In 2010, the journey into community food systems research began with a groundbreaking $50,000 NC TraCS grant—the first of its kind for a community-partnered study. Collaborating with Dr. Alice Ammerman and Rev. William Kearney, we expanded from a pilot project on community gardens in Black churches to a study to work with four Black churches. Since then, FFORC has developed a broader initiative supporting 33 gardens across North Carolina, focusing on shifting power to community partners. Recognizing that healthy living requires more than just nutritious food, we launched an active living study in partnership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and local communities. This work has evolved to address environmental barriers to physical activity, culminating in a recent grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to promote biking, walking, and public transit.