LE3 .A278 2019

2019

Colton, John

Acadia University

Master of Community Development

Masters

Community Development

Community Development

This action research project uses Acadia University as a case study to identify factors to effectively facilitate institutional food systems change and strives to provide a conceptual framework for understanding the change process. I approach this inquiry with critical social science and transdisciplinary paradigms, using mixed methods and theories drawn from food systems, community development, and organizational change literatures. Semi-structured interviews, participant observations, document analysis, and procurement data provided the primary data for the case study. Research findings identify collaborative vision, student engagement, organizational context, external forces, praxis, and implementation as critical components of effective institutional food systems change. Based on these findings, I suggest that effective institutional food systems change requires a systems approach and propose a conceptual framework with a cycle of stages in institutional food systems change (reframing the conversation, building a vision, and strategic implementation) held within processes of collaborative leadership and praxis. Key insights from this inquiry include: (i) engaging and empowering all stakeholders, (ii) creating spaces to challenge the power dynamics of institutional hierarchies and support collaborative leadership, (iii) reframing the conversation such that stakeholders see and talk about the myriad impacts of food, (iv) striving for a vision that is grounded in values and holism, (v) finding ways to counter capitalist structures and procedures, (vi) understanding and leveraging organizational and community culture and resources, and (vii) focusing strategic implementation on procurement, food environments, food services contracts, and communication.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3342