community ORGANIZATION RESOURCES
Empowering Your Students to Share Their Food Justice Stories
How This Competition Amplifies Your Mission
The Nourishing Narratives competition is a powerful opportunity for a youth audience and students to share their experiences and perspectives on Creating Better Food Futures. Through mobile filmmaking, students can document what they observe, reflect on solutions in action, and share stories that deepen understanding of food justice, often drawing inspiration from organizations like yours.
Why Organizations Should Participate
Amplify Your Impact: Student films can create films inspired by your programs, success stories, and the real-world impact of your work in creating equitable food systems.
Engage Youth Voices: Youth can express their ideas of food justice, Indigenous food sovereignty or nutrition access through storytelling.
Build Advocacy Skills: Young people develop storytelling, media literacy, and communication skills as advocates for food justice.
Create Shareable Content: Finished films become valuable assets for your organization's communications, fundraising, and community engagement efforts.
Provide Student Opportunities: Students can win up to $1,000, gain portfolio pieces for college applications, and connect with a national community of youth changemakers.
Competition Quick Facts
Eligibility
US students ages 13-18
Individual or team entries
No filmmaking experience needed
Timeline
Opens: March 6, 2026
Deadline: April 12, 2026
Winners: June 26, 2026
Requirements
2-3 minutes
Shot & edited on mobile device
Must include theme, prop, and saying
How Students Can Feature Your Organization
Past winning films have showcased organizations doing food justice work similar to yours. Students can create compelling stories by:
Documenting Your Programs: Films can highlight school nutrition initiatives, food banks, community gardens, Indigenous food programs, or camp meal services.
Interviewing Your Team: Students can feature staff, volunteers, or community members explaining your mission and impact.
Sharing Personal Stories: Youth can share their own experiences with your programs and how it has impacted their understanding of food justice.
Exploring Solutions: Films can spotlight innovative approaches your organization uses to address food insecurity, cultural food traditions, or equitable food access.
Ways to Encourage Participation
For School-Based Programs:
Share information through newsletters, assemblies, and classroom announcements
Partner with media arts, health, or social studies teachers to integrate filmmaking into curriculum
Host a filmmaking workshop or info session during lunch or after school
Invite students to document your meal programs, nutrition education, or farm-to-school initiatives
For Food Service & Distribution Organizations:
Share competition details through client communications, volunteer orientations, and partner networks
Encourage youth volunteers or participants to document the impact of food access programs
Provide filming opportunities during food distribution, meal preparation, or community events
Connect students with staff and community members who can share their stories
For Community-Based Organizations:
Promote through social media, email lists, and program announcements
Organize a group filmmaking session where youth collaborate on entries
Provide filming locations and interview subjects from your organization
Examples: Indigenous food sovereignty programs, youth development organizations, cultural food preservation initiatives, camp programs, and other community-focused food justice work
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
Theme
Creating Better Food Futures
Prop
Plate or Bowl
Saying
”Change Starts With Us.”
Must be spoken, written, or displayed in any form
Inspiration & Resources
View past winning films to see how students have told powerful food justice stories featuring organizations similar to yours.
The Nourishing Narratives website offers:
Complete submission guidelines and entry forms
Mobile filmmaking tips and tutorials
Past winning films for inspiration
Downloadable promotional materials
Questions & Support
For more information or promotional materials to share with your students and families:
Together, we can empower young voices to create awareness and drive change in food justice.