Agenda setting within a community-based food security planning process: the influence of power.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of using citizen politics as a framework for empowering citizens to build a community food security agenda.


METHODS
A critical perspective, case study design, and multiple qualitative methods were used.


METHODS
Forty-four participants were purposefully recruited to participate in a community-based planning process called a search conference (SC). Seven additional disenfranchised stakeholders who did not attend the SC were also recruited to participate.


METHODS
To assess how power influenced agenda setting and to determine the extent to which disenfranchised stakeholders' most salient interests were incorporated into the final SC action agendas.


METHODS
The constant comparison method, content analysis, and consensus were used to produce the final analysis.


RESULTS
Power influenced agenda setting by managing knowledge, problem framing, trust, and consent. Two of seven of disenfranchised stakeholders' most salient interests, including need for adequate food preparation skills and increased availability of locally produced foods, were incorporated into the final SC action agendas.


CONCLUSIONS
Citizen politics can be used to build a community food security agenda on issues that are not at odds with stakeholders in positions of power. To bring about change on issues in which power differences between groups are substantial, additional theoretical frameworks and public policy-making models are needed.
McCullum
Christine
C
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. christine.mccullum@uth.tmc.edu
Pelletier
D
D
Barr
Donald
D
Wilkins
Jennifer
J
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D014481:United States