August 8, 2024
The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger continues to transition to its new organizational framework and structure. Dolores Ramirez, our Executive Director of Vision, shares new updates about the Blueprint’s transformation.
Recruiting for new advisory board
August 1, 2024
As the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger continues to fully transition, we’ll sunset our Governing Council this September and establish a food sovereignty advisory board in October. The new Advisory Board of nine community representatives will play a pivotal role in ensuring all Blueprint efforts are deeply rooted in community initiatives and guided by the principles of food justice and sovereignty.
NO on Initiative 50 & 108!
July 24, 2024
Our Policy & Community Justice Team is joining Coloradans for Local Communities to raise awareness for two statewide ballot measures – Initiatives 50 and 108 – this fall. They’re being touted as relief to Coloradans when they’ll actually do the opposite: devastating the power of local communities to invest in what their residents need to thrive.
Announcing Project UP focused on WIC & Medicaid
Input opportunity for forthcoming community food grants
July 19, 2024
We’re convening and soliciting feedback from food pantries, food banks, and others directly impacted by the new Community Food Assistance Provider Grant program. Our goal is to better understand how the future grants should be structured and administered before applications open in late summer.
How do we bring more whole-person care to our communities?
Community voices on food pantry grant initiative
June 26, 2024
This month, we released a new report that sheds light on the effectiveness of the 2023 Food Pantry Assistance Grant program. Underscoring the importance of accessibility, equity, interconnectedness, and a culture of care, it recommends several improvements for the Blueprint’s grant initiative.
Announcing our new organizational framework & structure
Advocating for community interests with proposed grocery merger
June 13, 2024
With support from our Federal Policy Committee, the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger and partners recently sent another letter to Colorado’s Attorney General related to the $24.6 billion proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons. Collectively, we expressed deep concerns about the recent sale of 91 Safeway locations across Colorado, done in hopes of helping secure the merger.
From liberation to food justice for Black communities
June 12, 2024
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom but also a day to acknowledge the immense contributions of Black labor to the foundation and growth of the United States. Let’s honor the resilience and culture of Black Americans as well as their enduring struggles for equity and justice – including with food and nutrition — on Wednesday, June 19.
Celebrating diversity & advancing food justice this month
June 11, 2024
Throughout the month of June, there’s a dual celebration of identities and histories that shape our communities and our work for fair food access and community-owned food systems. Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month not only spotlight the richness brought by diverse identities but also the ongoing struggles for equity and justice.
Our 2024 state legislative wrap-up
June 5, 2024
As an organization committed to transparency and collaboration, the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger presents its 2024 state legislative session review. Our team, through the Blueprint’s State Policy Committee, entered the session with many collective priorities. Join us in celebrating wins and reflecting on lessons learned as we all move towards a policy and advocacy landscape that’s fully accessible and working for the people of Colorado.
Advocating for equity, food access & more in state Medicaid program
May 30, 2024
Our Connecting Food & Health Project Team is gathering sign-ons for a letter to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. It’s intended to show our support as advocates for a Regional Accountable Entity bid process that prioritizes: equity and inclusion, food and nutrition supports, and accountability and performance improvement in our state’s Medicaid program called Health First Colorado.
Summer food access for Colorado youth
Transformation update: Wrapping up & beginning to transition
May 28, 2024
The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger has officially concluded its yearlong strategic planning and transformation process! Earlier this month, our Governing Council unanimously approved the Blueprint’s new framework and structure – and we’re ready to share a little more about what this means for our future (with more to come soon).
Farmers’ market season getting underway across Colorado
May 17, 2024
All over Colorado, farmers’ markets are starting to pop up with local growers ready to sell their farm-fresh produce! These markets are a vital part of our food systems, serving as a way for community members to access local, nourishing foods while also providing income opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and other producers.
Future of time-to-eat efforts in Colorado public schools
May 15, 2024
House Bill 2024-1301, with a focus on time to eat and play in Colorado public schools, did not advance during the 2024 state legislative session. While the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger and Nourish Colorado are disappointed in the outcome, both organizations will continue to advocate for time-to-eat policies in Colorado. Together, we plan to create our own opportunities to evaluate best practices and policies, which will kick off this summer with ample options for network input.
Honoring the heritage of Asian & Pacific Americans
May 14, 2024
This month, the Blueprint recognizes Asian American, Native Hawai’ian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. It’s a time to reflect upon and celebrate the many contributions of the AANHPI community – consisting of culturally and linguistically diverse people representing many countries and islands of origin – throughout our nation’s history. It’s also a time to recognize the many challenges that these communities have endured and continue to face today in Colorado and beyond, including access to nourishing and culturally relevant food.
Our commitment to equity & new statement
May 1, 2024
With equity as a core value, the Blueprint is committed to ongoing learning and self-reflection as an organization that’s regenerative and actively working to reverse historical inequities, particularly as it relates to food justice and sovereignty. Our team is kicking off an assessment to evaluate our internal processes and outcomes through an equity lens. Our first step in this process, identified by our team, prioritized co-crafting a broader equity statement with our land acknowledgment built into it.
Updated child nutrition story map to support partners
April 30, 2024
The Blueprint, with support from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and Colorado Department of Education, updated its child nutrition story map this spring. The online resource was initiated by Workgroup #5 and made publicly available to help maximize federal child nutrition programs across the state. It maps out the current state of the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in Colorado.