In the United States, 44 million people live with food insecurity, lacking reliable access to nutritious food. This has multiple impacts on their lives, including stress, inadequate and poor-quality diets, and poorer health outcomes overall. Food insecurity disproportionately affects Black people and people of Latin American origin and is the result of the systemic racism that conditions their income, job opportunities, and the food they have at their disposal within their communities. 

Under the Somos Comunidades Saludables project, we carried out workshops in several Chicago-based organizations to educate community navigators and health promoters on topics such as the federal nutrition programs SNAP and WIC, the public charge rule, how to read nutrition labels, food deserts, and others related to food insecurity and public assistance. We invite you to carry out similar workshops in your community by consulting the following curriculum and modifying it to your needs:

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To promote SNAP and WIC and to help people lead a healthy diet, we created several resources that you are more than welcome to share with the people in your community: 

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Finally, we have also put together a resource guide that contains information about food insecurity, related topics, and a directory of resources, including food pantries and food distribution programs in the City of Chicago. You can download the resource guide by clicking on the following link:

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Together, we move toward a future where our communities are food secure. 

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ACHIEVEMENTS

• Conducted more than 30 train the trainer workshops with 5 member organizations in the City of Chicago.
• Distributed 5,000 informative flyers, stickers, and postcards related to public assistance and nutrition.
• Produced a resource guide with information on resources available in the City of Chicago, such as food pantries, food distribution programs and community services, among others.

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