A Thriving Network, A Stronger Community

 

As the pandemic, climate chaos, and societal injustice have challenged us this year, one thing has stood out for us as co-founders of CAN—the word COMMUNITY in our name has shown just how important bringing people together can be. CAN’s partner communities in Central America, Mexico, and California demonstrate what the word means as women and men work together to strengthen the fabric of their communities, youth lead initiatives to provide local food for their families and neighbors, and local farming knowledge joins with the science of agroecology to nurture biodiversity, healthy soils, and improved diets. In these challenging times CAN communities have been innovative and resilient.

 

What is even more impressive is how CAN has grown the other word—our NETWORK. During the pandemic, CAN communities have reached out to other communities using the network that we have been building over many years. With participatory and democratic processes, we have facilitated exchanges and support between communities. Networks help grassroots communities, cooperatives, researchers, and consumers share, strengthen, and co-create agroecology knowledge and practice, which further expands the reach and impact of the CAN community. Rural communities continue to innovate to build strong foundations for sustainable food systems, re-affirming their resiliency and power during these challenging times.