2018 SLI's Leveraging Community Talents and Voices to Fight Food Insecurity Workshop

1. Leveraging
Community Talents
and Voices to Fight
Food Insecurity
FUNKE ADERONMU
BILL EMERSON NATIONAL HUNGER FELLOW
RESULTS/CONGRESSIONAL HUNGER CENTER
JUNE 7, 2018

2. Intro
Hosted by Congressional Hunger Center
Hunger Fellows:
• Tackle U.S. hunger and poverty at local and
national levels
• Bridge field experiences with policy work
• Develop racial justice lens in anti-hunger and
anti-poverty work
• Build leadership capacity
Field Placement - DC Greens
Policy Placement - RESULTS Educational Fund
24th Class Emerson National Hunger
Fellow
“a social justice program that trains,
inspires, and sustains leaders. Fellows
gain field experience fighting hunger
and poverty through placements in
community based organizations across
the country, and policy
experience through placements in
Washington, D.C. ”

4. The Grocery
Gap
In the District of Columbia, access
to fresh and healthy food is
determined more by income level
and race than by individual choice.
Currently 1 full-service grocery
store for every 8,572 residents in
Ward 3 the wealthiest ward in the
District, while there is 1 store for
every 70,712 residents in Ward 8
the District’s poorest ward.
Communities of color are
disproportionately impacted by
the grocery gap.

5. The Grocery Gap
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=kQeorPkPLmU

6. Impact of Food
Insecurity in DC
The Grocery Gap impacts:
• Health Outcomes – Residents of Wards 7 and 8 have higher
rates of diabetes and obesity than all other wards.
• Economic Costs – Residents in food desert areas incur
higher transportation costs traveling to grocery stores. Lost
community investment from residents doing their shopping
in neighboring Maryland and Virginia.
• Racial Disparities - Wards 7 and 8 are predominantly black
neighborhoods, meaning almost half of the District's black
population lives in food desert areas.

7. Efforts to Address the Grocery Gap
PROGRAMS
Grocery delivery programs
Farmers' Market Incentives
Healthy Corner Store Initiatives
Grocery Co-operatives
Food banks
LEGISLATION
DC Urban Farming and Food Security
Amendment Act (2015)
Food Policy Council and Director
Establishment Act (2014)
Cottage Food Act (2013)
Healthy Schools Amendment Act (2012)
FEED DC Act (2010)

8. Community Advocates
Launched in 2017 by DC Greens
Cohort of DC residents with lived experience of food
insecurity
Engage in learning, community outreach, and advocacy at
the local level
Community Advocates receive 6 months of weekly
training on local gov't, Food Policy council, DC food
system, advocacy strategy, community organizing, and
anti-racism.
Build community power that will push for an end to
food insecurity and an equitable food system in DC

9. Community Advocates
Program Components
Community Advocates are active in
broader community
•Attend/present at city council
hearings, community meetings
•Work with city agencies and
private business to develop just
food policy
•Partner with DC Greens staff on
advocacy projects and events
•Interview with local/national
media outlets on food access
issues in DC
•Build relationships with
community members and local
food justice activists

10. Influencing DC
Food Policy
During their time in the program,
the Community Advocates
successfully:
 Testified in
front councilmembers on the
importance of
supporting nutrition assistance
programs
 Canvassed and enlisted
participants in the Grocery Walk
 Helped secure government
funding for food assistance
programs
 Engaged in community
education and outreach
activities (Rooting DC 2018)

11. Community Advocates' Reflections
New Connections in the food activism space
"[Being a Community Advocate] allowed us to
broaden our horizons and it’s an experience
that I will remember forever.”
Long term commitments to advocacy
"I feel like we’re doing what we’re
supposed to be doing, and let’s just keep it
like I said, keep it going hard and strong.”
Competence in advocacy and food policy
"I’ve always been an advocate all my life but
I got a textbook, not literally, but a textbook
experience on how to do it, how to get it
started, who to contact, what to say.”
Direct engagement in local policy advocacy
"...you do this work all year and you wonder
who’s listening...so the [Grocery Walk]
turnout was great."

12. Lessons
Learned
Advocacy is a full time job; those who
stand to gain the most often face barriers
to involvement
The Community Advocates program
exemplifies how local residents can engage
meaningfully in advocacy
It is also a path for bridging the information
and accountability gap between elected
officials and residents they serve

13. How can
you enlist your
community in
achieving
change?
Bring the Community Advocates model to your
campus or hometown
◦ Are there problems on campus or your home
community that need solutions?
◦ What groups or individuals are interested in
this issue and are willing to take up the cause?
◦ How can you contribute or harness
this interest in pushing for policy changes on
campus or your hometown?
Power Mapping Activity!

14. How can
you enlist your
community in
achieving
change?
Join Advocacy Organizations...like RESULTS!
RESULTS is movement of passionate, committed
everyday people. Together they use their voices to
influence political decisions that will bring an end to
poverty.
Grassroots Advocacy Model:
Influencing policy through Relationship Building
and Storytelling

15. RESULTS US
Poverty
Campaigns 2018
What is SNAP?
◦ Commonly known as food stamps
◦ Federal program that provides food assistance
to Americans with income at or below 130% of the poverty line
◦ Reauthorized through the Farm Bill every 5 years
◦ In 2017, SNAP helped over 40 million low-income Americans
afford nutritious food in a given month
Protecting SNAP:
Supplemental
Nutritional Assistance
Program

16. RESULTS US
Poverty
Campaigns 2018
In 2018, RESULTS has advocated for preventing controversial
new work requirements from being implemented for SNAP
recipients
RESULTS volunteers have participated in:
◦ National training webinars
◦ Writing letters to the editors and published media pieces to raise
awareness
◦ Making visits and calls to elected representatives to advocate for
SNAPProtecting SNAP:
Supplemental
Nutritional Assistance
Program

17. Relationship
Building
Community organizing through
RESULTS volunteer chapters and
REAL Change Fellowship
Working with members of
Congress on both sides of aisle to
advance anti-poverty policy

18. Storytelling
Experts on Poverty program
Media trainings
“Without SNAP, I’d be on the cusp of
homelessness. With SNAP, I’m on the cusp of
law school.” - Asia Bijan Thompson, RESULTS
Expert on Poverty

19. RESULTS
International
Conference!
•July 14-17th | Washington, DC
•Speakers include: World Bank
President, Members of
Congress, City Officials,
Activists, Writers and more!
•15+ workshops and plenaries
including a session on Running
for Office
•Connect with peers and anti-
poverty advocates from across
the country
•Lobby Day on Capitol Hill
•Register at:
resultsconference.org
•SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!

20. Thanks!
Any questions?
Email:
faderonmu@hungercenter.org