Join the conversation! The Regional Food Policy Council is hosting a WA State Food System Roundtable November 17th from 3-6pm at the Puget Sound Regional Council offices in Seattle.
News
Stay up to date with FIN and our partners!
Jaqueline Garcia: Community Food Advocate
From Motherhood to Social Justice Activista
At 31, Jaqueline Garcia is a force of nature. From empowering Latina mothers to small business advisor, it is motherhood that really fueled her ambition. Jaqueline left Mexico and a burgeoning dentistry practice when she and her husband moved to San Francisco. Intending to continue dentistry in the States, a different course began to unfold when they moved to Seattle and Jaqueline became pregnant. Although happy, she was very far away from her support system. Jaqueline explains: “this was a moment that I felt very isolated from family and depressed.” That moment was also the catalyst for her to become a community leader. (more…)
Deadline Extended – Sept 28th
Are you passionate about food systems change and uplifting the voices of South King County? Join our team! FIN is hiring for a part-time Program Assistant.
Questions and application materials can be sent to Kara Martin, Program Manager, at kara@foodinnovationnetwork.org.
Applications are due Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
FIN Program Assistant Position Description
FIN is Hiring!
Are you passionate about food systems change and uplifting the voices of South King County? Join our team! FIN is hiring for a part-time Program Assistant.
Questions and application materials can be sent to Kara Martin, Program Manager, at kara@foodinnovationnetwork.org.
Applications are due Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
First FIN Tour: Renton Farmers Market
Attention community members interested in starting a food business working at a food business!
FIN is kicking off a series of local food business tours. Participants will get an inside look at local businesses and commercial spaces, our first being the Renton Farmers Market.
Want to sell at a farmer’s market?
Join us for a FREE tour of the Renton Farmers Market. Key vendors will share stories and advice before a market tour. Tour guests will be have time to explore the market and debrief with the tour guide while sharing snacks.
Space is limited, so reserve a spot today:
- Send a text to 206-370-0045
- Include the word “RENTON” and your name.
Healthy Eating Community Conversation
What is Healthy Eating Like in Your Community?
The Healthy King County Coalition, in partnership with The Family Resource Center at Angle Lake, is hosting a community conversation. Participants will receive a complimentary meal and grocery gift card, and childcare will be provided. Space is limited, so register quickly!
Monday, August 22nd, 2016
12 (Noon) to 2pm
4040 S 188th St Suite 100, SeaTac WA 98188
To register call Zac Eskenazi at (206) 816-3241 with the following information:
- Name
- Phone number
- Number and age of children
One person per household. Residents of SeaTac or South King County preferred.
Introducing FIN Tours
The Community Engagement Work Group is getting ready to launch a year-long series of food business tours. Starting in August, one tour will be held during the last week of every month. The goal is to get an inside look at local businesses for community members interested in starting a food business or working for one. Stay tuned for event details.
FIN Center project
We are just two weeks from completing the business plan draft for FIN Center at the Matt Griffin YMCA. Next steps include having a joint meeting with Pilot Kitchen Work Group to ensure the work happening there will inform the programming at the FIN Center, slated to open 2018.
Join the FIN team!
FIN is seeking a creative individual to be a communications and social media point person. This intern will be responsible for monitoring and managing several social media and communications platforms — including Facebook and Twitter — managing and updating FIN’s monthly content calendar, and producing FIN’s bi-monthly newsletter. See position description for more information and details on how to apply.
Cesar Amaral, MX180 Nutrition
One of the most frightening things Cesar Amaral has ever done was to become an entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, he says, you must take responsibility for everything. You become the deliveryman, the marketing guru, and the business developer. But if you can plan, re-evaluate, and be persistent it will all pay off. It begins with taking responsibility and most of all, pushing yourself.
Cesar’s mother passed away from diabetes in 2012 and, to him, it was a wake-up call that changed his life. Although he had built a successful career in banking he wasn’t fulfilled; he was 275lbs and wanted to turn his life around. He started simple, walking 30 minutes a day and eating small meals every three hours. As he began to improve his own health, Cesar looked to the Latino community and found alarming rates of diabetes and obesity and very few role models for health and nutrition. In taking control of his own life, it became his mission to become a role model in the Latino community and fight the diabetes and obesity epidemics.
By 2014, he had left his job in banking and become certified as a personal trainer. He was producing workout videos and holding group workout classes in Spanish in an effort to get other Latinos more active. But obesity trends were still slowly rising and he started to shift his focus to nutrition as well as exercise. After much research he developed MX180, a weight management and nutrition program for people who are overweight or obese and need to improve their health. MX180 focuses on personalized nutrition plans with Mexican style meal options, virtual personal training, and a specially developed MX180 protein shake. With the launch of MX180, Cesar has become a community leader, often speaking at schools about nutrition and healthy; he truly helps people turn their lives around 180 degrees.
What advice does Cesar offer other entrepreneurs?
“Always connect to like-minded people. A majority of the world will tell you you’re not going to make it so it’s important to believe in yourself because the euphoria wears off. When you start something it’s so new and you’re so determined, but what will you do a few months from now when you are tired and run-down? During the dark moments you really need to dig in, get out of bed, and find people who will help keep you motivated.”
“Dig in, believe in yourself, and go for it.”
If you’re ready to take control of your life by forming new healthy habits, try the MX180 30-Day Plan. For more details call (206) 853-9847.
Check out the MX180 website and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.