Seeds of Change Surrey (SOCS) is a network of community partners working towards a common vision of a food-secure region where everyone has equitable and dignified access to affordable, culturally preferable, nutritious and safe food. Seeds of Change Surrey envisions a food system that is resilient, sustainable and socially just.
SOCS’s network of partners includes non-profits, local government, businesses, health, education, grassroots organizations, and community members.
In the fall of 2015, a group of community stakeholders concerned about food issues in Surrey convened as part of a collective impact workshop led by BC Healthy Communities and Innoweave. Through the process, it was determined that food insecurity is an urgent and complex issue that requires deep collaboration among diverse stakeholders and community perspectives to address, and the Seeds of Change Surrey initiative was born.
With the support of a BC Healthy Communities coach, the group spent a year focused on building relationships, exploring the issue, defining the intervention points and creating a theory of how change can be affected at the neighbourhood level. In 2016, Seeds of Change Surrey was awarded a Growing Impact grant from PlanH, which provided funding and support to continue developing, formalizing, and building on the project’s momentum.
Vision
a just food system where everyone has equitable access to affordable, culturally preferable, nutritious, and safe food
Mission
to build networks that work towards creating resilient, ecologically sustainable, socially just food systems that honor food sovereignty
What We Do
Seeds of Change Surrey strengthens Surrey’s food system by bringing people together around shared priorities and coordinated action. We support community-led initiatives, collaborative problem-solving, and work that advances food systems equity, resilience, and local impact. Our work takes shape through various projects and working groups.
Projects are time-bound initiatives that respond to gaps and opportunities in Surrey’s food system and produce outcomes, from public education and research to tools and policy recommendations.
Working Groups are ongoing, issue-focused spaces where partners align efforts, share knowledge, and drive collective action.
Together, they create a connected pathway from ideas to impact.
Values
Influence
Influencing policies and community projects that challenge the current food system
Advocacy
Advocating for justice and equity to improve citywide food systems
Engagement
Engaging with the community to increase awareness on food system issues
Education
Providing learning opportunities for community to engage in the food system
Agency
Ensuring everyone has the agency to participate in, and influence food systems
Equity
Centering the voices of equity deserving group
Partnerships
Reinforcing and establishing new partnerships with organizations, community groups and individuals