In a country with supermarkets bulging at the seams with food products why, in recent years, have millions of Americans lacked consistent access to enough
food for a healthy active life? In 2018, 37 million Americans (11.5%) experienced food insecurity and Washtenaw County was close to the national average at
10.7%.1 Further, according to estimates from Feeding America, the coronavirus pandemic is markedly worsening the situation and 54,000,000 people, including
18 million children, will experience food insecurity in 2020.
Join our summer series on food insecurity to learn more about the extent of the problem before and during the pandemic, the populations most affected, the
impacts on the health of adults and children, the federally supported programs that address food insecurity, the organizations that provide solutions right
here in Washtenaw County, and an innovative private initiative to create win-win-win programs benefitting needy households, local farmers and vulnerable
communities.
This lecture series was planned by: Camille Orso, Chair, Mary Cardwell, Craig Fisher, Bruce Friedman, Jerry Gardner, Will Hawk, Debby Nicholas, and Liina
Paasuke.
For more information and supplemental resources about Food Insecurity visit:
https://www.olli-umich.org/sites/default/files/files/downloads/SLS_2021_Resources21.pdf
Three lectures on Thursdays in June, 10:00 to 11:30 am
#1: Thursday, June 10, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
No Food for Thought: Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes Across the Life Course
Cindy Leung, Sc.D., Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences, is a nutrition epidemiologist at the U-M School of Public Health. Her research focuses on
the experience of food insecurity and its negative influence on health. She is especially interested in using this research to inform the development of
federal programs and policies to help alleviate food insecurity and promote good health for vulnerable populations. Dr. Leung earned her M.P.H. from UC
Berkeley and her Sc.D. in Nutrition and Epidemiology from Harvard University.
Food insecurity has been a persistent social and health concern in the U.S for the past several decades. This presentation will discuss the negative health
outcomes associated with food insecurity for various populations across the life course, how national food insecurity has changed as a result of the COVID
pandemic, and how our food assistance programs have responded to alleviating food insecurity.
#2: Thursday, June 17, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Fair Food Network: Hungry People, Local Farmers, and Vulnerable Communities
Kate Kraussbecame Fair Food Network’s (FFN) Executive Director in 2019 after four years as the organization’s COO. Before joining FFN, Kate was
Managing Director of Slow Food USA. She recently re-joined Slow Food as a member of its national board of directors. Kate, who has over twenty years of
non-profit experience, began her career in television journalism. She is a graduate of Columbia University.
Ms. Krauss will provide an overview of FFN’s work toward greater equity in our food economy, increased access to healthy food for everyone, and a more
sustainable ecological future.
She will describe its Double Up Food Bucks program that matches locally grown fruit and vegetable purchases up to $20 a day for individuals eligible for
SNAP funds (formerly “food stamps”). The FFN, started in southeastern Michigan in 2009, works with community partners in almost every county in
Michigan and has expanded its programs across the U.S.
#3: Thursday, June 24, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Key Organizations Serving Food-Insecure People in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County is wealthy. Median household income is $76,500, 28% above the Michigan average and 17% above the U.S. average (1). However, there are
significant pockets of poverty in the county. About 11% of the population is below the poverty line. Similarly, 11% is food insecure, a percentage close to
the national average. The Coronavirus pandemic has greatly worsened the problem. Since March 2020, county food distribution agencies reported a 30-300%
increase in visitors. To quote one agency head, “[T]he pandemic created a perfect storm of food insecurity... We have never seen anything like it.
”This panel discussion will feature leaders of three front-line organizations doing battle against food insecurity: Food Gatherers, serving all of
Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, and We The People Opportunity Farm in Ypsilanti. Each leader will describe their organization, its target
audience, and operations.
(1) Figures from US Census for 2019
PANELISTS:
Alison Foreman, Executive Director of Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels (YMOW), has worked with Ypsilanti area non-profit organizations for more than 15 years. Ms.
Foreman serves on the boards of the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, Washtenaw Leaders Advisory and the Area Agency on Aging 1B Diabetes Program Advisory
Group, and is a former member of the SOS community services board. She has appeared as a guest on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and CNN’s “The
Lead.” Prior to YMOW Alison worked with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. She received her
bachelor’s degree in juvenile justice and a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Michigan University.
YMOW provides nutritious meals, social contact, and other services to home bound elderly, ill, and disabled persons in eastern Washtenaw County. YMOW’s
vision is a community where every senior feels nourished, valued and supported.
Melvin Parson (AKA Farmer Parson), spent approximately 13 years of his life incarcerated, was homeless on 3 separate occasions, and battled with substance
abuse for many years. He has experienced many of the challenges that come with being on parole or probation. In 2015, while he was earning a bachelor’s
degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University, he co-founded a mentor program for men and women returning home from incarceration called A
Brighter Way. In 2018 Mr. Parson founded a nonprofit organization, We The People Opportunity Farm (WTPOF), to create a sustainable farming system that can
support a workforce of formerly incarcerated persons. He believes a main factor for people returning to prison is their inability to find meaningful
employment or enrichment opportunities. One of his goals is to provide a paid internship program that will act as a springboard to future employment,
continued education, and meaningful strides towards caring about themselves, others and their community.
WTPOF’s mission is to break the cycle of incarceration in Washtenaw County. Its Paid Internship Program includes farming activities, as well as literacy
and learning related to organic foods, career-building workshops, financial literacy, and home rehabilitation. In 2020, WTPOF started a Food Distribution
Program and has given over 1,200 lbs. of food to 300 neighbors.
Eileen Spring, recently named 2021 Woman of the Year by the United Way of Washtenaw County, has spent 27 years at Food Gatherers (FG) and is currently
President and CEO.
Ms. Spring helped develop and steward a community-wide Food Security Plan that has dramatically improved the amount of fresh produce and protein available
to individuals struggling with food insecurity in Washtenaw County. She has been active on the board of the Food Bank Council of Michigan, has participated
at the national level with Feeding America, and is a founding member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hofstra
University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Food Gatherers was the first food rescue program in Michigan and the sixth nationwide. The food bank serves all of Washtenaw County and provides millions
of pounds of free or low-cost food to a network of 170 hunger relief pantries. FG also provides direct food assistance in the form of hot meals, nutritious
snacks, or emergency groceries to low-income adults, seniors and children. FG operates the Community Kitchen/Job Training Program at the Delonis Center, as
well as Summer Food Service and Healthy School Pantry programs. FG also advocates for policies to improve food system equity.
