Aging in Grace

Witlingo

Aging in Grace is a weekly 30-minute podcast that brings together the voices of those on the front lines as well as those behind the scenes, who are working to make aging in America more humane, more just, and more sustainable. From caregivers and residents to executives, researchers and policy analysts, our guests explore the forces that impact the quality of care older adults receive: workforce shortages, economic pressures, technological shifts, and government policy decisions. This podcast is about listening and asking hard questions. And it’s about speaking up — for the staff, for the f

  1. 12/13/2025

    Episode #20 - Katie Martin - On Food Banks and Pantries: Part Two

    In this episode, we sit down with Katie Martin, a leading food security expert and author, to unpack a hard truth: hunger in America is not a temporary crisis—it’s a chronic, policy-driven condition.We begin with the recent federal government shutdown and its real-world consequences, including the threat to SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans. From there, the conversation widens to examine why food insecurity persists in one of the wealthiest countries in history, despite massive food waste and decades of charitable effort.Katie explains how hunger is the result of structural choices—stagnant wages, rising living costs, fragmented social safety nets, and policies that prioritize gatekeeping over dignity. We explore why calling the charitable food system an “emergency” response is misleading when it has existed for over 50 years, and how this framing prevents long-term solutions.The episode also compares the U.S. approach with countries like Brazil, which have dramatically reduced food insecurity through universal programs, guaranteed income supports, and streamlined access—showing that large-scale progress is possible with political will.We discuss:- SNAP, WIC, and why benefits often fall short- Federal vs. state roles in food assistance- The myth of widespread fraud- The “working poor” and the benefits cliff- Why dignity, choice, and trust matter in food access- How income inequality and market failures drive hungerThis is a wide-ranging, grounded conversation about food, poverty, policy, and what it would actually take to solve hunger—rather than manage it.

    22 min

  2. 12/13/2025

    Episode #19 - Katie Martin - On Food Banks and Pantries: Part One

    In this episode, we sit down with Katie Martin, a leading food security expert and author, to unpack a hard truth: hunger in America is not a temporary crisis—it’s a chronic, policy-driven condition.We begin with the recent federal government shutdown and its real-world consequences, including the threat to SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans. From there, the conversation widens to examine why food insecurity persists in one of the wealthiest countries in history, despite massive food waste and decades of charitable effort.Katie explains how hunger is the result of structural choices—stagnant wages, rising living costs, fragmented social safety nets, and policies that prioritize gatekeeping over dignity. We explore why calling the charitable food system an “emergency” response is misleading when it has existed for over 50 years, and how this framing prevents long-term solutions.The episode also compares the U.S. approach with countries like Brazil, which have dramatically reduced food insecurity through universal programs, guaranteed income supports, and streamlined access—showing that large-scale progress is possible with political will.We discuss:- SNAP, WIC, and why benefits often fall short- Federal vs. state roles in food assistance- The myth of widespread fraud- The “working poor” and the benefits cliff- Why dignity, choice, and trust matter in food access- How income inequality and market failures drive hungerThis is a wide-ranging, grounded conversation about food, poverty, policy, and what it would actually take to solve hunger—rather than manage it.

    36 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    Episode #18 - On Launching The FirstAccess Foundation: Part Two

    In this special episode of Aging in Grace, we bring together three frontline Service Coordinators — Charneice Clap (NC), Jessica Harris (MD), and Samantha Culver (OH) — all founding members of the newly launched First Access Foundation. They share powerful, firsthand insight into the daily realities of supporting seniors living in independent, affordable housing communities.The conversation digs into:• What Service Coordinators actually do — advocate, resource-connect, problem-solve, motivate, comfort, and often step in like family.• The hidden crisis of food insecurity among seniors, and why ensuring access to nutritious food is inseparable from healthy aging and independent living.• The real difference between independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes — and why so many seniors fight to avoid institutional care.• How rising rents, limited budgets, and lack of funding force coordinators to be creative, persistent, and deeply resourceful.• The emotional and moral weight of the job: wearing “many hats,” navigating emergencies, and serving as a lifeline for people who may have no one else.• Why investing in Service Coordinators saves states tens of thousands of dollars per senior per year by keeping residents safely aging in place.• Moments of solidarity, encouragement, and shared purpose among coordinators who often feel unseen despite the magnitude of their impact.This episode highlights both the quiet heroism of Service Coordinators and the urgent need to equip them with the resources they deserve.

    34 min

  4. 11/25/2025

    Episode #17 - On Launching The FirstAccess Foundation: Part One

    In this special episode of Aging in Grace, we bring together three frontline Service Coordinators — Charneice Clap (NC), Jessica Harris (MD), and Samantha Culver (OH) — all founding members of the newly launched First Access Foundation. They share powerful, firsthand insight into the daily realities of supporting seniors living in independent, affordable housing communities.The conversation digs into:• What Service Coordinators actually do — advocate, resource-connect, problem-solve, motivate, comfort, and often step in like family.• The hidden crisis of food insecurity among seniors, and why ensuring access to nutritious food is inseparable from healthy aging and independent living.• The real difference between independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes — and why so many seniors fight to avoid institutional care.• How rising rents, limited budgets, and lack of funding force coordinators to be creative, persistent, and deeply resourceful.• The emotional and moral weight of the job: wearing “many hats,” navigating emergencies, and serving as a lifeline for people who may have no one else.• Why investing in Service Coordinators saves states tens of thousands of dollars per senior per year by keeping residents safely aging in place.• Moments of solidarity, encouragement, and shared purpose among coordinators who often feel unseen despite the magnitude of their impact.This episode highlights both the quiet heroism of Service Coordinators and the urgent need to equip them with the resources they deserve.

