Illinois Stewardship Alliance is instilling a just transition to build a local, regenerative farm and food system.
Because Illinois should feed itself.
OUR Mission
Our mission is to forge a statewide alliance of farmers, eaters, and food system leaders who are empowered to transform our local food and farm system to be more just and regenerative.
We organize our members to develop solutions, educate policymakers, and inspire a growing movement of local food and farm champions.
Why does Illinois’ food and farm system need transformation?
OUR VISION
Our vision is an Illinois where all farmers can earn a living responsibly stewarding the land and feeding their communities; all people can easily and affordably find and buy local food that aligns with their values; and all our communities are vibrant, resilient, and healthy.
OUR 4 Guiding Principles
1. We operate as a transparent organization and demand transparency in both our food system and our government.
2. We believe cooperation is the key to success. We commit to prioritize and invest in building trusting relationships with, and fostering a community among, farmers and allies who want to build just, regenerative food and farm systems.
3. We create an environment in which everyone’s voice is heard and feels valued, respected, and inspired.
4. We value truth, will listen carefully, challenge assumptions, base our positions on facts, and support sensible solutions.
Guiding Values and Beliefs
1. We believe in the right to affordable, nutritious, wholesome food for all.
2. We believe we must address the legacy of harm to people of color in order to achieve a healthy and just food system.
3. In the same way that biological diversity is foundational to the healthy agricultural systems, we believe diversity of people makes the local food and regenerative agriculture movement stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable.
4. We believe everyone is responsible to steward our natural resources in a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from our actions.
In a time of climate change, this means we must practice agriculture in ways that regenerate soil and protect our air and water.
5. We believe people, local communities, and the planet are more important than profit.
When power is concentrated in the hands of too few, the health and well being of people, community and land is put at risk.
6. We believe in buying local food as much as we can, but we understand that buying local or sustainable food is not always possible, nor is it enough.
We must use our voices in smart and strategic ways and train ourselves in making change.
7. We believe in the power of good food, music, art, culture and storytelling to bring us together, understand each other, and build community.
Foundation Supporters
Illinois Stewardship Alliance is supported by memberships, individual donors, business partnerships and foundations. Foundation supporters include:
Walton Family Foundation
Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust, Food: Land: Opportunity
CalCAN – Earth Island Institute
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation – Animal Agriculture Strategic Action Fund
Farm Aid, Inc.
JR Albert Foundation, Inc.
Lumpkin Family Foundation
The Builders Initiative
Regenerative Agriculture Foundation
PACT
11th Hour
Good Chaos
Chicago Region Food Systems Fund
Tundra Glacier Fund
ClimateWorks
Board of Directors
Donor Policy
Illinois Stewardship Alliance receives grant funding and donations from entities that have a mission that aligns with our basic tenets (see above).
