If we expect change to happen, people with lived experience must be part of the process of building and sustaining hunger-free communities. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s Community Advocates Program builds leadership skills of people who have experienced financial hardship and food insecurity so they can raise their voices in the work to end hunger. Graduates are equipped to share their stories and change the narrative about people who experience financial hardships, and to illustrate the complexities of poverty and food insecurity in the United States.
These collective voices come together to educate elected officials and the general public on the root causes of hunger; and shine a light on the often hidden crisis of hunger, and make the issue more personal by connecting people who are struggling to get by and have been subject to a broken system that keeps them in poverty. The Community Advocates Program began as the Speakers Bureau in spring 2016. Since then, four cohorts have completed the training. So far, Community Advocates have aided in research with local colleges, participated in various community boards and committees, helped execute community food security programs, visited elected officials in both Albany and Washington DC, and educated many public and private groups about their experiences with food insecurity and financial hardship.
Meet the Advocates
Janelle Austin
Janelle was born and raised in Cameron, NY, one of eight children. She was born with a physical disability and has felt as though she was seen only as her disability by many people throughout her life. Her Speakers Bureau graduation speech title, “Disability Does Not Define Me,” captures her perspective on her physical abilities’ impact on her life these days. Janelle now lives in Bradford, NY with her husband and works in Bath.
Expertise:
- The impact of ableism on differently-abled people
- The benefits “cliff”
Jackie Bogart
A Southern Tier native, Jackie has lived experience with hunger, financial insecurity, and trauma. While struggling to survive, she often felt invisible and like her voice went unheard. She became familiar with the Food Bank after attending a listening session. Through the Community Advocates Program, Jackie gained skills and built connections that have accelerated her personal and professional growth. Jackie is very engaged in her community, including serving on the board of a local nonprofit organization. A mother to four children, Jackie is committed to using her experiences to build a better life for her family and a stronger, more equitable Southern Tier community for her neighbors.
Expertise:
- How to advocate for mothers living on a limited income
- How to advocate for people with disabilities
- How life has changed since learning about the systemic causes of poverty
Jackie is now coordinating the Community Advocates Program as the Food Bank’s Community Empowerment Coordinator
Debra Boyce-Larrier
Dee offers perspective on life in prison and life after prison. She shares her insight on how poverty and incarceration are intertwined. Dee participated in college courses while serving her sentence. She was working on medical assistant certification but a series of retinal strokes left her disabled and led to her dependence on assistance programs. This mother of six grown children hopes to start a support group for formerly-incarcerated women.
Expertise:
- How poverty and incarceration are connected
- Misconceptions about incarcerated people
- The realities of life after prison
Michelle Carmon
Michelle has worked in the medical field for 34 years. She has three kids and has lived in Bath for 19 years. She is a domestic violence survivor. She is currently living in poverty and working to make ends meet. Her determination to persist through life’s challenges is palpable!
Expertise:
- The benefits “cliff”/ returning to work after disability
- Surviving domestic violence
Laura Cobb
Laura Cobb came to Bath, NY in 2014 looking to make a change. There, she overcame addiction, experienced and overcame homelessness, and experienced the incredible challenges of navigating the social safety net system in our communities. Laura is a natural leader and organizes food, clothing, and other resource sharing amongst members of her community.
Expertise:
- Advocating for oneself in the social services realm and beyond
- Incorporating the Christian faith into overcoming challenges
Anne Lee
Anne runs a custom butcher shop she opened with her husband after their family dairy farm was no longer viable a couple of years ago due to the plummeting price of milk. She is a mother of five and a fierce advocate for both her family and the farming community. She has witnessed the problems that occur when people with lived experience in an issue are not included at the decision-making table and she is passionate about connecting small farmers and meat producers with the emergency food network.
Jessica Northrup
Jessica is a small business owner, mother to three children, and grandmother to one. Her family had not experienced much food insecurity in the past, but when Covid-19 hit, they found themselves without adequate food. She ended up visiting a Mobile Food Pantry and invited others in her community to come, too. Soon, she and her sister were coordinating to make sure many families in her community got the food resources they needed. Jessica is passionate about providing a helping hand to individuals and families who “slip through the cracks” of our traditional social safety net.
Rosemary Pellet
Rosemary cared for others as a nurse until chronic pain ended her career after 24 years. Rosemary struggled to keep her sense of self when she could no longer work. She spent all her savings while she waited for Social Security Disability benefits to kick in. Formerly self-sufficient, she had to rely on family to get by. Rosemary has found new purpose in volunteering at her local food pantry and advocating for resources for her community.
Expertise:
- Living with chronic illness
- Finding a purpose post-career
- How to adjust to receiving social security benefits
Lorna Swaine-Abdallah
After living in England, Jamaica and Canada, Lorna moved to Broome County after a life-changing event disrupted her financial situation. She is now a United States citizen. Lorna lives in a “food desert” and is concerned about the quality of food available to her family. She believes in the health benefits of locally-grown produce. Lorna was a teacher in Canada but needs an additional master’s degree to teach in the United States. She is continuing her education while raising her family.
Expertise:
- Misconceptions about Muslim-Americans
- Why we need to challenge our bias
- The importance of nutritious local food for people living in poverty
Dawn Tallett
Dawn is a survivor of abuse and single mother to a child with special needs. With the help of her mother and her faith, Dawn works to overcome her struggles and work toward her personal and professional goals. With strength and humor, she shares her winding path to achieve her dreams while working to beat poverty.
Expertise:
- Why poverty persists despite following “the rules” for success
- How poverty forces people to stay in difficult situations
- Why it’s difficult for people receiving benefits to get off them
Charles Thomas
Charles Thomas is a US Army veteran and addiction survivor living in Bath, NY with his wife, Ruth. While in the service, he witnessed things that exacerbated his addiction. Charles found support in Narcotics Anonymous and has now been clean for 21 years. He has four children, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is an avid singer, and is a member of the Praise and Worship Team at Bath Baptist Church. He is an avid jokester and loves to make people laugh. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Office of the Aging for Steuben County.
Expertise:
- Bringing together community members to support one another
- Building a new life after overcoming a big challenge
Schedule a Speaker
Schedule a Speaker
Speakers can discuss the broader topic of hunger and food insecurity in the Southern Tier as well as their own specific areas of expertise. Speakers can address a large or small group in settings such as a panel, interview, presentation, community cafe, event, or a less formal talk. View speaker profiles above and contact the Food Bank to get more information about the speaker, including availability and stipend cost.
Want to host a Speaker? Contact
Jacqueline Bogart, Community Empowerment Coordinator
Interested in facilitating a Community Advocates Training class or starting your own program? Contact
Lyndsey Lyman, Advocacy & Community Empowerment Manager
607.796.6061
Become an Advocate
Do you have experience with food insecurity? Become a Community Advocate!
We are seeking the leadership of experts in lived experience of hunger or poverty whose voices are underrepresented in the anti-hunger movement. We’re looking for folks from all walks of life! Community Advocates are problem-solvers who share their experience and information about poverty and food insecurity with their community and elected officials.
Contact:
Jacqueline Bogart, Community Empowerment Coordinator
607.796.6061
If you’re interested in our spring training program, click the button below.
Community Advocates Training helps participants:
- learn about the root causes of hunger in the Southern Tier
- build strong relationships in their community
- develop their personal narrative to move others to action
- network and engage with anti-hunger leaders and elected officials through political advocacy
