Philabundance Agency Advocacy Toolkit is a resource intended to enable food pantry, soup kitchen, and other direct service providers to effectively advocate on behalf of state and federal anti-hunger programs. The toolkit includes information about how to engage with elected officials, develop a … Read more
Dead Ends: Assessing transportation barriers among the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) population in Illinois
Dead Ends: Assessing Transportation Barriers among the ABAWD Population in Illinois is the culmination of Maria Cristina’s work at the Illinois Hunger Coalition, where she spent her field placement researching the impact of SNAP work requirements on the Able-Bodied Adults Without … Read more
First Steps: Integrating Transformative Community Engagement at Martha’s Table
First Steps: Integrating Transformative Community Engagement at Martha’s Table is a Martha’s Table-facing guide to understanding and practicing “transformative community engagement” (TCE)—a community outreach and engagement model that lessens power differentials between organizations and community members. The guide summarizes relevant … Read more
CalFresh: The Most Vital Anti-Hunger Intervention in San Diego County
CalFresh: The Most Vital Anti-Hunger Intervention in San Diego County provides an overview of food insecurity in San Diego County, highlighting issues unique to the region. Through a data analysis of food assistance sources in San Diego County and a … Read more
Beyond the Grocery Gap: Beyond the Grocery Gap: Strategies for Supporting Rural and Indian Country Communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Beyond the Grocery Gap: strategies to support rural and Indian Country communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative is an environmental scan of healthy food access projects in Indian Country and rural communities. The report offers recommendations to guide the development … Read more
Toolkit for Community Food Assessments in Jersey City
Lessons Learned from a Community Food Assessment in Bergen-Lafayette
Laura Yepez
Laura was born and raised in East Los Angeles. At the University of California, Berkeley, Laura majored in American Studies, an interdisciplinary major which allowed her to learn about communities, policy, and planning. Laura also has a minor in Landscape Architecture. While at Berkeley, Laura fundraised for several organizations and … Read more
De’Sean Weber
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, De’Sean studied anthropology and global health studies at Northwestern University. He wrote his senior thesis on how trauma-informed care can be implemented to address the impact of mental illness, addiction, and homelessness among low-income Black beneficiaries at Heartland Alliance. At Northwestern, De’Sean worked to … Read more
Paige Shortsleeves
Born and raised in Parsonsfield, Maine, Paige graduated from Colby College with a degree in biology and sociology. With a passion for health and social justice, Paige interned at the Maine Medical Center and Preble Street Learning Collaborative, where she helped provide access to health care for the homeless. On … Read more
Rosa Rada
Rosa grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a self-designed interdisciplinary degree in Food Systems Policy. As an undergraduate, Rosa served as an Americorps volunteer at the International Rescue Committee, where she worked to increase food access for refugee communities in … Read more