WE Power Food
COMBINED EXPERIENCE
Helping women entrepreneurs identify issues and develop innovative solutions
Scroll Down
WHO WE ARE
Piedmont Food Processing Center first convened a round table discussion with a group of women in food businesses, entrepreneurship programs and public office in the fall of 2017. The group was asked two questions: What challenges to business and personal success are women food entrepreneurs facing and which of these challenges are unique to women food entrepreneurs and why?
The collective, now known as WE Power Food, has since identified two goal areas:
​
1. Develop targeted resources and support networks to benefit women in food business
​
2. Foster changes in the business environment to create a more equitable and safe space where all women in food business can succeed and flourish
WHAT WE DO
To learn more about what we do hover over a box!
Network
Building
Partnering with service providers, local governments, community supporters and allies to build an environment that empowers women food entrepreneurs.
​
Collective Problem Solving
We believe in the power of listening and collaboration. WE Power Food depends on a diversity of lived experiences to help identify issues and develop innovative solutions.
Recognition
Women experience the world differently across race, religion, gender-identity, and class. WE Power Food operates with this understanding to build representation at the table, foster shared learning and promote equity. Additionally, WE Power Food recognizes that all marginalized communities experience barriers that can limit success and create unsafe environments. While our focus is on women in food business, we welcome and value all people.
Resource
Sharing
WE Power Food works through collective problem solving and network development to identify resources that support all women in food businesses. The resources we discover are shared within our network.
OUR GOALS
Grow the network of women food entrepreneurs in the Piedmont region and North Carolina.
​​
Share resources and best practices with other food incubators through a “train the trainer” model to enable these incubators to better assist and serve women food entrepreneurs.
​​
Create a resource guide for women entrepreneurs in food business at all levels with various backgrounds and lived experiences. WE Power Food recognizes women food entrepreneurs face different barriers based on race, gender, ethnicity, location and income. Resources designed and compiled by WE Power will aim at breaking down barriers and increasing access to opportunities for women food entrepreneurs.
​​
Create a safe space where women food entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and experiences can share information and lessons learned in addition to developing strong support networks.
​​
Develop a series of training workshops with a focus on breaking down barriers faced by women of all backgrounds in food businesses.
​
​
Reduce the number of women food entrepreneurs closing their businesses -- WE Power Food has learned that women food entrepreneurs are twice as likely to close their business than male food entrepreneurs.