OCTOBER 6-7, 2024
Welcome to the Dallas InnerCity Growers' Summit 2024
Today's cities face rapid urbanization, climate change, and numerous other stresses that make our food supplies vulnerable. Extreme weather, labor shortages, and a lack of diversified production are causing disruptions. Food is traveling farther to reach consumers, often coming from fewer, larger farms. Although 80% of our food will soon be consumed in cities, many lack the mechanisms to support urban agriculture networks.
THE AGE OF PLASTIC FOOD
The idea of a localized food system often seems discouraging in a world filled with rising costs, climate disruption, aging farmers, and degrading soil.
How can we reverse these factors and build a sustainable food system?
GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE
The Dallas InnerCity Growers' Summit (DIG Summit) is here to address these challenges. This event provides a platform for collaboration, sharing research, tools, and resources to find solutions for a resilient food system. Our mission is to give food system stakeholders a voice in a safe space to discover and find solutions to the obstacles within our urban food system.
LET'S GROW OUR MOVEMENT
Join us at the DIG Summit to be part of the solution in creating a resilient urban food ecosystem. DIG goes beyond cultivating food; it cultivates human connection. Through interactive experiences, networking opportunities, and collaborative growing, we're creating spaces where knowledge and unique perspectives are shared to improve the health and wealth of our cities so everyone can thrive.
The 2024 Dallas InnerCity Growers' Summit is about to sizzle this October! Get ready to join us for our second annual in-person event in the heart of "Big D" — a fusion of Tex-Mex delights, artistic vibes, and cowboy flair — where we'll dig into agriculture, innovation, and action. This gathering is growing to be our most fruitful one yet!
THE SUMMIT WILL
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The call for proposals has closed as of Friday, August 23rd. You may login to your account for any updates. The Proposal Submission Guidelines are available here.
Regular (Ending 10/02/2024) | Student (Ending 10/02/2024) | |
Full Summit (Sunday Reception + Monday Workshop + Monday evening Farm to Table event) | $100 | $50 |
Summit (Includes Sunday Reception + Monday Workshop , No Farm to Table Event) | $45 | $20 |
Registration Process
Student (Full Summit)
*Includes Sunday Reception, Monday Workshop, and Monday evening Farm to Table Event
Regular (Full Summit)
*Includes Sunday Reception, Monday Workshop, and Monday evening Farm to Table Event
Summit Venue
The DIG Summit will be held at the Martha Proctor Mack Grand Ballroom on SMU's campus.
Event Schedule
Sunday, October 6, 2024
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Reception, Manhattan Project Beer Co., 2215 Sulphur St., Dallas, TX 75208
Registering for the summit guarantees you an invite to the reception at the Dallas, TX-based Manhattan Project Beer Co., a craft brewery with a scratch kitchen. Included with your ticket to the summit, you will be provided light appetizers and two drink tickets at the reception, located in the heart of Dallas. We look forward to welcoming everyone in the spirit of digging deeper and getting connected. The reception will be come and go as you please with the opportunity to network! After all, getting rooted is in our DNA.
Monday, October 7, 2024
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Workshop, SMU's Mack Ballroom, 3300 Dyer St., Dallas, TX 75205
During this all-day summit, we'll dig into food systems, innovation, and action! Coffee and light bites will accompany the start of our day, followed by a keynote and two breakout sessions/ 8 different AM sessions. Lunch will feature another keynote and produce from local growers prepared by SMU's progressive catering team. We'll jump into the afternoon with two more breakouts, for a total of 16 different sessions throughout the day to choose from. The day will sunset with fruitful closing remarks by 4 p.m.
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Farm to Table Event, Elmwood Farm, 1014 Nolte Dr., Dallas, TX 75208
Farm to Table evening at Elmwood Farm tucked in the heart of Oakcliff, the farm practices regenerative production methods while contributing to the slow food movement. This ticketed event includes an intimate tour of the farm's operations, hors d'oeuvres by local chefs: Fount Board & Table, adult beverages, live music, and good ole fashion conversation around the fire pits.
Accommodations
The Lumen is located directly across from SMU, walk out the front door and step onto SMU's campus. Let them know you're visiting SMU for the DIG Summit and get 20% off your stay.
The Beeman has a very convenient location right off HWY 75 and is just a few blocks from SMU's campus. Tell them you're visiting SMU for 15% off your stay.
These events have the ability to change the world we live in, and we want everyone to be able to participate! As a commitment to fostering education and growth, we invite you to apply for a scholarship that covers the full cost of your registration to the DIG Summit workshop.
You can apply for the DIG Scholarship here!
Thanks to sponsorship from the City of Dallas, we are able to support these scholarships. We will announce scholarships on a rolling basis, scholarships will cover the cost of the workshop only.
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