Breaking Bread and Barriers: Tackling Food Insecurity with Dignity and Justice

Michael Hollis is an expert in food systems and urban agriculture, with over two decades of experience at the intersection of food, community, and resilience. He currently holds the position of Vice President for Community Food Security at Services for the Underserved in New York City. Michael has previously managed feeding operations in disaster zones and has a background in environmental compliance and greenhouse design. His work emphasizes empowering communities to reclaim creativity and agency in building sustainable and equitable food systems.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of DSP Talk, host Asheley Blaise engages with Michael Hollis, a leading figure in New York City's food security and urban farming movements. Michael addresses the multi-layered issue of food insecurity in New York, highlighting the quiet yet widespread struggles experienced by families across the city. He discusses how food insecurity transcends the absence of food, affecting physical health, social structures, and mental well-being.

Michael outlines the deep connections between food insecurity and broader issues like housing instability, employment challenges, and healthcare disparities. He describes how these problems interlock in feedback loops, exacerbating each other's impacts. The conversation shifts toward the impressive resilience and innovation of New Yorkers, with Michael sharing inspiring stories of community initiatives and discussing actionable steps for achieving a hunger-free city. By emphasizing justice and community-led efforts, he makes a compelling argument for redesigning systems to treat food as a human right.

Key Takeaways:

• Invisible Struggles and Trade-offs: Food insecurity in NYC is marked by unseen sacrifices families make, such as skipping meals or traveling long distances for groceries.
• Wider Impacts of Insecurity: Beyond hunger, food insecurity erodes mental health, undermines community cohesion, and adds to chronic health issues.
• Systemic Roots of Inequity: Historical planning decisions and structural racism sustain access disparities, disconnecting many New Yorkers from abundant food supplies.
• Community Ingenuity: Local initiatives like community fridges and urban farms are innovative responses, exemplifying neighborly support and creativity in addressing food access.
• Path to Transformation: Achieving food security in NYC requires systemic justice, community empowerment, and policies that treat food as an intrinsic right.

Notable Quotes:

• "The real face of food insecurity isn't just hunger; it's that stress, it's the limited choices." – Michael Hollis
• "A hunger free city isn't just one with more food, it's one with more justice." – Michael Hollis
• "Solutions don't just come from large systems or programs but from communities themselves." – Ashley Blaise
• "Food is not just a privilege, but a human right." – Michael Hollis

Resources:

• Services for the Underserved
• Friendly Fridge BX (Community Fridge Network)
• City Harvest (Rescuing Food For NYC)
• Rescuing Leftover Cuisine

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