Sarah Brown

Food & Ag Policy Specialist

 

 Sarah is a project manager and community organizer with 7 years of experience in using data and storytelling to advocate for inclusive policies and programs that strengthen local food systems.

 In addition to her work with New Venture Advisors, Sarah is also the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Food Well Alliance where she leads the organization’s engagement with local governments throughout the metro Atlanta area. She managed the adoption of the Southeast region’s first-ever City Agriculture Plan in East Point, GA and facilitated the creation of a Local Food System Commission. She is working to expand the program to multiple cities across the region in conjunction with the Atlanta Regional Commission. Sarah also co-facilitates the Atlanta Community Compost Council, leading efforts to expand infrastructure, training, and awareness around community composting operations.

 Formerly, Sarah has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Hunger Free America focused on developing best practices for food waste diversion at higher education institutions and as a Client Service Manager at Willis Towers Watson.

 Sarah has a Masters in Food and Agriculture Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and B.A.s in Economics and Environmental Policy from the College of William and Mary. Sarah currently lives with her husband and their Australian Shepherd in Decatur, GA, where she is a mediocre, but optimistic gardener.

 

 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)