Image - the speakers
Image - the speakers

Food for Thought: Tackling Food Insecurity in California

Join us for a panel discussion focused on addressing food insecurity in California, with an emphasis on CalFresh reform. CalFresh is the state-run food stamps program that assists low- or no-income individuals and households to purchase nutritious food, also known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Inefficiencies in the CalFresh system have become evident in the billions of dollars in unused federal benefits, as well as in comparison to other states that have achieved 100 percent SNAP participation among eligible individuals through strategic policy changes. 

A new state law, AB 518 (Wicks and Jackson), mandates the development of a methodology to estimate CalFresh participation rates, identify eligible but unenrolled Californians, and create outreach strategies to maximize participation; but the bill is only a starting point to addressing the program’s shortcomings. 

Join us for a wider discussion on the impacts of food insecurity as momentum builds for legislative action to enhance the program’s efficiency. We’ll also examine the successful models of other states’ systems and bring awareness to food insecurity’s long-term negative impacts, particularly for marginalized communities. 

This program is co-hosted with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and followed by a reception.

Organizer
Robert Melton
 

A Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.

Presented by CalFresh Reform Coalition and SF Marin Food Bank.

Speakers
Image - Max Rettig

Max Rettig

Vice President, Head of Global Public Policy, DoorDash

Image - Corey Jackson

Dr. Corey Jackson

California Assemblymember—Moderator

Image - Sam Liccardo

Sam Liccardo

U.S. Representative (D-CA 16th District)

Image - Eli Zigas

Eli Zigas

Executive Director, Fullwell

Image - Robert Melton

Robert Melton

Art Curator and Co-chair, Arts Member-led Forum, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California—Host