From Soil to Public Policy: Qiana Mickie
Description
Qiana Mickie, a policy strategist, food justice advocate, and longtime New Yorker, joins us to talk about what it really means to build an equitable food system—from the ground up. As the inaugural Executive Director of NYC’s Office of Urban Agriculture, Qiana is reshaping how city government engages with land, food, and the people most impacted by systemic inequities.
Drawing from years of grassroots organizing and policy work, Qiana shares how her upbringing, community ties, and political clarity have shaped her approach to food justice. She breaks down the connections between land access, equity, and climate resilience—and why true food sovereignty starts with shifting power.
We also get into the role of storytelling in movement work, how urban ag can thrive in unlikely places, and the importance of listening to frontline communities when designing food policy.
If you’ve ever wondered how change really happens—or what a just food future could look like—this episode is for you.
Recorded live at our warehouse in Bushwick as part of the Know Your Food event series.
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