Centring Human Rights in Food Systems: JHC Facilitates WECAN’s JEDI Strategy Session
At the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC), we believe that food security is not just an act of charity, it is a matter of social justice and a fundamental human right. When community organizations shift their perspective from a service-delivery model to a systems-change lens, the results are transformative.
We were thrilled to partner with the WECAN Food Basket Society to facilitate their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Strategy Session. This session brought together WECAN’s board, staff, and key volunteers to ground their renewed mission, vision, and values into a robust, rights-based organizational framework.
Moving from Charity to a Human Rights Lens
Many well-intentioned organizations realize that standard food programming can unintentionally overlook systemic barriers. WECAN is actively confronting this by moving beyond the traditional "charity lens".
During our time together, JHC guided participants through an interactive exploration of how historical and systemic contexts shape food access in Canada. By examining the roots of food systems, including colonial legacies and systemic oppression, the WECAN team engaged in reflective and critical dialogue about who is excluded from modern food systems and where economic and cultural inequities persist.
Our unique facilitation style blends anti-oppression frameworks with a rights-based approach. By explicitly mapping JEDI principles onto foundational Human Rights Pillars, we supported WECAN to reflect and realize thatwe helped the team see that:
Justice requires deep Accountability and dismantling systemic barriers.
Equity demands intentional Inclusion that centers historically marginalized voices.
Diversity means nothing without meaningful Participation in decision-making.
Inclusion is about creating safe environments where community Protection and trust are guaranteed.
Key Learning: Decolonization is an Active Practice
One of the most profound takeaways from the session was the collective realization that decolonization is active, not symbolic. Inspired by the spirit of the Buffalo Treaty’s “living agreement,” the group embraced the idea that growth and reconciliation are ongoing commitments rooted in collective responsibility.
Organizations must be willing to look inward. Through structured reflection, WECAN’s leadership showed immense humility and courage, recognizing that a food network must truly mirror and celebrate the diversity of the community it serves in order to foster genuine belonging.
Tangible Outcomes: Moving from Reflection to Action
At JHC, our facilitation goal is never just to spark a good conversation, it is to build a practical roadmap for the future. We utilized structured action-planning frameworks to help WECAN translate their high-level intentions into immediate, actionable pathways forward:
Systemic Partnerships: Cultivating trust-based, long-term collaborations with Indigenous, newcomer, and ethnocultural community organizations to co-design culturally relevant food options (like Halal or traditional foods).
Embedding Accessibility: Auditing physical, linguistic, and operational spaces—such as evaluating depot locations, transit proximity, and ensuring the use of safe, secular environments.
Inclusive Governance: Redesigning traditional organizational models, such as transforming their AGM into an accessible, collaborative "Member Day" that shares decision-making power with the community.
Continuous Accountability: Creating safe, transparent feedback and harm-reporting structures alongside mandatory cultural awareness training for all staff and volunteers.
The JHC Impact: Building Justice-Driven Community Networks
WECAN stands as an incredible model of what is possible when a community organization commits to continuous learning and systemic growth. By choosing to embed JEDI principles at every tier of their governance and operations, they are evolving from an essential food access provider into a justice-driven community network.
JHC is incredibly proud to design and facilitate these brave spaces. We specialize in moving teams past the surface level, fostering the deep introspection and critical dialogue required to build a more equitable Edmonton.
Interested in transforming your organization’s approach to equity and human rights? Connect with the John Humphrey Centre to learn more about our custom strategy sessions, JEDI training, and organizational facilitation services or visit our website.