SNAP

Beyond Bars: Transforming Food Security for Formerly Incarcerated Through Community-Centered Legislation

Sunday, May 4, 2025

2:30 PM – 3:20 PM East Coast USA Time

Kameron Mims-Jones, MSW

Nourish California
Alissa Moore (she/her/hers)

Legal Services For Prisoners With Children, California
Karina Apodaca German (she/her/hers)

Center for Healthy Communities, California State University, Chico, California
LC

Lawrence Cox (he/him/his)

LSPC/All of Us or None, California

Session Summary: This session will explore the groundbreaking potential of community-centered advocacy to address food insecurity among formerly incarcerated individuals. Using SB 1254 as a case study, panelists will discuss how the legislation streamlines access to food assistance, fostering successful reentry and reducing recidivism. Participants will engage in an interactive simulation exercise that highlights the barriers returning citizens face in accessing resources, followed by a dynamic panel discussion and participant feedback session.

Learning Objectives:

Illuminate the systemic barriers formerly incarcerated individuals face when accessing federal nutrition programs like SNAP.
Highlight actionable strategies and policy solutions to improve reentry outcomes through community-centered advocacy.
Provide participants with an immersive experience to foster empathy and a deeper understanding of reentry challenges, while offering a platform for them to contribute their insights and discuss how to integrate these solutions into their own work.