Community Voices

Staying connected to communities is essential to the ongoing work of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). The office is committed to strengthening relationships with communities to understand local collective food security goals and accomplishments, gather and highlight community stories of impact, and hear directly from those working day in and out, and the neighbors they serve, about their ideas for ways OFSA can support their efforts.

We do this by visiting community-based service providers, organizing and connecting local agencies and collaboratives who share commonalities in their food security work, and by building a common language across “social profit” organizations, board members, philanthropy, healthcare, faith-based partners, schools, college and university administrators, municipal agencies, county boards of services, businesses, farmers, growers and food producers, food rescuers, environmental advocates, and residents of all ages.

Celebrating Community Milestones

Across New Jersey, organizations, multi-sector coalitions, and community partners are advancing food security in meaningful and innovative ways. In 2025, OFSA asked registrants of the Garden State Conference on Food Security to share reflections on their recent food security wins. Explore some of the milestones shared by our statewide Food Security Community of Practice below.

Community of Practice quote by LaMonika Jones

Community of Practice quote by Melanie Ernest

Community of Practice quote by Kristen Wilson

Community of Practice quote by Mollie Greene

Community of Practice quote by Bernadette MurphyCommunity of Practice quote by Bernadette Murphy

Community of Practice quote by Tracy Wilson

Community of Practice quote by Ty Blitstein

Community of Practice quote by Frank Masters

Community of Practice quote by Jake FarbmanCommunity of Practice quote by Jake Farbman

Community of Practice quote by Rosela Roman

Community Visits & Meetings Collage

Community Spotlights: Food Security Stories Sent in to OFSA 

Follow OFSA on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated on our community visits as they happen.

Know a community-based organization or other food system stakeholder we should meet? Nominate them for a community visit here.