"Be Loud"

This post was written by my buddy David Haverberg, a University of Minnesota alumnus currently exploring graduate school options. 

This May 6th, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs hosted a forum entitled “Science, Democracy, and a Healthy Food Policy.” Put on by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the forum hosted thirteen professionals in various food policy fields. For almost three hours a variety of speeches and panels discussed the range of issues found in food policy, as well as some of the regional solutions that have been put in place to mitigate some of those food policy issues. It was a fantastic event.

If you haven't seen a keynote from @cadwego, make sure to do so. You get delicious slides like this one. #CsdForum pic.twitter.com/8xSOOAf1yL
— KatieEukel (@KTAndrea) May 6, 2014

I left the conference hugely inspired to positively affect food policy. I wanted to find a way to inform the public that perhaps the way-too-happy Leprechaun should not double as their child’s nutritionist, or that adding calcium to ice cream does not make the product a health food. The speakers were so well informed and so persuasive — particularly Lynn Silver, Michele Simon, and Ricardo Salvador — that had they suggested we rush the offices of General Mills en masse under the banner of kale I probably would have led the charge. I wanted to help and I wanted to help right away.

It’s probably useful to note that I have no formal education or experience in the food policy field. I've simply read a number of books on the subject and am hugely interested in what is being discussed. I heard of the forum through Hannah and attended as a member of the general public.

Unfortunately, and this remains my only complaint of the forum, I left unsure as to how I could help. Don Shelby, who emceed the event, suggested that those in the audience needed to “be loud.” This message felt directed at audience members already in a food policy related field, or already in a position to speak to large groups of people. For me of 27 twitter followers and no connection to the field, “being loud” seemed unlikely to help in any way. With “being loud”, or at least doing so to any worthwhile effect, off the table, what was I to do to help?

This is a question I still have in the week after the forum and it’s a question I’d still liked answered. What can I do? Are there internships or volunteer opportunities available in offices connected with any of the ongoing campaigns? If so, I know how to work a stapler and have a pretty good idea of what “collate” means. Are there meetup groups in my area I can join to help plan a grassroots campaign? I’d love to attend and lend a hand with whatever they need.

I am not exaggerating how well the “Science, Democracy, and a Healthy Food Policy” forum was presented and I am certain I wasn't the only audience member whose worldview was totally altered by the speakers. I am also certain that I am not the only audience member who wants to do more but is unsure of what “doing more” entails. Had more been done to address the latter the forum would have been perfect. I just want to know what I should do next.  

Follow David on Twitter: @thisguyisdavid.