LaDonna Redmond is the founder and executive director of The Campaign for Food Justice Now. Previously, she was part of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in 2011 as the Senior Program Associate in Food and Justice. A long-time community activist, she has successfully worked to get Chicago Public Schools to evaluate junk food, launched urban agriculture projects, started a community grocery store, and worked on federal farm policy to expand access to healthy food in low-income communities. In 2009, she was one of 25 citizen and business leaders named a Responsibility Pioneer by Time Magazine. In 2007, she was awarded a Green For All Fellowship. LaDonna was also a 2003-2005 IATP Food and Society Fellow. Redmond is a frequently invited speaker, and currently hosts the weekly Monday evening radio program “It’s Your Health” on 89.9 KMOJ, The People’s Station. LaDonna attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
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There is much that is unjust about our food system, but we need to look at a couple of hard facts before we try to address this problem: (1) Property that is used to grow food in an urban environment is always much more valuable as commercial real estate than it is for growing food, and as such it will be very hard to keep land used for food from being displaced by commercial concerns. (2) Businesses don't go to the trouble and expense of putting bullet proof windows in their stores for no reason. They do it because they know they are likely to be robbed. The violence and predation on businesses make it very hard to do business in areas where there is a "food dessert". If there are profits to be made in an area businesses are likely to come in and get on with the task of providing the goods and services that make life better for everyone.
The problem with this talk is that it's not coherent. The speaker just mentions phenomena without tracing they're actual causes or proposing realistic solutions.
This beautiful and well thought out presentation ends on a pathetic note, urging you to beg your politicians to do their jobs. -_-
Let's ask the most corporate funded politician in human history to support an initiative that goes against corporate interests. Good one.
Apparently she forgot how the year before her man Rham (backed by Romney) waged a war against Chicago's teachers or the fact that Obama is too busy bombing Africa.
CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS AND POINT OUT YOUR ENEMIES AND STOP CONFUSING THE PEOPLE!!! Corporates pay high dollar to confuse people, why are you doing it for free?!
sounds like modern society needs to get back into that Indigenous way of life. a way of life that they tried so hard to destroy. :p great info presentation too, but there was a time when food system worked and life was good …. but everything changed when the fire nation attacked, and due to colonization and 'westward-genocidal-expansion' the land was burned, of course I'm referring to the 'scorch earth policy' and or 'manifest destiny'. where food supplies of the indigenous population was cut down, burned, and poisoned.
I am in a Ethics class for internet college and have to watch videos as part of my coursework. Your video is the most enlightening videos I have ever seen. It is not just about racism but poverty. I raised three kids, working whatever low wage crappy job I could. It isn't that we don't want to enjoy healthy foods but the prices are so high. I think what you are doing is wonderful and I hope you are blessed everyday.
LaDonna this was the most enlightening speech about food I have ever heard. May God continue to bless the works of your hands in promoting His vision for people of color and ALL communities in which they dwell.
The meat packers could get more money if they enforced the law like every other country on earth and sent the 20 million illegals packing. The world IS THAT simple.
Nobody has to take any job they don't want (so far, who knows what madness the libs will come up with).
If you are not satisfied with your pay then quit.
It's called freedom.
The world IS that simple. It's the liberals and unions who made it difficult. If you don't FEEL LIKE buying a car then you don't and if you don't FEEL LIKE working for someone then you don't have to. It's called freedom. The government has no business setting wages. If the gangster unions got the meat wages up through their extortion and now they can't get it anymore – so what!
in this country, the problem is it comes from corporate control who only give you as much money as they feel like. If minimum wage had increased from the time it had been initiated with inflation, it would be over $20. Meat packing industry workers are getting paid over 50% less than they were 20 years ago. I wish the world was as simple as you seem to think it is. It would be much better.
Don't people break the law to get into this country just to be "farm workers" ? How could they starve working 80 hours a week ?
If you have no income you can get food stamps like 49 million people in this country.
Why do you hate this country and freedom and capitalism so much you carry around such poison ?
Money isn't as simple as work=money–luck, inheritance, the country your born in, the neighborhood your born in and too many variables to list are all factors. Slaves worked hard for $0. Farmworkers work hard for pennies a bushel (e.g.,tomato pickers make 48c/38lb bucket they pick; 4500lbs=min. wage).The difficulty of your work and the number of hours you work rarely translate into equivalent compensation in this country, let alone in others.People working 80hrs/wk in this country often starve.
Looks like you didn't listen to what she had to say, sounds like you know nothing about America or the food system, & can't stomach their history.If you think there's nothing wrong with a system of food production that was built on the backs of slave labor & stands today on the same model, look to the word of your God, read what he has to say about slavery.If you think food comes from the store, enough money to eat from hard work, ask your grocery clerk if (s)he can afford to eat healthily.
The speaker should drop her hate of America. At least for the sake of her poor kid who is stuck with the madness. There was nothing wrong with the "food system". The only problems are caused by people like her wanting the government involved in the system.
