Helping City Leaders Talk About Food in Ways Residents Actually Hear

The project Empowering Cities helps city leaders talk about food in ways that resonate with residents. Many U.S. cities are advancing ambitious climate-smart food programs, but communicating about them can feel challenging, inconsistent, and disconnected from residents’ needs, values, and priorities. In this project, BITE explored resident perceptions of climate-smart food programs—with a focus on food waste reduction and plant-forward diets—and tested various narratives to better support the success of these critical sustainable food policy programs. This report includes our top communications strategies for engaging residents and how to apply them in your city’s unique context.