NAHPC Lobby Day and CHAC Hunger Action Week
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From left to right: Chris Carter, VP of Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank; Casey Castillo, CEO, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank; congresswoman Sara j. jacobs, 51st district of california; Anahid brakke, president & ceo, san diego hunger coalition and Angeles Nelson, Policy Advocate, NourishCA.
By Mauricio Medina (he/him)
CalFresh Awareness Month coincided with two important advocacy dates for federal and state policy: NAHPC Lobby Day and CHAC Hunger Action Week.
The National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference (NAHPC) is held annual in DC, and it was the first time since the pandemic that it was held in-person. The last day of the conference is referred to as “lobby day” since advocates use the resources they learned from the previous days and apply their expertise to lobby members of Congress to support key pieces of federal anti-hunger legislation. We are fortunate that Hunger Coalition President & CEO Anahid Brakke represented the organization in person and led a delegation of advocates in meeting with our elected officials. This delegation included Casey Castillo, CEO, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank; Chris Carter, Vice President of Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and Angeles Nelson, Policy Advocate, NourishCA. This delegation met with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and staff from Senator Padilla and Feinstein’s Office, as well as staff from Congressman Peters and Vargas. At each meeting, the latest information on hunger and nutrition insecurity in San Diego was shared and timely and critical opportunities for members of congress to take action were identified.
Every May, the California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC) organizes Hunger Action Week, a week of action for advocates across the state to meet with their state representatives in the assembly and senate to make one final push for our policy priorities as key legislative deadlines approach: the Governor’s May Revise and suspense day. Hunger Coalition set up meetings with representatives from San Diego. CHAC Hunger Action Week was resounding success! San Diego Hunger Coalition, and its network of partners including San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Food System Alliance, Feeding San Diego and NourishCA met with staff and legislators to make one final push ahead of the crucial suspense day in the Assembly and Senate.
We want to extend our sincerest "thank yous" to the staff of Assemblymember Alvarez, Maienschein and Senator Atkins and thank Assemblymember Ward and Senator Padilla for taking the time to meet with us!
Mauricio Medina (he/him) is the Manager of Public Affairs of San Diego Hunger Coalition
