My Week on the GROW Method

By Zoe Johannas, Community Engagement Intern

With the launch of the GROW Method last week, I figured it was time to turn theory into practice with my next trip to the grocery store. Over 3 blog posts I'll discuss my 3 worst grocery store habits, and how I've traded them in for something more GROW friendly. 

Now grocery shopping always provides somewhat of a struggle for me. First and foremost, there’s the challenge of cooking for one person in a land of buy one get twos. You see, it’s not that I don’t want the whole crate of potatoes for the price of three spuds, it’s just that one must be realistic when dealing with 4 square feet of kitchen space. 

Not only do I have a kitchen smaller than most closets, but I also have the appetite of just one very medium-sized human, not a bouncy, bubbly family of 6-8. As it turns out, there are very few packaged goods that claim "serves one". 

 

Luckily, this challenge becomes a solution in light of the GROW Method. Buying only what I need and eating up what I already have is key to reducing waste, and surprisingly simple. While it may have taken some self-monitoring to not look at a super-sized jar of spaghetti sauce and think, “YES! What a deal!” I instead bought the smaller, individually manageable portions. 

While it initially felt like I was buying less for more, I realized that I was probably actually saving money by buying a cup that I would finish, instead of a quart that I would throw away half of. All those hugely portioned items were only taking up space that I can’t spare, and wasting too many valuable resources that we can't afford to use up. 

When it comes down to it, maybe that whole potato crate isn’t worth it after all. Unless, of course, I plan on eating solely baked potatoes for the next 6-9 weeks, then I still think it’s a pretty great deal.

If I could manage to get the GROW Method to work for me, I have no doubt that you could too!

Have a great GROW tip? Share it with us at actioncorps@oxfamamerica.org!

4 Tips for an Electrifying Monthly Meeting

In my first three weeks with Oxfam I have heard from most of our 15 Action Corps cities about how they are taking on monthly meetings. Getting these monthly meetings to go smoothly is no easy task – balancing the fun with business, catering to newbies as well as old hands, watching the clock and competing with café noise! So I really took notice when Action Corps in San Francisco sent an email about their “amazing!” meeting of nine volunteers that still had them reverberating with energy the following day!

We asked Amy Torregrossa from the SF Bay Area Action Corps to share tips on how she and her co-leader Jessica Shao pulled it off:

1. Relaxed atmosphere: We went to a tea house in the mission. It was very relaxing but intimate and we were all sitting around a round table, so there was not a "classroom feel". I think if we were in a room where there was an obvious "front" to it, where Jessica and I would naturally occupy, then it would have been a very different feel. It was nice to all be at the same level.

2. Short but important agenda: Jessica printed an agenda that had 4 sections: Introductions, Ray Offenheiser's visit, Upcoming Opportunities and Brainstorming. It all fit on a small sheet. This helped because everyone knew what to anticipate at the beginning of the meeting but the agenda was also flexible enough that it allowed people to voice their ideas and opinions.

3. Ask not Tell: I think this was one of the main aspects of the meeting. After we spoke about a subject, for example, the pot luck, we asked for feedback and opinions before making a decision. Nothing felt top down, each decision was very much organic.

4. Action Items: After each section we made sure that an action item was discussed and delegated, no matter how small. It made the meeting have a purpose.The result was a meeting in which members were "extremely engaged."



 Do you have a tried and true method in your city? Feel free to share them with us at actioncorps@oxfamamerica.org.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Zoe

Amy and Jessica from San Francisco at the DC Training! 

Come to the World Food Prize Summit – apply by Monday, August 20

As an Oxfam GROW campaigner, there may be no better place to deepen your knowledge than at the World Food Prize’s 2012 Borlaug Dialogue, and related events to be held in Iowa October 17-19.  Oxfam’s President Ray Offenheiser, as well as partners from farming communities in Nigeria and Burkina Faso will speak at the symposium and at a special side event organized by Oxfam staff. Also, for the first time ever Oxfam will host and serve a GROW themed meal at the summit.

That's why we want to bring a team of YOU to this event, to learn intensively, support Oxfam’s activities, and share the learning with everyone in the Oxfam Action Corps via video, blog, etc.  We will fund travel, registration and related expenses for 4 Action Corps members.   (And of course, anyone who is able to fund their own way is welcome to register and join us there).  

Oxfam Action Corps Iowa is leading volunteer shifts at the Oxfam table and organizing a 200+ person Hunger Banquet on-site.   Additional Oxfam events may include tabling at the Des Moines Farmers Market and more.

Here’s what Desiree Thayer, San Francisco Bay Area Oxfam Action Corps organizer, wrote about the summit last year .

