Advocacy Mission Statement

“Identify the root causes of hunger specific to our region while integrating the experiences and voices of our community members to most effectively advocate for sustainable change in our food systems to eliminate food insecurity”

Advocacy

Food banks play a critical role in ending hunger, but we can’t do it alone. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano strategically engages in advocacy work to raise awareness and mobilize support to end hunger, improve economic security and promote health and well being for our community. This includes educating the public and policymakers about food insecurity and encouraging them to partner with us to improve access to healthy food. 

Advocacy Awards

The Food Bank was inducted into Feeding America’s Advocacy Hall of Fame for 2020 and 2021 and earned a spot on Food Bank News’ Highest Honor Roll for excellence in advocacy in 2020 and 2021.

Hunger in Our Community

Why We Advocate

Public policy has an enormous impact on the resources the Food Bank is able to distribute, as well as the amount of assistance needed by our community. Ending hunger is not only about providing emergency food to people in need – it also means taking action and organizing to pass legislation that supports the Food Bank’s long-term strategies to ensure universal access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food.

Advocates in Action

Community members with lived experience of hunger and passion for food security partner with us to lead informed and effective legislative advocacy. Meet some of our featured advocates:

Keva Dean

Keva Dean

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Hunger Fighter Award 2022

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Gala Video 2022

Jenny Berten

Jenny Berten

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Legislative Lunch 2021

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Feeding America Conference

Tina Loyola-Cabral

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Speaker Series 2022

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Legislative Lunch 2021

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Feeding America Conference

Anti-Hunger Policy Conference Session

Anti Hunger Policy

Our advocacy team and two community advocates led a 75-minute conference session at the 2022 Anti Hunger Policy Conference hosted by Feeding America and FRAC to an audience of 3,200 attendees on centering lived experience and equity for effective advocacy. 

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Speaker Series 2021

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Legislative Lunch 2021

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Speaker Series 2022

Advocate to End Hunger

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Join Us

Speaker Series

Our annual advocacy training program for community members with lived experience and those passionate about ending hunger. This program aims to amplify the voices of those impacted by food insecurity and provide the tools to effectively advocate.

Community Advocacy Partnership (CAP)

Our Speaker Series graduates are invited to join this partnership as CAP members to advance the Food Bank’s mission of fighting hunger through the legislative process, while engaging in professional development.

Advocacy Internship

Current high school and higher education students have the opportunity to apply to join our advocacy team for our advocacy internship. For more details or to apply visit our advocacy internship page

Our Policy Priorities

2023 Policy Priorities: Social safety net programs, strengthening food systems and food banks, and Policy Partnerships for Hunger Solutions.

Partners in Advocacy

Elected Officials

We work directly with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels to ensure that the voices and experiences of our impacted community members are reflected in relevant public policy work.

Community Advocates

We have the honor of learning from and working with community members with lived experiences of hunger and those who are passionate about food security solutions. This qualitative insight guides our advocacy education and legislative steering. You can find details below about the many ways to be a community advocate.
Learn more about our current community advocates!

Partners

All that we achieve in advocacy is in-part due to our collective power. We are fortunate to have partnerships throughout our region, state and nation that make our work so effective.

Resources & Contacts

For more information about Food Bank advocacy, contact Government and Public Affairs Manager Cassidie Carmen Bates at cbates@foodbankccs.org or 925-334-2766.