    35 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    Episode #16 - Kate Cantwell - On NERSC: Vision & MIssion

    In this episode, I sit down with Kate Cantwell, Executive Director at The New England Resident Service Coordinators association (NERSC), to explore the world of resident service coordinators -- the frontline workers supporting some of our most vulnerable communities. Kate shares her journey from public service to nonprofit leadership, the challenges coordinators face amid policy uncertainty, and the innovations NERSC is building to strengthen training, advocacy, and community support. We also discuss the upcoming 2026 initiatives, the importance of meaning and collaboration in social work, and how organizations like NERSC are shaping a more humane, effective housing ecosystem. A thoughtful, energizing conversation about purpose, public service, and the people who keep our communities functioning with dignity.For more about NERSC, go to: https://www.nerscinc.org/

    32 min

  6. 11/05/2025

    Episode #15 - Jessica Harris - On The Food Crisis (Part Two)

    [This is Part Two of a two-part conversation. The first part can be found here: https://youtu.be/Le9A8BrWbn8]In this episode of Aging in Grace, Jessica Harris, Resident Services Program Development Coordinator at the Howard County Housing Commission in Maryland, speaks with host Ahmed Bouzid about the worsening food crisis affecting seniors amid the 2025 government shutdown and SNAP benefit cuts. Harris traces her journey from real estate management to 28 years in service coordination, driven by a mission to support vulnerable residents beyond rent assistance.She describes how the ongoing political gridlock has left many seniors with as little as $15 a month in food aid—forcing impossible choices between meals and medication. Harris outlines her data-driven system using surveys and dashboards to identify community needs, direct residents to local partners, and track outcomes. She also details her community engagement programs—from digital literacy training and scam prevention workshops to resource fairs for families and seniors.The conversation underscores how service coordinators are the “unsung heroes” on the frontlines of this crisis. Harris calls for stronger collaboration and knowledge sharing among coordinators, nonprofits, and retailers to expand food access and quality. The episode ends with a call to action: to treat senior hunger not as charity work, but as a moral imperative for a truly civilized society.

    30 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    Episode #14 - Jessica Harris - On The Food Crisis (Part One)

    [This is Part one of a two-part conversation. The second part can be found here: https://youtu.be/yiLpbiTvm8I]In this episode of Aging in Grace, Jessica Harris, Resident Services Program Development Coordinator at the Howard County Housing Commission in Maryland, speaks with host Ahmed Bouzid about the worsening food crisis affecting seniors amid the 2025 government shutdown and SNAP benefit cuts. Harris traces her journey from real estate management to 28 years in service coordination, driven by a mission to support vulnerable residents beyond rent assistance.She describes how the ongoing political gridlock has left many seniors with as little as $15 a month in food aid—forcing impossible choices between meals and medication. Harris outlines her data-driven system using surveys and dashboards to identify community needs, direct residents to local partners, and track outcomes. She also details her community engagement programs—from digital literacy training and scam prevention workshops to resource fairs for families and seniors.The conversation underscores how service coordinators are the “unsung heroes” on the frontlines of this crisis. Harris calls for stronger collaboration and knowledge sharing among coordinators, nonprofits, and retailers to expand food access and quality. The episode ends with a call to action: to treat senior hunger not as charity work, but as a moral imperative for a truly civilized society.

    40 min

  8. 10/11/2025

    Episode #13 - Jibran Eubanks - On Advocating for Care

    This podcast episode features a conversation with Jibran Eubanks of 1199 SEIU, the largest healthcare union on the U.S. East Coast, representing over 10,000 members across Maryland and DC. Eubanks discusses the union’s dual role as both a healthcare and social justice organization, emphasizing two urgent advocacy priorities: safe staffing and fair wages in long-term care. He details the union’s work on the Certified Nursing Aid Amendment Act, which raised the living wage benchmark for direct care professionals and simplified credentialing across DC, Maryland, and Virginia—but still lacks full funding. The discussion broadens to systemic issues like racial wealth disparities, budget priorities, and the moral misallocation of public funds, contrasting the underfunding of healthcare workers with billion-dollar allocations for stadiums and police. Eubanks outlines ongoing campaigns including the No Kings Rally (a nationwide protest against federal healthcare cuts), DC Council advocacy days for restoring the DC Healthcare Alliance, and efforts to curb predatory hospital billing practices. The episode closes with Eubanks’s personal story—from volunteering on a family political campaign to becoming a full-time organizer—and his conviction that real change comes from action, not complaint..

    34 min
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About

Aging in Grace is a weekly 30-minute podcast that brings together the voices of those on the front lines as well as those behind the scenes, who are working to make aging in America more humane, more just, and more sustainable. From caregivers and residents to executives, researchers and policy analysts, our guests explore the forces that impact the quality of care older adults receive: workforce shortages, economic pressures, technological shifts, and government policy decisions. This podcast is about listening and asking hard questions. And it’s about speaking up — for the staff, for the f

Information

  • Creator
    Witlingo
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Witlingo
  • Show Website
    Aging in Grace