HOW TO APPLY FOR TRAVEL FUNDS (deadline is Monday, August 20):

Send an email to Brian and cc Clara by Monday, August 20.  In your email, tell us briefly (no essays required!):

a) Your availability to attend from Wednesday morning to Saturday evening, Oct 17-20.  Also tell us if you would be able to come a day earlier to attend an informal get together with Oxfam staff on Tuesday afternoon Oct 16.
b) Why you want to attend
c) What you hope to learn, and how you will share that knowledge with other Oxfam Action Corps members, and
d) Any relevant background on the issues that you wish to share.

Alternatively, you can apply by filling out this GoogleForm.

We will base selection on past and future (potential) leadership with Oxfam Action Corps, a keen desire to learn about these issues, and, finally, ability to attend the entire conference.  We will announce our selections on Monday, August 27 and book travel immediately after.

EVEN IF YOU CAN’T COME, TUNE IN!  We’ll share highlights from the summit via livestream, webinar, and other means, so we’re eager to enable all of you to connect, whether you are in Iowa or not.

Philadelphia Oxfam Action Corps

Cheryl Dunn is an active Oxfam Action Corps volunteer and organizer based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Here is a great post from the Oxfam On Tour blog she has written on music, Oxfam, and how she decided to take action . 

Oxfam has been a huge part of my life since 2006 when I heard Chris Martin say for the 100th time “Please look at Make Trade Fair dot com, and please more chocolate, and please listen to more Coldplay” in the beginning of “Amsterdam” from their live album. So I went to MakeTradeFair.com and I got lost in all the information Oxfam had about Fair Trade vs. Free Trade.

On Oxfam’s website I saw the opportunity to volunteer at a Coldplay show, so I signed up for the North Jersey show. After writing a long speech about how much I love Coldplay, Oxfam, and how passionate I was about the campaign in my application, I found out I was chosen to volunteer at the show. Working that first Coldplay show and talking to people about Oxfam was incredible. I couldn’t believe I could help one of my favourite bands make such a huge difference in the world, and get to talk to so many other awesome fans and get them passionate about it too.

There I met a member of the Oxfam America team who contacted me about volunteering at the Warped Tour in NJ. I jumped at the opportunity. That day we were collecting petition signatures asking the government to change how the Farm Bill was written to help small farmers have an opportunity to compete. Around that time I was feeling a little overwhelmed with global problems, I was feeling really small and started doubting whether I, as one person, could really help. That day, not only did we get over 100 petition signatures from music fans, I had two girls come up to me and thank me for what I was doing. They lived on a small farm and said that if the bill passed as it was currently written, they would lose their farm. That moment moved me. I realize that I could really help change the world as one person, because as one person I can collect over 100 other voices, and those voices can tell other people, who can tell more. We need more people to make these voices heard and show our leaders that we are paying attention and we do care.

Two summers later I applied and got accepted to be one of 50 university students around the US to go to Boston for Oxfam America’s CHANGE program. For a week we went through training on campaigning, advocacy, and lobbying as well as Oxfam’s work and how we can help. We learned the tools we needed to go back to our campuses and run a group focused on social justice. I started “Students for Social Justice” at Philadelphia University. During the training I met people from all over who are so different but completely connected on one thing, the want to change the world for the better. I highly recommend it for all Freshman and Sophomores in university!

Oxfam America also have the Action Corps programme, these are groups of volunteers who represent Oxfam in their local areas.  I joined the Philadelphia Action Corps and have since volunteered at countless concerts, local events and marathons, and met incredible people. We meet at different member's houses or local universities and watch short films on global issues and have letter-writing parties to our local representatives. After five years of being in the Philadelphia Action Corps. I am a co-leader with my friend Lindsy for the next year.

Lindsy and I volunteered at the Philly Coldplay shows and had the opportunity once again to talk to their awesome fans about the GROW campaign. Seeing Coldplay live again just made me so grateful that they were the ones who introduced me to Oxfam and all the great work they do. Seeing their thousands of fans in that arena watching Chris jumping and dancing around the stage with the Oxfam logo on his tee shirt made me so proud that one of my favorite bands are still using their voices to raise awareness about important issues, encourage their fans to do something about it. So please go to OxfamAmerica.org, please eat more chocolate, and please listen to more Coldplay- it may change your life, and the world, for the better!

Thanks,

Cheryl

Why not GROW at farmers' markets and food festivals?



Happy Summer! One of my favorite things about warmer weather is all the amazing local produce that is finally ready to consume—watermelons, berries, beets, arugula, asparagus, and my absolute favorite cherries.  You can bet on finding me at any one of Boston’s farmers’ markets agonizing over which of these treats to buy. I wish that everyone could be able to look forward to local and seasonal produce not just here in the US but everywhere, from Haiti to Brazil, Cambodia to India and Mali to Jordan.

