Please join us at the 2026 Growing Connections Food Summit!

The Growing Connections Food Summit brings West Michigan farmers, businesses, community organizations, educators, and students to develop and strengthen community partnerships and explore solutions for local, sustainable food economies.

The Growing Connection Food Summit will take place on February 6, 2026.  Registration is now open:

2026 Schedule:

• 11:00-11:45 Registration, networking, and exploring community tables
• 11:45-12:00 Welcome and overview of the event
• 12:00-12:45 Keynote speakers
  • Eleanor Moreno (Kent County Food Policy Council)
  • Krista Burgett (Lakeshore Food Rescue)
  • Athena McKay (Flint Innovative Solutions)
• 12:45-1:00 Combined Q&A
• 1:00-1:45 Interactive lunch
• 1:45-2:00 Announcements and shift to breakout rooms
• 2:00-3:00 Breakout Discussions 
  • Indigenous teachings at GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project
  • Food connections

2024 Agenda

• 11:00-11:45 Registration, Networking, and Exploring Community Tables
• 11:45-12:00 Welcome & Overview of the Event
• 12:00-1:00 Keynote Speakers
  • 12:00-12:15 Lindsey Scalera - Michigan Good Food Charter
  • 12:15-12:30 Carlos Calderon - USDA Urban Agriculture Initiative 
  • 12:30-12:45 Zyra Castillo - Kultura Education Center
  • 12:45-1:00 Q&A (Combined)
• 1:00-2:00 Soup & Salad Lunch and Roundtable Discussions
• 2:00-3:00 Panel Discussion on Restorative Justice and Food
  • Moderator:  Christina Mpilo (Senior Managing Director, Soul Fire Farm)
  • Panelists:  Eric Freeman (President, Mindset Meals), Rev. Nurya Love Parish (Executive Director, Plainsong Farm), Myriah Williams (Member of Pokagon Band of Potawatomi)
• 3:00-3:30 Closing and Additional Time for Exploring Community Tables

Please email Yumi at [email protected] if you have any questions.

We hope to see you there!

Getting There

For driving directions to our Grand Rapids campus, please visit https://www.gvsu.edu/meetatgvsu/devos-driving-directions-164.htm.

The event will be taking place in the Loosemore Auditorium, which is located in building E of the Richard M. DeVos Center (labeled DEV on the map below).

Validated parking for the event will be available in the Seward Parking Lot Ramp (labeled SPL on the map below).  The booth attendant will have parking passes at the booth for you to display in your windshield. Please be sure to stop at the booth.