Almost one in three (32%) Arizona households have experienced food insecurity since COVID-19. One in four Arizona families struggle to put nutritious food on the table. (ASU News, Dec 1, 2020). Some formerly incarcerated people are doubly punished and denied food assistance, and everyone in the household is impacted. Successful re-entry into society requires basic needs, such as, food, health care, housing and employment.
This virtual event includes...
An opportunity to learn about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
Little-known facts as to why people with prior drug felony convictions have been banned from accessing SNAP. Instead of encouraging a safe and stable transition for returning citizens, Arizona creates obstacles to food assistance. All other felons do not have these barriers to food assistance when they have paid their societal debt and are released. 30 states have eliminated this 25 year-old ban. Since 2017, Arizona has had a modified ban.
Presentations and dialogue with local experts to help us better understand the state legislative process and conversation about ways to take action (e.g., support a bill introduced in the 2022 legislative session).
Speaker/presenters:
Ashley St Thomas from Arizona Food Bank Network (Public Policy Mgr.) and Khalil Rushdan at Arizona Faith Network (Social Justice Program Manager). Additional speakers will also join the program.
Ashley St. Thomas, Arizona Food Bank Network. The Arizona Food Bank Network is a nonprofit organization representing five large food banks that distribute food statewide to more than 1,000 sites. Ashley is the Public Policy Manager where she leads legislative and administrative advocacy at the state and federal level. Ashley has developed and supported nutrition legislation at the state level focused on eliminating school lunch shaming, strengthening the emergency food network, and launching an ongoing farm-to-food-bank initiative. She has worked with national and state partners to make SNAP and other federal nutrition programs more equitable, accessible, and useful.
Khalil Rushdan, Arizona Faith Network, Social Justice Program Manager. Arizona Faith Network is an organization uniting people of faith to create positive change for the common good. Khalil served 15 years before his conviction for Felony Murder was overturned for vindictive prosecution. With the help of the AZ Justice Project, the prosecutorial misconduct and vindictive motive of the lead prosecutor was exposed. Since his exoneration, Khalil has been an advocate and a mentor for formerly incarcerated Arizonans.
Sponsored/facilitated by the Casa Hunger Action Ministry Advocacy Team. The vision of the Casa Hunger Action Ministry is to be a change agent in our community for reducing hunger. The mission is to offer opportunities for Awareness (educate on hunger issues), Advocacy (promote state / federal legislation affecting food security), and Action (organize service projects).
Register by Monday, February 14.