Previous Conferences

Located next to our conference event site/ Carondelet Event Center, the Food Access Hub is a collaboration between the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) and St. Catherine University. It supports food production, education, nutrition, wellness, and food security on the campus and in the surrounding community. Centered around the food shelf and a network of community gardens, the Hub distributed over 38,000 pounds of food in 2024, including more than 8,000 pounds that were rescued, donated, or grown on-site. The gardens, which span 2,000 square feet and are in their 20th growing season, focus on culturally relevant food and herbs,with approximately 70% of the 700 pounds harvested in 2024 donated directly to the food shelf. The gardening community is made up of both college students and local residents. The Food Access Hub remains open and welcoming to all, regardless of age, background, or experience.

Set on 93 acres of orchards, vineyards, woods and wetland 68 miles west of the Twin Cities, Good Courage Farm is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with The Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Located on the ancestral homelands of our Wahpekute and Mdewakanton neighbors, the faith-based ministry was founded by Rev. Kerri Meyer and Dr. Jen Blecha. The farm grows 170 varieties of organic fruit using regenerative practices. Through partnerships with local food justice organizations like First Nations Kitchen, the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, and Zion Lutheran’s Senior Dining, they help address food insecurity in the region. The 18 acre farmstead is a place where neighbors of all faiths gather to witness the renewal of God’s creation through sustainable agriculture and community building.