Austin on the Global Stage: Elevating Food Workers

Good Work Austin was honored last week to participate in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) North America Regional Forum 2026, hosted by the City of Austin. This two-day gathering brought together food policy leaders, practitioners, and advocates from across North America to share strategies, highlight innovations, and strengthen our collective work toward more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems.

Past Culinary Workforce Trainees and GWA Staff

We were especially proud to take part in the opening reception, where we had the opportunity to share more about Good Work Austin’s mission and the critical role food workers play in our local food system. The evening was brought to life by our incredible community—our culinary workforce trainees, alongside our Culinary Instructor, Chef Neena, served a meal that reflected both talent and opportunity in action. We were also thrilled to feature dishes from GWA member Emmer & Rye and Chef Alexa Mejia, who exemplify what it means to pair exceptional food with strong workplace practices.

Chef Alexa Mejia, Emmer and Rye

During the program, our Executive Director, Kara Hanaoka, spoke to a reality that is often overlooked:

“I’m here to talk about what is often overlooked; the workers behind the great food. Austin has around 65,000 food workers. They are the heart of our city, the 3rd largest occupational group, yet they are the lowest-paid occupational groups in our city. At Good Work Austin, we believe that a sustainable food system must include healthy careers for the people who power it.”

Her remarks underscored why Good Work Austin’s work—expanding access to living-wage career pathways through workforce development and advocacy—is essential to building a truly sustainable food system.

This event also marked an important moment for our city. Austin was recognized for its multi-year effort to develop a comprehensive food plan—a process shaped by collaboration across community, government, and industry. Good Work Austin has been proud to contribute to this effort, including through the leadership of our Program Director, Nitza Cuevas, who serves on our local food policy board.

Our involvement in food policy is grounded in a clear understanding: inequities in our food system, especially those impacting workers, are not accidental. They are the result of long-standing systems and policies. Creating a more just and resilient future requires intentional collaboration—and ensuring that the voices of workers and small business owners are at the table.

One example of this approach in action is our healthcare access program, launched this past year. What began as advocacy from GWA member businesses—who identified significant barriers to providing healthcare for their employees—led to a partnership with our county’s public healthcare system, Central Health. Together, we are now providing free healthcare and support to 25 food workers. This kind of cross-sector collaboration reflects what is possible when we rethink systems together.

As we celebrate the progress represented by Austin’s food plan, we also recognize that there is much more work ahead. Good Work Austin remains committed to advancing policies and programs that support food workers and to building a food system that works for everyone.

We’re grateful to have been part of this powerful gathering and to stand alongside partners across North America who are working toward a shared vision of equity and sustainability.

And of course—what better way to bring people together than over a great meal.