Rethinking Hunger

What comes to mind when you think of farms in America? You might be surprised to learn that food insecurity, as well as many other issues we associate with large scale, industrial operations that predominantly rely on migrant labor, exist on small scale farms as well. Join Sophia in conversation with Anita Adalja on what the lived realities of farming look like in our country and what needs to change.

How does experiencing hunger in childhood impact the course of one's life? Join Sophia in conversation with nutrition and food security expert, Patty Keane. They cover the correlation between food insecurity and chronic disease, coping mechanisms children take on, food programs, child nutrition reauthorization, and more.

As we confront the issue of food insecurity, we need to ask ourselves deeper questions about our relationship to the earth and each other. Join Sophia in conversation with Chili Yazzie, an iconic advocate for indigenous civil and human rights, and longtime leader of the Shiprock community of Northwestern New Mexico and the Navajo Nation in the greater Southwest.

In small farming communities in Northern New Mexico, water is a shared community resource that flows between farms through waterways called acequias. Join Sophia in conversation with Donne and Emily from the New Mexico Acequia Association and find out how this particular context challenges our dominant thinking about resources, sustains traditional farming methods, and inspires children and youth.

Frontier regions and smaller communities in the United States face unique opportunities and challenges as they confront the issue of food insecurity. Join Sophia in conversation with Ben Rasmussen, program specialist at the National Center for Frontier Communities.

How can farmer's markets contribute to relocalizing our food systems, fostering community, and confronting food insecurity? Join Sophia in conversation with Denise Miller, Executive Director of the New Mexico Farmer's Marketing Association.

In response to the increased need showing up with the onset of COVID-19 last March, Zowie and Kelly, community members of the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico, stepped up to organize an emergency food pantry. Join Sophia in conversation with Zowie and Kelly as they reflect upon their journey from starting the emergency food pantry to now as they turn their operation into a permanent pantry that they hope becomes self-sustaining.

What role can afterschool and out-of-school time providers play in combating food insecurity? Join Sophia in conversation with Salvador Ruiz and Laura Cox of Moving Arts Española, an afterschool program serving their community healthy meals and so much more.

How might thinking more like bees serve us in our collective human endeavor to create a better society and world? Join Sophia in a conversation with Anita Amstutz, founder of the Albuquerque-based pollinator advocacy organization, Think Like a Bee.

What can we expect in the upcoming legislative session? Rep. Melanie Stansbury (of House District 28 in the NM State Legislature) joins Sophia to reflect on her work around food and water issues in New Mexico, the hunger response in New Mexico following COVID-19, and the road ahead with the new hunger bill getting drafted.