Introduction
Despite the similarity in acronyms, the Community Food Access Coalition (CFAC) is distinct from anther part of the Division of Community Nutrition and Food Policy, the Indianapolis Food Access Advisory Commission (IndyFAC) in two fundamental ways.
CFAC is Independent of the City
First, CFAC is independent of the City while IndyFAC is part of the City government.
As spelled out in Section 202-763(c) CFAC:
“…shall be independent of the City of Indianapolis, with its own by-laws, charter, and other organizing documents, and shall raise, receive, and spend funds independently of, and without direct control by, the city and the office of public health and safety.”
IndyFAC, on the other hand, is not independent of but rather part and parcel of the City of Indianapolis. This manifests in several ways, but particularly in terms of its leadership. As written in Sec. 202-765(a)(1):
“The administrator of the division of community nutrition and food policy as a permanent member, who will serve as a co-chair.”
In other words, the head of IndyFAC’s 13 permanent members is an employee of the Indianapolis City Government.
CFAC is the Community
CFAC’s membership is entirely driven by the community. As the first point in the City Code reads:
“The Indianapolis Community Food Access Coalition (“coalition”) is hereby recognized as an independent, community-driven body comprised of diverse residents, constituents, business owners, farmers, educators, community organizations and other stakeholders who share a common goal of improving the Indianapolis food system.”
IndyFAC, on the other hand, is entirely composed of people who are part of, or appointed by, the City Government, such as the Mayor and the City-County Council. There is, however, an important nuance written into the code to protect the original mission of food work in Indianapolis: addressing the racist food apartheid system.
How CFAC and IndyFAC Overlap
As spelled out in Section 202-763 subsection (d) and Sec. 202-765 subsection (a)(6), the Community Food Access Coalition is charged with recommending four individuals to the Mayor to serve on another part of the Division of Community Nutrition and Food Policy, the Indianapolis Food Access Advisory Commission (IndyFAC). One of the recommended appointees serves as co-chair of IndyFAC.
On July 15, 2024, CFAC presented its recommendations to Mayor Hogsett in a press conference. The Mayor accepted all three recommended appointees. Pursuant to the local law, one of the appointees—Sibeko Jywanza—is Co-Chair of IndyFAC.
Our Primary Purpose
Rather than get bogged down into the trivial political disputes amongst a small group of people, CFAC every decision CFAC makes is guided by our ultimate objective: creating a new, equitable, and just food system in Indianapolis and ending food apartheid. We are excited to work with IndyFAC and all other partners and parties on achieving this mission as soon as possible.