Just Harvest hosts Big Hunger: Why Charity is Not the Answer

CONTACT:

Executive Director Ken Regal at (412) 431-8960 x115 or [email protected]

Pittsburgh, PA—Just Harvest and Pittsburgh Food Policy Council are co-sponsoring a free, public event to address the national, state, and local power structures that drive hunger, and why the most popular solutions to this pressing problem may not be the right ones. Innovative leaders will share their views of how to address hardship and achieve opportunity for all in Pittsburgh, across Pennsylvania, and throughout the nation.

Sharing their expertise and answering attendees’ questions:

Andy Fisher: Author of Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance Between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups (2017, soon out in paperback). In 1994, Fisher co-founded and led the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), a first of its kind national alliance of hundreds of groups working on urban food access and local food. Fisher is an expert on a variety of food system topics and tactics, including community food assessments, healthy corner stores, and farm-to-cafeteria programs.

Nikkilia Lu: PA Director of the State Innovation Exchange. Lu served as the Western Pennsylvania Political Director for the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ. Her work has been instrumental in defending and moving progressive policies that help working families across the Commonwealth, and in organizing union coalitions to elect progressives at all levels in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Jamil Bey: Executive Director of UrbanKind Institute. Bey’s vision for the Pittsburgh region is one of justice, equity, and inclusion. He is a researcher, analyst, and consultant specializing in challenging common assumptions and bringing alternative perspectives for consideration. His integrated-systems view of the world provides highly contextualized conclusions and recommendations that consider the interconnectivity of economics, politics, history, culture, health, social movements, and the environment.

JUST HARVEST addresses hunger’s root causes – economic justice – by improving public policy, boosting food access, and building community power in Allegheny County.