Hi community member,

Get ready for another exciting edition of Rooted Relations, where we keep you in the loop on all things community-related. This digest gives a quick preview of upcoming events and ways to get involved in our community food system, all across San Diego County.

Remember, you can always find more on our community pages:

• Community Events Calendar
• Jobs in Our Food System
• Volunteer Opportunities

If you'd like to add events or opportunities to this newsletter, email me at lakisha@sdfsa.org.

In solidarity,

Lakisha McZeal
Community Engagement Manager
San Diego Food System Alliance

Upcoming Community Events

Find additional upcoming events on our Community Events Calendar.

Outdoor Health & Wellness Expo 🧘🏾

Project New Village & Movement Matters Collective

Join PNV for free community event at Market Creek Plaza that celebrates nature and wellness, with movement workshops, meditation practices, self-care services, plus much more! This event is open to everyone with no registration needed.

November 23, 2025 • 12pm-5pm

310 Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92114

Learn More

Sebrando Sowing Seeds of Abundance Open Mic Fundraiser 🎤

Cafeina Café

From Cafeina Café and Beyond the Veil Press, comes an evening of poetry and art grounded in nourishing community. Bring your poems, bring your songs, your art, your storytelling, your questions. We invite you to join us as we sew seeds of abundance for a new kind of world to emerge. 🌻

November 23, 2025 • 5:30pm-7:30pm

4011 46th, San Diego, CA 92105

Learn More

Community Room Language Lounge 🗣️

OB People's Food Co-op

Whether you’re fluent in five languages or just know how to say “Hello”, in one, this community language exchange is for everyone. Come chat, laugh, and learn with neighbors from all backgrounds in a relaxed, no pressure setting. All languages, levels, and people are welcome. Bring your curiosity & Culture!

November 25, 2025 • 7pm-8pm

4765 Voltaire Street San Diego, CA 92107

Learn More

Small Farm Tech Expo 📐

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

The Small Farm Tech Expo is back for its fifth year—bringing together small-scale farmers and advocates to share tools, practices, and systems that actually work for small farms. This annual gathering is a full-day, hands-on event where you'll see tools in action, learn what others are using, and bring home ideas you can actually put to work.

December 2, 2025 • 9am-4pm

5200 Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95343

Learn More

Root To Rise – A Workshop on Food Story, and Community Power ✊🏾✊🏻✊🏽

Food Culture Collective

Join Root to Rise, a 6-hour, 2-day virtual workshop for food workers and organizers ready to use food, story, and creativity to resist autocracy and strengthen community power.

December 5 & 12, 2025 • 10am-1pm

Virtual

Learn More

Jobs in the Food System

Find additional openings on our Food System Jobs page.

Barista

Cafeina Café

Learn More and Apply

Paid Spring Internship

Seeds@City Urban Farm

Learn More and Apply

Communications Manager

San Diego Bird Alliance

Learn More and Apply

Volunteer Opportunities

Find additional opportunities on our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Free Meal Wednesdays (kitchen & general volunteers)

Louisiana Purchase

Learn More

Community Outreach Ambassador

Feeding San Diego

Learn More

MAKE Farm VOLUNTEER (Education Focus)

MAKE Projects

Learn More

Spotlight

Adopt an Avocado Tree 🥑

Heal the Earth

Heal the Earth is helping keep small organic avocado farms thriving through their Adopt an Avocado Tree Program. Their mission is to transform the food system to work for everyone–farmers, food workers, and communities that have historically lacked access to resources and opportunity.

When you adopt a tree, you’re supporting a direct-to-consumer model that helps family farms stay rooted in their land and community–while enjoying delicious, organic San Diego grown avocados😋. Your adoptions also help fund a shared ecommerce and fulfillment platform so more local growers can sell directly to communities like yours!

Learn More