Food serves as a common ground in a diverse community
By: Alan Kopitske
Tags: Bethel University, Minnesota, Farming, Social Work, Nonprofit

Community volunteers break for lunch after caring for the fields at Frogtown Park & Farm. This 12.7 acre space was purchased by several members of the Frogtown community in 2013, and has now grown to include recreational activities and a demonstration farm. | Submitted photo

Food serves as a common ground in a diverse community

By Kennedi Becker and Alan Kopitske | Reporters

Master gardener Diane Dodge misses wearing her hats. The long-time community member has become known for her hats much in the same way her good friend Marvin Giles blows bubbles as a conversation starter. Many of her hats are colorful — usually with a dozen or so buttons and flowers pinned to them — so she’s easy to spot at events like the annual Greens Celebration in the Frogtown community of St. Paul.

Dodge is a key member of Art of Food in Frogtown and Rondo, which is a coalition of four organizations who are passionate about addressing food injustices that exist in the communities they serve. In 2015, the Urban Farm and Garden Alliance, the Asian Economic Development Association, the Twin Cities Community Agricultural Land Trust and Public Art Saint Paul came together to discuss the ways that they have been working individually to make a difference in their communities and to create a shared vision for how they can increase their impact through collaboration.

“Change happens at the speed of trust.” –Diane Dodge, master gardener, Urban Farm and Garden Alliance

Art of Food is the result of that vision. The organization started with putting a plan on paper for how to build access to and knowledge of local, healthy food. It only took them about 15 minutes to establish their vision. Each of the partners bring a different set of resources, perspectives and values to the table, and this diversity is what allows Art of Food to work.

“Change happens at the speed of trust,” Dodge said. “Our overarching idea is to change the food system itself — through art and through gathering — into something that works for everyone in the world, not just people who have money and power. That won’t change.”

Dodge believes that relationship building is key to doing good. Dodge and Melvin Giles share a passion for addressing social injustice in Frogtown and Rondo. Giles refers to Dodge as his “twin sister” and the two have been working for the good of their community for decades. Giles introduced Dodge to Bethel University and in 2011, they, along with some others, began a monthly lunch group focused on reconciliation and equity.

Bethel alum Hilda Davis, who graduated in 2020, attended these lunches and got plugged into Art of Food. She continues to work with the coalition and fight for social justice. Intergenerationality is a key value of the organization. As Dodge approaches her 82nd Birthday, she emphasizes the importance of all ages working together towards this goal of ending food injustice.

As the world continues to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Art of Food has had to change its approach, but its mission remains. If anything, the pandemic has further emphasized the need for organizations like this one as families struggle to access the food they need.

Freshly harvested carrots picked from Frogtown Farm, a partner organization to Art of Food. Each of the four member organizations that make up The Art of Food in Frogtown and Rondo contributes resources to their goal of crossing cultural barriers through providing food. “The farm does important work,” master gardener Diane Dodge said, “but everyone does important work around here.” | Submitted photo

In 2019, Art of Food applied for and received a grant from the Kresge Foundation’s FreshLo project. The foundation’s generosity has allowed Art of Food to continue serving the community through virtual engagements and safe, socially distanced food events. Usually, the community gathers once a summer for the annual Greens Celebration, where the main event is the much anticipated cook-off.

This year’s Greens Celebration happened virtually, with volunteers masking up to distribute fresh produce to community members. Through the grant, they’ve also been able to support their partners financially and virtually during these difficult times.

“As much as I would prefer to come up to somebody and give them a 20 second hug, I can’t do that right now,” Dodge said.

She has figured out how to use the thumbs up feature on Zoom as a replacement. Relationship building must continue despite new challenges. Dodge looks forward to the day where she can put on her brightest and biggest hat and gather with her friends — new and old– a Saturday market or at the Frogtown Farm, but for now, the organization will continue to innovate ways of impacting their community through art and through food.

Art of Food in Frogtown and Rondo keeps their Facebook page up to date with events and information about what is going on in the community, in their partner organizations and in the wider world of food sovereignty. They encourage community members to get involved on social media and to watch for community outreach events.