The Chicago region's ready access to land, water and infrastructure is increasingly important as the climate crisis reshapes where and how food is grown, how community conservation is practiced and how our working lands are managed and protected. But this region is hampered by legacies of racism, disinvestment and political prioritizing of global economic models over local sustainability. Using the Chicago Region Food System Fund as a case study, we'll explore: How can a collaborative and concentrated response to a systemic shock lead to expanding and understanding of who is part of a food system- particularly across urban/rural, land use, and community divides? How can local communities be better prepared to address challenges to produce food, protect soil and water, and leverage government funding opportunities? How can land trusts apply COVID-19 lessons to the ongoing and increasing calamity of climate change and its profound reshaping of how our food is produced, distributed and consumed to be more ecologically sustainable and racially just? This workshop will be highly interactive with the presenters giving context, posing questions and facilitating group discussion. Participants should be motivated to experiment, brainstorm and take risks.