Every March Feeding America (FA) and the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) host the annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference (AHPC). This year’s three-day virtual event allowed anti-hunger and nutrition advocates, food banks and elected officials across the country to gather and focus on the goal of ending hunger. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano was honored to be selected to lead a conference session about our community-based advocacy programs, best practices and lessons learned in front of a national audience.
The Food Bank’s Advocacy Team facilitated a 70-minute conference session titled: Incorporating Lived Experience and Using an Equity Lens for Effective Advocacy. With the help of Food Bank Volunteer Advocates, Keva Dean and Jenny Berten, we shared about our advocacy programs, including the Speaker Series and the Community Advocacy Partnership. We suggested ways other direct service organizations could implement this type of community engagement and emphasized the importance of centering lived experiences and equity throughout the policy processes. We are humbled by the opportunity.
