Connecting Communities: The Role of Food and Place in Strengthening Democracy Beyond Politics

A few weeks apart last summer, I found myself at two very different gatherings. First, at a MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) event, farmers and health advocates discussed ideas like sovereignty, regeneration, and the concept of food as medicine. Then, I attended a public health conference where scientists shared alarming data on chronic diseases and stressed the need for better nutrition standards. Both events were filled with passionate individuals, but few in one room would feel comfortable in the other.

Food has always had a political aspect. It influences who cultivates it, who consumes it, and whose labor supports the system. What’s changing now is how these shared concerns are becoming politically charged, often dividing communities. Policies that promote healthy eating and support local farmers, once universally accepted, are now viewed through a partisan lens. This shift raises critical questions: Why has nourishment, a basic expression of care, become embroiled in political struggles? And how does this affect our ability to enact meaningful change when feeding one another is seen through a political lens?

This leads me to what I call post-partisan pathways—methods of working together for our health, communities, and democracy that look beyond traditional political divisions while anchoring ourselves in moral courage.

Our political landscape is not just divided; it struggles to accommodate complexity. Binary choices miss nuances and often favor the status quo. When we engage only within our ideological bubbles, we accept a battleground set by those we aim to challenge. While we clash, power continues to consolidate elsewhere. The goal isn’t simply to unite; rather, it’s to navigate our differences without repeating the same harmful patterns.

Understanding Post-Partisan Practice

Post-partisan practice involves discerning how we can collaborate across divides. Here are a few guiding questions to consider:

• Where can we form alliances to tackle issues like corporate influence or failing institutions?
• How can we work together on practical issues without needing to fully agree on every belief?
• When does building bridges enhance collective power, and when does it weaken it?
• How do we stay focused on specific local needs rather than abstract ideological battles?
• Can we establish connections strong enough to embrace disagreements while still working together?

This approach is more about strategy than consensus. It involves careful power analysis, smart organization, and building conditions for collaboration. It embraces diverse ways of knowing—from scientific data to lived experiences—and aims for long-term change rather than just electoral wins. It grows at the pace of relationships that are strong and sustainable.

Seeing Conflict Differently

In my journey through peacebuilding, I learned to view conflict as a space for growth. John Paul Lederach, an expert in the field, emphasizes that real change comes from transforming relationships, not just in defeating opponents. His idea of moral imagination—staying grounded in current pain while envisioning potential solutions—applies here. Instead of erasing our differences, post-partisan practice channels conflict into productive discussions where diverse perspectives can lead to shared actions.

The divide between MAHA advocates and public-health professionals illustrates this. Their disagreements are genuine, spanning evidence, trust, and individual rights. Yet while they prepare for battle, issues like chronic disease and corporate profit persist. The real question here isn’t about uniform agreement but rather: How can we collaborate to enhance our shared power against forces that harm us all?

This approach can address critical areas like accountability in the food and pharmaceutical industries, community control over health decisions, and the need for transparent research. You can work with someone on local food systems while disagreeing about national policies. The focus should be on power dynamics rather than seeking consensus.

Creating a Connection to Place

Focusing on local realities can help bridge divides. Is our water clean? Are our children healthy? These questions resonate beyond political affiliations and ground conversations in tangible lived experiences. For instance, at a Local Food Summit I co-hosted in Northwest Indiana, farmers and food-justice advocates shared their struggles. Though their contexts differed, they faced similar challenges: economic pressures and lack of access to resources. The result was a collective call to form a regional food council, highlighting how collaboration can emerge even amid disagreements.

Engaging in the Work

To cultivate effective engagement, several practices can guide us:

• The Power Question: Before entering any debate, ask: Who benefits from how this conflict is framed?
• The Coalition Test: When meeting someone with differing views, consider: Is there one issue we can work on together?
• The Place-Based Reframe: In challenging debates, redirect focus to local realities: What’s happening in our community?
• The Long-Game Mindset: Understand that building relationships for post-partisan work is all about sustainable change, not quick fixes.

The rooms I’ve participated in—like MAHA meetings and public health conferences—are full of individuals who care deeply, even when they disagree. The real tragedy isn’t their differing opinions but their separation. What if we created new spaces not to erase differences but to engage with one another, fostering connection and collaboration around what we need? Rebuilding trust requires nurturing relationships in our communities and prioritizing local needs over party lines.

In essence, the bioregion—the land and water we rely on—can reshape our democracy. Here, health reflects the relationships among people, land, and community. Post-partisan practice isn’t about compromise; it’s a strategy for collective survival. Perhaps the path forward begins with a straightforward question: What does this place truly need, and who else shares that need?

As we navigate complex challenges, let’s prioritize connection over division, fostering a space where diverse voices can unite for a healthier future.

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