Stick A Fork In It stickafork

Awareness of and involvement with the community around you is the most important part of advocacy work, according to Lorena Hardwick, our own Chief External Affairs Officer. It can be easy to get swept up in the frustrations we face in our lives, without knowing what we can do about them or how we can do it. But that's Lorena's specialty -- she stays on top of the important local and political developments that affect the lives of our neighbors, and acts to be their voice ensuring that families and children have what they need to thrive. Tune in to learn how you can directly effect change in your community, as well.
Contact Lorena with questions you have about advocacy, at LHardwick@FeedingTampaBay.org
And follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how we're effecting change on a daily basis, and all the ways you can get involved in the fight to improve lives all around the region!

Former Senator Janet Cruz still remembers how her grandparents' clothes smelled of cigars when they returned home from Ybor City's historic cigar factories. She recalls a childhood where neighbors shared cultural nuances and best of all delicious food! Growing up in Tampa helped create the passion that drives her to ensure that children and families throughout Tampa Bay have the resources they need to live happy and supported lives. Join us as we discuss Tampa's rich history, the struggles of growing up in poverty and the resilience of never giving in, an important conversation we can all learn a little something from.
And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see history in the making, as we work to end hunger in the Tampa Bay area!

Joining us again on today's episode is mental health expert, Natasha Pierre, to help us honor Women's History Month by talking about how women can make the present a historic time. We touch on the importance of mentoring, how role-modeling starts at home, and how to have compassion for the people who might misunderstand you out in the world. This episode is chock full of other powerful insights as well, so tune in to celebrate how badass women truly are year round!
Check out Natasha's previous episode with us here
Find the book Natasha mentioned here
And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see what the women in our world are doing to end hunger each and every day.

Twenty years cycling between home-life struggles and military combat zones has taught Dr. Damon everything he needs to know about the importance of personal and interpersonal healing. After battling with PTSD and suicidal thoughts himself, his life purpose was revealed to him in the form of improving life for the men and women who sacrificed to keep their loved ones safe. On today's episode he takes us on a journey from juvenile jail cells to having his name honored in the Pentagon, and teaches us about all the physical, mental, and spiritual ways his organization (SOF Missions) is healing veterans in Florida and beyond.
Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about our incredible partners, and the ways you can get involved in the fight to improve life for every one of our neighbors around the country.

There is no better way to support our struggling neighbors than understanding what their struggles consist of, and how they can be helped. That is why Kareem Spratling is the perfect chairman for the board of Feeding Tampa Bay, and why we want to introduce you to him on today's episode!
In his youth, Kareem lived the experience of food insecurity firsthand. And as his life journey led him to positions of prestige, he never stopped pouring his time and effort into helping others find stability and dignity, too. Listen to learn about his journey from the projects to becoming a public finance attorney, and why he thinks success stories are so important during Black History Month and beyond.
Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see our own success stories, and how you can get involved to help us create more of them!

Dr. Sharma has returned (previous episode link here) and is helping us kick off the New Year with a better understanding of Integrative Medicine! She shares her individualized approach to each patient’s over all well-being and a few incredible success stories that reflect positive, healthy outcomes that have changed lives. We discuss the lifelong affects of "food trauma" and how it’s up to us to make a difference along with updates on our partnership with Tampa General Hospital and the innovative health programs available, that just begin with good nutrition.
For more information on Nutrition Education visit our website.
 
Follow @FeedingTampaBay to learn more about the work we're doing to improve health in Tampa Bay, and the phenomenal partners working right alongside us.