Can we talk? Our system traps the people who are striving to survive and have a vision for their future. How do we structure the benefits to reward work?

Tune in to hear from the oh-so-talented Markell Miller, Director of Community Food Programs of Food Gatherers. Food Gatherers has provided 6.5 million pounds of food to the Washtenaw community this year! Markell discusses their innovative programming: Cookstars and the Job Training Program. Want to learn more about Food Gatherers and their awesome work? Check them out: http://www.foodgatherers.org/

Phil and Gerry also delve into the difference of the Self-Sufficiency Standard and the Poverty Measure. FBCM published the SSS for Michigan 2017 in an effort to ensure the best data and analyses are available to enable Michigan’s families and individuals to make progress toward real economic security. The result is a comprehensive, credible, and user-friendly tool. The SSS calculates how much income a family must earn to meet basic needs, with the amount varying by family composition and where they live. The SSS, plus tables providing county-specific information for over 700 family types, is available online at www.selfsufficiencystandard.org/michigan and fbcmich.org