Food First

March 20, 2022 - Monologue

For the past two years we’ve been living in unprecedented times. There is no return to ‘normal’ – we must learn and adjust continuously. One thing that has not changed is the vital role employment plays to help people overcome food insecurity. The biggest and best tool in the anti-hunger toolbox is employment that pays a livable wage.

Tune in to Food First Michigan this Sunday at 9 p.m. on WJR Radio to hear Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Brian Calley, the president and CEO at SBAM. Brian says it best, ‘that the challenges are big, but the opportunities and the possibilities are even BIGGER!’ Brian discusses what is happening with employment and how it affects small businesses in Michigan. The ebb and flow of business directly correlates with the ebb and flow of our work in food security.

Over the last two years, thousands of people have started a small business. While the small business world is diverse and complicated world – this is very exciting for our future!

SBAM and FBCM align with striving to help families earn, get ahead, build wealth, and become self-sufficient. We choose to invest in the potential of people and we do so because we believe they are worthy of the investment.

Find this episode and all past Food First Michigan episodes at foodfirstmi.org, on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio.

Apple Podcasts --> https://apple.co/38UUpFk

iHeartRadio --> https://ihr.fm/38WJ2wN

#FOODFIRST

#FoodFirstMI

#FoodSecurity

#MoreFoodMoreOften2MorePeople

#smallbusiness

March 13, 2022 - Food for Thought

March 13, 2022 - Monologue

Why are people struggling with more month than money? To answer this question, we must trade on trust, be grounded in facts, and rooted in data.

Tune in for FACTS on Food First Michigan at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio and hear from Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, a leading economic expert on anti-poverty measures and the Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Professor of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. They will be examining the impact of the Child Income Tax Credit intervention and how households use it, as well as the policy changes that evolved amid the pandemic. The facts and the research show the picture.

Interventions from the government, including the Child Income Tax Credit [CITC], have a dramatic effect on families who are struggling at the poverty level or below. 91% of recipients of the Child Income Tax Credit used the funds to fulfill the basic needs of their household including food, utility, and housing expenses. We need to stop worrying about those few who misuse the intervention and think more about the MANY who benefit from this investment. While MANY are quick to judge and slow to listen, the objective of our show is to change the conversation around food security and create a movement that generates enough political will to solve the problem.

People are worth investing in. Providing support through interventions like the CITC allows families to meet their basic needs and creates a foundation for future success.

Find this episode and all past Food First Michigan episodes at foodfirstmi.org, on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio.

Apple Podcasts --> https://apple.co/38UUpFk

iHeartRadio --> https://ihr.fm/38WJ2wN

#FOODFIRST

#FoodFirstMI

#FoodSecurity

#MoreFoodMoreOften2MorePeople

February 27, 2022 - Food for Thought

“Little by little, a little becomes a lot.” – Tanzanian Proverb

John van Hengel, the father of food banking, created ripples of positive change that are still being felt today. John led by example that significance is more important than success. John began distributing unsellable food from grocery stores to agencies that wanted to help their communities. Ergo, America’s first food bank.

Tune in for Food First Michigan this Sunday at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio to hear Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, discuss the fundamentals of food banking in Michigan and why the work is so important. Having been in this work for 30 + years, Gerry is a subject matter expert.

The charitable food system provides food access for vulnerable people in nearly every community in the United States. Food banks are critical in addressing community health disparities through the food and related services they provide. People get involved in this work because they care for people. WE are ALL part of this work.

This is who we are. The needs, our methods, the sophistication to do this work is ever-changing, but the mission does not. Solver hunger today – create food security ASAP!

Find this episode and all past Food First Michigan episodes at foodfirstmi.org, on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio.

Apple Podcasts --> https://apple.co/38UUpFk

iHeartRadio --> https://ihr.fm/38WJ2wN

#FOODFIRST

#FoodFirstMI

#FoodSecurity

#MoreFoodMoreOften2MorePeople

February 20, 2022 - Food for Thought

February 20, 2022 - Monologue

Four years ago, Dr. Phil and Gerry started Food First Michigan with the intent of changing the conversation about food security in Michigan. The reason we can see farther is because we’ve been standing on the shoulders of giants - giants that have joined the movement of creating a food secure state. This charge is born out of believing food insecurity CAN be solved and that it is in the best interest of EVERYBODY in the community for it to be solved.

Tune in for Food First Michigan this Sunday at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio with Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and John Roberts, interim president of Advantasure and a member of the Food Bank Council of Michigan Board of Directors, to hear why John has joined our movement and discuss the importance of the Social Determinants of Health [SDoH].

John is an influencer - a leader who has served at the top levels of State Government and is unafraid to help others when they are in need. Food is centric to our lives and we believe that food insecurity is an issue that can unite us – it is a non-partisan issue that drives change! Where there is no vision, the people perish. But, where there is no money, the vision perishes.

John got involved in this movement because he wants a community that is equitable and thrives. He has come alongside of us in many ways. Leaders are influencers. When people who lead want to use their influence for the greater good and the welfare of others, it is impactful!

Find this episode and all past Food First Michigan episodes at foodfirstmi.org, on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio.

Apple Podcasts --> https://apple.co/38UUpFk

iHeartRadio --> https://ihr.fm/38WJ2wN

#FOODFIRST

#FoodFirstMI

#FoodSecurity

#MoreFoodMoreOften2MorePeople