Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition

The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition’s mission is to convene diverse stakeholders to advocate for an equitable, sustainable and resilient food system in greater Kansas City and promote policies for the nutritional, economic, social, and environmental health of the community. The Coalition has always been guided by a Steering Committee and was staffed by KC Healthy Kids from 2010-2025. In mid-2025, following the closure of KC Healthy Kids, the Steering Committee unanimously voted to continue the Greater KC Food Policy Coalition as a program of Cultivate KC.

The Coalition’s Core Values include:

Cooperation – Fostering cooperation and unity among all the diverse stakeholders is beneficial to the food system.
Food Security – All people have the right and should have the ability to easily obtain healthy, safe and affordable food.
Sustainability – The local and regional food system must be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
Health – Our food system should promote optimal health for all.
Education – Knowledge is essential for individuals’ and communities’ ability to advocate and make policy decisions.
Food Justice – It is necessary to work with impacted stakeholders to address and remove structural barriers at the root of food system inequities.

The Coalition’s 2026 Policy Priorities include:

Policy Priority #1: Increase convenient access to affordable, nutritious, locally-grown food.
- Local Food is Medicine
  Support food is medicine research, programs, and procurement of locally-grown food.
- Government Programs
  Protect and streamline government food and nutrition programs, particularly those that support access to locally grown food.
- Fare Food Shopping
  Improve the accessibility and affordability of public transit.
- Grocery Retail Incentives
  Incentivize grocery retail in low-income, low-access areas.
Policy Priority #2: Reduce structural barriers to urban agriculture, from food production to recovery.
- Urban Agriculture Planning
  Advance plans, processes, and policies that grow urban agriculture.
- Community Composting
  Permit community composting sites to rescue and reuse food waste.
- Affordable Land Access
  Increase access to affordable land for historically underserved producers.

The Coalition is made up of an Executive Committee and three working groups. Each working group has two co-chairs, and the co-chairs of each working group comprise the membership of the Executive Committee. Working groups are supported by a staff member from either Cultivate KC or Mid-America Regional Council, and participation in working groups is open to the public.

2026 Executive Committee

Infrastructure Working Group Co-chairs:

Tom Ruggieri*, Fair Share Farm / Co-Owner & Farmer
Kate Giessel**, Business Law Advisors / Attorney Of Counsel Kansas Rural Center / Board Member

Communications Working Group Co-chairs:

Alana Henry, Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council / Executive Director / Young Family Farm / Operations Manager
Emma Shankland, Health Forward Foundation / Policy Impact Strategist

Policy Working Group Co-chairs:

Elizabeth Reynoso, El Centro, Inc. / Vice President of Programs
Natasha Bailey, Thelma’s Kitchen / Head Chef

*Executive Committee Chair
**Executive Committee Co-Chair

2026 Working Groups

Working Group meetings take place 6 times a year alternating months with Executive Committee meetings. In 2026, Working Group meetings take place in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Interested in joining a working group? Fill out this form and a member of the Executive Committee will be in touch.

Coalition Infrastructure & Leadership Development (aka Infrastructure Working Group):

Establish a strong backbone for coalition sustainability with clear roles and diverse leadership.

Meets: First Tuesday of the month at 10am
Staff liaison: Brien Darby, Cultivate KC / Executive Director

Communications, Connection, & Collaboration (aka Communications Working Group):

Increase coalition visibility, transparency, and cohesion through consistent messaging and partnership engagement.

Meets: First Friday of the month at 1pm
Staff liaison: Natalie Unruh, Mid-America Regional Council / Water Quality Planner II

Policy Leadership & Systems Change (aka Policy Working Group):

Advance equitable food system policies through coordinated advocacy, measurable wins, and capacity building among members.

Meets: Third Friday of the month at 11am
Staff liaison: Ami Freeberg, Cultivate KC / Directory of Strategy and Partnerships