Shifting our food system to reflect our values requires collaboration.

Grounded in authentic relationships with our partners, the Food Systems Action lab at the Institute of Design at IL Tech, develops the knowledge, frameworks and tools to shape a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable food system. We foster community-oriented learning by prototyping and experimenting with a range of stakeholders, combining sustainability science, systems design, and human-centered design methods. 

The Food Systems Action Lab at Illinois Tech’s Institute of Design led the design and development of the Procure with Purpose Toolkit’s website. 

Maura Shea, Co-Director

Vishnu Raviprasad, Design Fellow

Made up of public officials from around the country, this network of leaders supports each other to implement values-based food purchasing policies in their hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, senior centers, and other food program sites. The network has guided, informed, and tested the tools and approaches that make up this toolkit. Founded by the ID Food Systems Action Lab, the VBP Learning Network is now hosted by Partners for Public Good. 

VBP Learning Network Members include: 

• Latha Swamy, Director, Food System Policy | City of New Haven, CT
• Sean Shatto, Chicago Good Food Purchasing Implementation Manager | City of Chicago and Chicago Food Policy Action Council, IL
• Amy O’Rourke, Director, Chronic Disease Prevention & Control | Cook County Department of Public Health, IL
• Eliana Pinilla, Good Food Purchasing Program Implementation Manager – Cook County | Cook County and Chicago Food Policy Action Council, IL
• Naomi Billups, Public Health Nutrition Manager, Chronic Disease & Healthy Equity Unit | County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, CA
• Meghan Murphy, Health Planning and Program Specialist, Chronic Disease and Health Equity Unit | Health and Human Services Agency, County of San Diego, CA
• Jocelyn Dubin, Lead Public Health Nutritionist | Santa Clara County Public Health Department, CA
• Anna Prizzia, County Commissioner | Alachua County, FL
• Michelle Wood, Program Manager, Food Policy & Procurement, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention | Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, CA
• Amanda Rohlich, Food Policy Advisor | City of Austin, Office of Climate Action & Resilience, TX
• Angela Baucom, Food and Climate Program Coordinator | City of Austin, Office of Climate Action & Resilience, TX
• Jason Shon, Food Security and Sustainability Program Manager | City and County of Honolulu, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, HI
• Chris Iberle, Food Policy & Programs Strategic Advisor | Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment, WA
• Laura Alves, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Food and Climate Impact | City of Boston, Office of Food Justice, MA
• Aliza Wasserman, Director | City of Boston, Office of Food Justice, MA
• Dana Bourne, Policy Advisor | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
• Sierra Hollowell, Senior Policy Analyst | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
• Milagros De Hoz, Director of Policy and Strategy | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
• Caroline Howe, Director of Food Policy | DC Office of Planning, Washington, D.C.
• Tariq Sheriff, Business Development and Strategy Manager | Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), Washington, D.C.
• Kashaf Momin, Food Policy Analyst | DC Office of Planning, Washington, D.C
• Tia Schwab, Food Policy Advisor | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY ( Left the role in Oct 2024)
• Marion Kalb, Institutional Food Program Administrator | City of Denver, CO (Left the role in Aug 2025)
• Jennifer Herd, Senior Policy Advisor | Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL (Left the role in Jan 2026)

The Georgia ACRE Collective: Advancing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity through Values-Based Procurement centers on garnering food purchasing commitments from Atlanta-area anchor institutions, while shifting procurement to producers that share these institutions’ values. The Georgia ACRE Collective is a collaboration between The Common Market Southeast, Health Care Without Harm, Georgia Organics, The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund, the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This initiative was made possible with the support of The Rockefeller Foundation. 

This Toolkit was born out of the ACRE Collective’s work, and members of the ACRE Collective provided important advice and guidance on the Procure with Purpose Toolkit’s content and design.  

The Conservation Fund is a nonprofit that strives to create innovative solutions that drive nature-based action for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. TCF’s Farms Fund is working nationwide to keep America’s local farms working, protecting farmland and advancing a new generation of farmers who are growing fresh, nutritious food for their communities and beyond. 

The Procure with Purpose Toolkit was designed to support the work of The Conservation Fund, among many other users! The Conservation Fund provided critical advice, guidance, and support throughout the Toolkit’s development.  

The following law students contributed legal research, drafting, and editing to the Procure with Purpose Toolkit:

• Alexandra Opdyke
• Rae Ra
• Daniel Rothenberg 
• Kamari Koonce
• Jacklyn Gunn  
• Alyssa Rogowski 
• Brett Lingle  
• Beth Petras  
• Clisha D’Souza  
• Hayley Roy  
• Kendall Schutzer  
• Taiye Kolawole 
• Deboshree (Debi) Das  
• Rachel Lo  
• Joy Howard  
• Charlotte Ramirez  
• Kyunghee Moon 
• Rose Heppner  
• Elizabeth Bambury  
• Elly Ren  
• Lauren Kramer  
• Julia Koepp  
• Katie Lawson  
• Trey Parker  
• Daniel Finan  
• Dalton Booker

The following Emory University undergraduate students contributed research and drafting to the Procure with Purpose Toolkit:

• Sonya Doubledee  
• Urvi Vallapareddy  
• Ruby Grodin