Nourishing Networks Consortium

Our Mission

Nourishing Networks Consortium builds networks by cultivating relationships between volunteers and organizations to create sustainable solutions associated with basic human needs.

Our Vision

To create a world of resilient community networks that help people address their local challenges.

Our Values

We believe in inclusion where all voices, especially those most often marginalized, is vital to creating healthy and just communities. We offer a safe environment where everybody from all backgrounds is welcome. We believe in the power of distributed/decentralized networks that focus on social change through relationship building and contribute to interdependence. We believe in working together in a nonpartisan and non-political environment and are respectful and sensitive to all religious and non-religious beliefs. We believe that there should be no stigmatization of individuals or groups based on their circumstances. We believe in compassion and empathy and that we are all in this together, and everyone benefits from the well-being of others.

How We Started

In 2010, Hopelink led an effort to research community awareness of and attitudes towards local hunger. The results led to the formation of an intriguing model of engagement and action later to be called Nourishing Networks. After learning of the extent of hunger among the children within the communities, those involved in Nourishing Networks developed a profound sense of ownership of resolving this issue. These newly formed networks brought together several hundred people from diverse sectors and cultures sharing their ideas, experience, resources, as well as existing work to help leverage the will of the community in new and deeply personal ways. Nourishing Networks became an independent entity in July 2012, and left Hopelink, where it was officially founded. The Center for Ethical Leadership became Nourishing Networks fiscal sponsor and partner. In 2014, Nourishing Networks became an official organization under the name Nourishing Networks Consortium.

If you were hungry and without food for you and your family, would you know where to get food? This is the question that drives the mission of Nourishing Networks. We started our organization in 2012 as a passion to mobilize people to address basic human needs in their communities. Every network we establish attends to the immediate needs of their area by joining forces with other organizations, services, and local leaders to increase awareness for those in need of nourishment. We work to make our impact in various ways including:

CONNECT We help individuals and families who are facing food insecurity to find local and regional food resources., and we help people who have food and resources to get them to the people in need.

FACILITATE We support volunteers who are passionate about helping people experiencing food insecurity by providing a framework for them to innovate, organize projects, raise funds, and become visible and impactful to the community.

SUPPORT We assist projects with fundraising campaigns, grant applications, and other efforts to provide funds to purchase food and meet other expenses to create a direct impact on communities.

STRENGTHEN We strengthen our communities by bringing everyone to the table to address food issues, expand and reinforce the safety net so we leave nobody behind., and increase resilience and capacity to face other challenges.