm the ability of individuals to choose their diets as aligned with their cultures, spirituality, and preferences. We do not support restricting diets but do support incentives that make it easier and more affordable to eat healthfully. 

Additionally, maximizing participation in programs that address acute hunger remains a priority in our work. This includes but is not limited to child nutrition programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

NEW ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK

While our vision remains the same, the Blueprint now has a more intentional focus on activating our statewide network to collectively achieve food sovereignty for everyone living in Colorado. 

As part of this, we have moved away from the original plan’s five goals and now center four new organizational commitments. They’re the pillars for our organization’s foundation that will drive our work forward:

• Convene collaborators around shared priorities

• Support local solutions to local problems

• Strengthen resources & build capacity

• Champion bold policy change

This also means that we’re shifting the way we work to better meet the needs expressed by the Blueprint community – and better align with the organization’s vision, mission, and commitments.

By becoming more community-centered, we’re also further centering equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all of our work.

NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

With such major changes to the Blueprint’s framework, our operations are shifting and how we function will look different going forward. Here’s how we’re now structured: