This part of the Hayward Food Action Plan emphasizes the importance of maintaining cultural food traditions while also promoting overall community health and well-being. This can involve initiatives such as supporting local food markets, traditional cooking classes, and community gatherings that revolve around food. The goal is to ensure that food not only nourishes the body but also sustains cultural identity and strengthens the sense of belonging within a community.

Highlights & Opportunities

Hayward food recovery organizations leading the effort

Community Based Organizations in Hayward have developed their own networks. Partners that are crucial to this work include Dig Deep Farms and Daily Bowl.

Collecting local data to better address local problems:

At the beginning of the planning process, the Food Access & Security working group was polled to identify their priority areas on action items we could work towards. The top three topics to address were: 

Process:

Partnering with Service Providers

From August 2022 through October 2023, the City of Hayward met with over 30 community organizations, educational partners, and service providers to gauge their needs and interest in participating in a Food Action Plan for Hayward and the surrounding areas.

Working Groups

In order to develop this plan, there were 3 working groups that met to share information, define assets and gaps, and plan for local data collection.

The #HaywardBeautiful Yard Contest is a reward-based approach to encourage residents to Keep Hayward Clean, Green, and Beautiful by acknowledging the hard work that goes into a bay friendly yard.  The contest is sponsored by the Clean & Green Commission.

Accurate location information is crucial in emergencies, and the faster the location is confirmed, the faster help can be dispatched. What3words allows callers and dispatchers to communicate precise locations effectively.

What3words is a geocoding system that divides the world into a grid of 10-foot by 10-foot squares, each identified by a unique combination of three words. This system simplifies finding exact locations, even in areas with confusing or missing addresses.

Coffee with a Cop brings our local police officers and the Hayward community members they serve together-over-coffee to discuss issues and learn more about each other. 

Learn more about missing persons cases and how you can contribute here.

Unsolved Cases: 

The following are brief summaries of unsolved cases the Hayward Police Department is investigating. Tips can be submitted through the tip portals or by calling the Tip Line (510) 293-7176. 

What is Dial-A-Story?

• Free
• Available from any phone
• Weekly recorded stories featuring expert children’s librarians and storytellers
• A mix of fairy tales, folk tales, rhymes, and stories highlighting diverse experiences

Hear a Story Right Now

Call (510) 901-4343 to hear this week's story.

Join us for our Summer Reading Challenge, enjoy free meals and activities at Lunch at the Library, and dive into hands-on discovery at our Summer Learning Camp. Whether your child is a curious reader, a budding scientist, or just looking for something fun to do, there’s something for everyone this summer—at no cost to families.