Since working on Oxfam’s GROW campaign, I am ever more conscious and thankful to farmers for the veggies and fruits of their labors.  Coming this summer in mid-July Oxfam is rolling out the GROW Method that includes 5 simple principles like eating seasonally, supporting small scale farmers and eating less meat. The GROW Method is a brand new way of thinking about food—the way we buy it, prepare it and eat it. We are encouraging people to follow the GROW method as a way of helping restore food justice.

What can you do? Well, you can help us build a GROW movement by tabling and talking with folks attending farmers’ markets and food festivals in your city. What better place to chat about food and the GROW campaign than at these food events that are attended by people that care about food?

 

Our friends at the Harry Potter Alliance say it best “Let us authentically connect with the minds, hearts and needs of the people that are going to be making our movement happen. It is not a crazy concept, it is a not a radical concept, and it is the simplest idea possible!”

This weekend here in Boston two colleagues from the office will be tabling at the SOWA market on GROW.  What are the food festivals and farmers’ markets in your city that you’d like to table at and talk about GROW? We are happy to provide you with the necessary tools to make it happen.

Coming soon, a Farmers’ market and Food Festival tabling kit.



 Oxfam Action Corps Leaders from NYC, Columbus and Des Moines at a farmers' market in
Des Moines, IA for the World Food Prize event



A very Oxfam homecoming on the Coldplay tour!

Check out this great blog post from our Oxfam On Tour blog written by guest blogger Najat Elsayed, Oxfam America CHANGE leader and on-tour coordinator for Oxfam America on the Coldplay tour in 2005-2006.

Last night I came back home to my Oxfam family by volunteering at the Houston concert. My life has changed a lot since I used to tour with Coldplay in 2005 and 2006 as the Oxfam representative on tour. I got married, had a beautiful baby girl and now I am working as a college prep counsellor at a Houston private school. Although life will always continue to move forward when I volunteered yesterday it was as if I was back at home with my Oxfam and Coldplay family. I could feel the love and support and shared stories and laughter among friends old and new.

When I was on tour six years ago fans would stop by our booth to say “Howdy” and sign up to learn more about the campaign. Last night it was the same story but with new fans and a new campaign. They all wanted to know how they could be a part of this global movement and help. This brought back to me one thing with full force, a rekindling of the passion that I have always had in my heart to help end hunger and poverty through supporting and raising awareness about Oxfam and the GROW campaign. I actually began to get a little teary eyed when I was watching the concert after working as a volunteer at the booth.

Why was I getting a bit emotional I thought, perhaps the memories of all the amazing things we did to help people in need while on tour, maybe it was the family atmosphere that Jackie, EJ, Pauline, Sheri, Mark, the band of course, fans, and the entire Coldplay team had given me when I was on tour. It was very possible that it was the amazing Coldplay music that got me moving and touched my heart yet again. Perhaps it was the fact that I was getting involved again with Oxfam and doing my part however little it was to make a difference in making sure that everyone should have enough to eat no matter where they are. Most likely it was a combination of all of the above.

Do you want to get passionate about something? Why don’t you get involved and see how we can all grow together in making a difference in being the change we wish to see in the world. I guarantee you will have wonderful memories that will last you a lifetime and even better you will do your part to help make this world a better place in joining the Oxfam Family.

Hopefully see you soon, Najat.

If you would like to join the ‘Oxfam family’ sign up for the Oxfam Action Corps, the Coldplay tour or take action anytime at http://actfast.oxfamamerica.org .

Great Post by the Minnesota Action Corps featuring Flogging Molly!

Flogging Molly Concert

Hi there, my name is Liz Harper and I am one of the newly trained lead volunteer organizers for Oxfam Action Corps of Minnesota! I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself since I will be the one keeping you all updated over the course of this next exciting year! I am a mom, a student and a chiropractic assistant so I stay busy, but I love making time for Action Corps. Since returning from D.C. with my co-leader Kim Kokket, (see the previous blog to hear more about the trip!) we have been staying active getting the group back up and rolling! Before we could even sit down and discuss our plans, we were already getting invited to the Flogging Molly show at "The Brick" in downtown Minneapolis! We happily accepted!

Flogging Molly are long time fans of Oxfam and we have had a presence at many of their shows over the years. This was my first time seeing them and it was awesome! Jessica, Kim and I all attended the show that night, and I have to admit it was pretty cool getting let in on the "Band's list". We set-up next to the merchandise table of The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Although we didn't get to see them perform, from what we could hear they put on a great show!

We all had a great time talking to people at the show about Oxfam, and we got alot of people to sign on to help fix our broken food system!