Community-based organizations (CBOs) are a common entry point to examine the activities, processes, and outcomes of community food security initiatives. Collaborative, inter-organizational networks are implemented in practice, policy, and research to address the many capacity and resource challenges faced by CBOs. This study examines the role of a broker organization, Grow Appalachia, in facilitating community food security work across the rural region of Central Appalachia. Integrating findings from staff interviews (N = 26), partner site coordinator and staff survey (N = 32), document analysis, and 4 months of participant observation, this study identifies the “rules” implemented by the Grow Appalachia organization across its six-state service region. Four main rules are identified through the data analysis: “Being In and Of the Community,” “Providing a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” “Cultivating Science-Assisted Craft/Mountain Agriculture,” and “Promoting Sustainability for Self-Sufficiency.” While these rules—and associated program practices—are found to support increased organizational capacity, community buy-in, relationship building, and self-sufficiency, they were also associated with Grow Appalachia staff burnout and exclusion of marginalized populations from program and network participation. Overall, the benefits of the rules outweigh the costs, but still undermine the overall community food security mission of the broker organization and its network.

中文翻译：

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代理农村社区粮食安全：阿巴拉契亚中部的组织网络案例研究*

基于社区的组织 (CBO) 是检查社区粮食安全倡议的活动、过程和结果的常见切入点。在实践、政策和研究中实施协作的组织间网络，以解决 CBO 面临的许多能力和资源挑战。本研究探讨了经纪组织 Grow Appalachia 在促进阿巴拉契亚中部农村地区社区粮食安全工作中的作用。整合员工访谈 ( N  = 26)、合作伙伴现场协调员和员工调查 ( N = 32)、文件分析和 4 个月的参与观察，本研究确定了 Grow Appalachia 组织在其六州服务区实施的“规则”。通过数据分析确定了四个主要规则：“融入社区”、“伸出援助之手，而不是伸出援助之手”、“培育科学辅助工艺/山地农业”和“促进自给自足的可持续性” 。” 虽然这些规则和相关的项目实践被发现支持提高组织能力、社区支持、建立关系和自给自足，但它们也与成长阿巴拉契亚员工的倦怠和将边缘化人群排除在项目和网络参与之外有关。总的来说，规则的好处大于成本，