You work – you buy your food and eat it and thank God for it. Simple
Looks like she's getting plenty.
Any dads around? One day, this Nation will Elect an African American as President! The justice will prevail.
Long on PC, short on thought.
There is much that is unjust about our food system, but we need to look at a couple of hard facts before we try to address this problem: (1) Property that is used to grow food in an urban environment is always much more valuable as commercial real estate than it is for growing food, and as such it will be very hard to keep land used for food from being displaced by commercial concerns. (2) Businesses don't go to the trouble and expense of putting bullet proof windows in their stores for no reason. They do it because they know they are likely to be robbed. The violence and predation on businesses make it very hard to do business in areas where there is a "food dessert". If there are profits to be made in an area businesses are likely to come in and get on with the task of providing the goods and services that make life better for everyone.
Great insights…Food Justice meets Social Justice.
QUEEN!!!!!!!!!1
The problem with this talk is that it's not coherent. The speaker just mentions phenomena without tracing they're actual causes or proposing realistic solutions.
Very informational and inspiring, thank you for presenting!
eco-apartheid
Hallelujah and Amen! Thank you for preaching it!
This beautiful and well thought out presentation ends on a pathetic note, urging you to beg your politicians to do their jobs. -_-
Let's ask the most corporate funded politician in human history to support an initiative that goes against corporate interests. Good one.
Apparently she forgot how the year before her man Rham (backed by Romney) waged a war against Chicago's teachers or the fact that Obama is too busy bombing Africa.
CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS AND POINT OUT YOUR ENEMIES AND STOP CONFUSING THE PEOPLE!!! Corporates pay high dollar to confuse people, why are you doing it for free?!
sounds like modern society needs to get back into that Indigenous way of life. a way of life that they tried so hard to destroy. :p great info presentation too, but there was a time when food system worked and life was good …. but everything changed when the fire nation attacked, and due to colonization and 'westward-genocidal-expansion' the land was burned, of course I'm referring to the 'scorch earth policy' and or 'manifest destiny'. where food supplies of the indigenous population was cut down, burned, and poisoned.
Such a critical link! Thanks for posting,Liz!
I am in a Ethics class for internet college and have to watch videos as part of my coursework. Your video is the most enlightening videos I have ever seen. It is not just about racism but poverty. I raised three kids, working whatever low wage crappy job I could. It isn't that we don't want to enjoy healthy foods but the prices are so high. I think what you are doing is wonderful and I hope you are blessed everyday.
LaDonna this was the most enlightening speech about food I have ever heard. May God continue to bless the works of your hands in promoting His vision for people of color and ALL communities in which they dwell.
The meat packers could get more money if they enforced the law like every other country on earth and sent the 20 million illegals packing. The world IS THAT simple.
Nobody has to take any job they don't want (so far, who knows what madness the libs will come up with).
If you are not satisfied with your pay then quit.
It's called freedom.
WOW, gave me the chills! Speaking truth to power, thanks for sharing your lecture with us!
The world IS that simple. It's the liberals and unions who made it difficult. If you don't FEEL LIKE buying a car then you don't and if you don't FEEL LIKE working for someone then you don't have to. It's called freedom. The government has no business setting wages. If the gangster unions got the meat wages up through their extortion and now they can't get it anymore – so what!
in this country, the problem is it comes from corporate control who only give you as much money as they feel like. If minimum wage had increased from the time it had been initiated with inflation, it would be over $20. Meat packing industry workers are getting paid over 50% less than they were 20 years ago. I wish the world was as simple as you seem to think it is. It would be much better.
REPEAT: The public health issue of VIOLENCE is CONNECTED to the public health issue of CHRONIC DIET-RELATED DISEASES.
Amen, LaDonna
Don't people break the law to get into this country just to be "farm workers" ? How could they starve working 80 hours a week ?
If you have no income you can get food stamps like 49 million people in this country.
Why do you hate this country and freedom and capitalism so much you carry around such poison ?
Money isn't as simple as work=money–luck, inheritance, the country your born in, the neighborhood your born in and too many variables to list are all factors. Slaves worked hard for $0. Farmworkers work hard for pennies a bushel (e.g.,tomato pickers make 48c/38lb bucket they pick; 4500lbs=min. wage).The difficulty of your work and the number of hours you work rarely translate into equivalent compensation in this country, let alone in others.People working 80hrs/wk in this country often starve.
Money doesn't come from hard work? Where does it come from ?
Looks like you didn't listen to what she had to say, sounds like you know nothing about America or the food system, & can't stomach their history.If you think there's nothing wrong with a system of food production that was built on the backs of slave labor & stands today on the same model, look to the word of your God, read what he has to say about slavery.If you think food comes from the store, enough money to eat from hard work, ask your grocery clerk if (s)he can afford to eat healthily.
The speaker should drop her hate of America. At least for the sake of her poor kid who is stuck with the madness. There was nothing wrong with the "food system". The only problems are caused by people like her wanting the government involved in the system.
You work – you buy your food and eat it and thank God for it. Simple
Looks like she's getting plenty.