MAKING AN IMPACT

Founding chair Emily Ford shares what’s at the heart of the Carver-Carson Society

The final push for funds to erect the Detroit Central Market, which was saved from demolition on Belle Isle in 2003 by The Henry Ford, was the impetus for creating the all-new Carver-Carson Society. Now some 75 members strong, the society is passionate about building brighter food futures for the next generation. Emily Ford, the society’s founding chair, shares how the group came to be and its underlying goals going forward.

THF MAGAZINE: WHAT SPARKED THE FORMATION OF THE CARVER-CARSON SOCIETY?

EF: It started with a personal request from The Henry Ford in early 2020 and subsequent conversations with people like Lauren Bush Lauren of FEED Projects, chef Alice Waters and her daughter Fanny Singer, farmer Melvin Parson of We The People Opportunity Farm and The Henry Ford’s Debra Reid and Spence Medford. The Henry Ford had a gap in funding to bring the Detroit Central Market to Greenfield Village and asked me if I could help put together a fundraiser to bridge that gap. That fundraising event ended up being virtual because of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop it from being a huge success. We not only surpassed our monetary goal, but from that the Carver-Carson Society was born ... born out of the motivation of a group of people who are deeply interested in topics related to food, farming, education and the environment. The society’s beginnings all felt very fluid. It was the right time, the right topic and the right people. No one dislikes food, and I think that’s part of the reason why it took so well from the beginning. At the height of the pandemic, food security was front and center, and the issue really resonated with people. Our donors were receptive, hopeful and ready to put their energy toward something positive.

THF MAGAZINE: HOW HAS THE SOCIETY GROWN SINCE THOSE EARLY DAYS — IN NUMBERS AND PURPOSE?

EF: Three years later, we have 75 members and have raised more than $2 million toward The Henry Ford’s edible education initiatives. In fact, edible education has now become its own pillar within The Henry Ford’s Innovation Project fundraising campaign.

With that, we’ve set the bar high going forward and are motivated to continue to expand this initiative. We are putting healthy pressure on ourselves and our society members — whether they work in the food space, are philanthropists or are passionate about the topic — we share in wanting to be leaders in this space. Whenever we ask for help, our society members are at the ready.

Now we need to deepen our connections with the right talent and thought leaders to continue to bring the highest caliber of people to The Henry Ford, continue to transform Greenfield Village into our own version of Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard.

WHY IS IT CALLED THE CARVER-CARSON SOCIETY?

Yes, the name has a ring to it. Alliteration aside, the two individuals — George Washington Carver and Rachel Carson (photos at left) — inspired generations to take action to reverse environmental destruction. Both were curious, took risks and challenged the rules — essential habits of innovators. Both also recognized a need to identify problems, design solutions and inspire others — the hallmarks of innovators in action.

Carver led by appealing to impoverished farm families marginalized by racism to realize their power to make a difference. Carson led by helping readers see that they had to change the ways they used chemicals and pressure policymakers and businesses to do the same. Both galvanized individuals to organize, mobilize and model better practices. They inspired Americans to make informed choices, and they inspire members of The Henry Ford’s CarverCarson Society to support the edible education initiative.