Overcoming Food Insecurity - Ideas & Inspiration from Zimbabwe to Maine

Dr. Lindiwe Sibanda, a global leader in the sustainable farming movement and the fight to end hunger and food insecurity, will present the 2016 Justice for Women Lecture. The Lecture will take place on Thursday, March 24th at 7:00 pm at the Abromson Community Education Center.

Dr. Sibanda is an acclaimed scientist, farmer, and activist. Originally from Zimbabwe, She has been CEO and head of mission of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) since 2004. In that role, she coordinates policy research and advocacy programs across 17 countries in Africa, focused on food security, climate change, and advances in agriculture. Dr. Sibanda is a leading voice in the “Farming First” global campaign to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Food Insecurity in Maine

One out of every four Maine children experiences food insecurity.  This means they do not know when or where they will get their next meal.  It is the preventable precursor to hunger.

According to the most recent USDA report:

• More than 208,000 Mainers experience food insecurity and that number is on the rise.
• Maine is 1st in New England and 12th in the nation for the number of individuals struggling with hunger.
• A disproportionate number of those experiencing food insecurity are women.

Justice for Women Lecture Series

The Justice for Women Lecture series brings speakers to Maine each year to discuss their work and strategies to promote justice for women and girls. Maine Law established the series in 2011 with leadership and support from Catherine Lee of Lee International. 

Previous JFW lecturers were the Hon. Unity Dow (2012), the first woman to serve as a judge on Botswana’s High Court; Leymah Gbowee (2013), an activist and women’s rights advocate who won a Nobel Peace Prize for helping to end civil war in Liberia; Dr. Sima Samar (2014), chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and founder of the Shuhada Organization; and Ruchira Gupta (2015) of India, a global leader in the fight against sex trafficking, and the founder and president of Apne Aap Women Worldwide. The Hon. Albie Sachs of South Africa also participated as a special lecturer in 2013.

Support

The Justice for Women Lecture Fund, an endowed fund, was created with the goal of sustaining the JFW Lecture Series in perpetuity. To support the lecture series, visit www.mainelawcommunity.org/donatejusticeforwomen.