Much of what I have learned about systems leadership was gained working with groups of people focused on how to make our food system (everything that happens from farm to fork) more resilient, just, and healthy. Over the past 20 years I helped launch or support more than a dozen food policy councils across the U.S. West. These councils (which were commonly known as Food Systems Alliances) brought together interests from across the food system to influence community attitudes, change policy, and manage local food projects.
Recently I was contacted by a group trying to start a council in New York State who asked: