Advocacy in Challenging Times: Strengthening Food Security Through Local Action Directed at Federal Policymakers

Session Summary: Nearly two in five Latinos reported that their families did not have enough food to eat in 2023.With legislative threats to nutrition security programs, ranging from cuts to SNAP benefits, additional restrictive work documentation requirements, eliminating CEP provision for school meals, and immigration status restrictions for WIC and school meals, this session will share guidance on advocacy tools to elevate community organizations voices to successfully advocate against harmful legislation. Through examples from advocacy within the Latino community during previous challenging political climates, the session will share tactics to be utilized by marginalized communities to advocate against cuts to food and nutrition security.

The session will explore how community advocacy at the local level can effectively impact federal policy changes. During the session, panelists will discuss how, as advocates, we can ensure community voices are heard in advocacy efforts to preserve and protect vital nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. The discussion will identify key leverage points for community organizations to act, including strategic engagement with House and Senate members in key districts. The discussion will cover tools such as earned media and strategic meetings with decision-makers with meaningful outcomes for protecting food and nutrition programs.

The conversation will feature insights from UnidosUS’ Comprando Rico y Sano program, which helps organizations rooted in Latino communities across America enroll families into SNAP, along with congressional staffers and legal experts, to discuss how community groups can effectively influence Congress without running afoul of federal rules governing lobbying by non-profit organizations.