Projects — Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger

OUR PROJECTS

Working together to alleviate hunger now while building more responsive, equitable, and sustainable food systems for the future!

Projects of the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger translate ideas from our collective spaces into actionable initiatives so we can ensure food for all, today and tomorrow. They bridge the gap between policy recommendations and tangible outcomes, driving real-world change in our collaborative efforts for food justice and sovereignty. Each project aligns with one or more of our four organizational commitments, have a specific timeline, and are monitored for their impact on Colorado communities.

Interested in joining one of our projects? Please contact the staff liaison listed below. All new members must attend an orientation before officially joining.

As part of our commitment to equity, we offer simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, closed captioning, and compensation to those who participate outside of their regular job. (Please contact us if you have other accessibility requests to fully participate.)

Here’s more about our currently active and time-limited projects (in alphabetical order):

Community Events

  • Goal: Connecting community and creating welcoming and inclusive spaces focused on increasing food access and advancing food justice in communities across Colorado

  • Project Lead: Andrea Fuller, community member

  • Staff Liaison: Michelle Ray, Communications Director

  • Meetings: Not on a recurring schedule right now — contact the staff liaison to find out when the next meeting is planned.

  • Participation: Welcoming a limited number of new project team members; contact the staff liaison to learn more, participate in the required orientation, and access the calendar invitations.

  • Updates:

    • Previously planned to co-host an in-person, invitation-only event with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Western Slope Native American Resource Center in late October 2024; canceled due to winter weather and travel safety concerns

    • Transition to supporting a community-led convening for Montezuma County with funding and event planning (as of January 2025)

Farm Equity Coalition

  • Goal: Convene a coalition driven by local female farmers and farmers of color to help create a legislative strategy for the creation of a Farm Equity Office in Colorado.

  • Project Leads: Shannon Francis of Spirit of the Sun; Lucia Trejo, promotora in Northeastern Colorado

  • Staff Liaison: Joël McClurg, Executive Director of Systems

  • Meetings: Second Friday of each month from 10 - 11 a.m.

  • Participation: Only open to farmers and farm organizations, especially female farmers, farmers of color, and LGBTQIA2+ farmers; contact the staff liaison to learn more, participate in the required orientation, and access the calendar invitations.

  • Updates:

    • Supported the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) in a state budget request for additional positions in their workforce development unit to focus on farm equity.

    • Worked with CDA for their new roles involving farm equity; provided technical assistance to interested applicants who represent farmers from historically under-resourced communities.

Liderazgo Comunitario (Community Leadership)

  • Goal: Support community leaders and community-led initiatives that are already advancing food access and justice within their towns, counties, and/or neighborhoods

  • Project Leads: Ivon Romo of MIEL Language and Barbarita San Pedro of SANA

  • Staff Liaison: Dolores Ramriez, Executive Director of Community

  • Meetings: Varies

  • Participation: No longer accepting members

  • Updates:

    • Wrapped up a monthly workshop series on topics identified by community leaders as of May 2024

    • Planned BIPOC-led webinars as part of the Colorado Food Summit’s 2025 regional convenings

SNAP & WIC Retailers

  • Goal: Provide technical assistance to small grocers and retailers seeking certification for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC), and/or Double Up Food Bucks

  • Team Leads: Maria Judith Alvarez of SANA and Jennifer Gueddiche

  • Staff Liaison: Dolores Ramriez, Executive Director of Community

  • Meetings: Second Monday of the month from 1 - 2 p.m. via Zoom

  • Participation: Open to new project team members; contact the staff liaison to learn more, participate in the required orientation, and access the calendar invitations.

  • Updates:

    • Piloting four strategies to support small grocers and retailers in their efforts to expand healthy food offerings, including technical assistance to support those seeking to become certified in accepting SNAP benefits

    • Created and released the SNAP Certification for Retailers Toolkit, aiming to bolster the number of small grocery stores and corner stores that accept SNAP benefits while also increasing the affordability and availability of healthy and culturally preferable food offered by small businesses in Colorado.

    • Hosting SNAP-focused webinars in March and April 2025; one for community members to learn how to sign up for benefits in a safe and welcoming environment and another to support retailers in accepting SNAP benefits and other produce-incentive programs to boost sales and fresh food access in their communities