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Dialogues@RU is published
annually
by the
Writing Program at
Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey
Volume Two
Spring 2003
Food Not Bombs: Community Breakdown
and Reconstruction - Page 4
by Nicole Wines
The first steps towards building community while maintaining a relationship between the organization and the community seem very small, but can make a lot of progress. "You can begin to forge community bonds in your neighborhood by simply striking up a conversation with your neighbor" (Shaffer and Anundsen 106). This is also a step towards visibility for the group. By getting to know the people in the neighborhood, Food Not Bombs could, at the same time, make the people of the area aware of the organization's presence and allow room for community bonds to form within the neighborhood. Shaffer and Anundsen also suggest organizing "small events that will bring different age groups together" (107). By organizing such events, possibly pancake breakfasts or video showings, Food Not Bombs could bring people of the community together while again making their presence known and engaging in discussion with the community. By bringing people of different age groups together, Food Not Bombs could also become less exclusionary and gain more support and engagement. It is important to keep a communication network alive between the group and the community. "Communication practices are central in building the social bonds that allow collective action" and thus community (Novek 62).
There are larger steps that can be taken once there is a small support base from the community. According to Shaffer and Anundsen, Food Not Bombs could collaborate "with another association in the city on an issue the two have in common" (107). This can include anything from high school clubs to searching out a community center, and would widen the support base while tapping into a potential resource for more volunteers for the group. Another suggestion made by these authors is to start a community garden (107). This has proven successful in many Food Not Bombs chapters and allows the community to be involved while providing food for the group to share. The most important point they make that meetings should "introduce processes that encourage new people to become involved, help participants feel safe and listened to, and encourage sharing of decision-making and responsibility" (108). Food Not Bombs meetings have always had the goal of incorporating even first-time members in the meetings and the decision-making process. This is important in order to keep prospective members interested in continuing with the group and to make them feel as if their opinion counts, which keeps a feeling of community within the group while encouraging the active participation of actual Hoboken community members. In an article about Food Not Bombs for a Canadian Magazine, Food Not Bombs volunteer Sharmeen Khan sums up the ideals of the organization while addressing the problems of visibility and the importance of community and civic engagement to the organization:
Food Not Bombs is more outspoken and upfront about hunger and poverty. Many anti-poverty organizations accept poverty as a reality of the system and argue that nothing can be done about it. We reject this political position and loudly insist that hunger and poverty are unacceptable violations of basic human rights. It is not enough to gather food and serve people. We want to raise awareness of poverty issues in the community. This is why groups serve free meals in big parks in downtown areas instead of hiding the poor inside soup kitchens. The public should be exposed to the poverty in their community and join the fight. (26)
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