Jo Froman is a second-year Youth Action Council member and first-year intern with Hunger Free Oklahoma. Continue reading below for Jo’s accounts of Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol:
I didn’t sleep as well the night before and I woke up way earlier than I usually do, but I was in shape to learn plenty about what we need to solve hunger in Oklahoma and how to work with Senators and Representatives to make sure no one goes hungry. Like learning about the statistics about food insecurity in Oklahoma, and also how SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity with every dollar spent on the program. The bills that were proposed were also good to learn about. For example, bills HB 1575, SB 190, and SB 806 really did interest me as they bring good opportunities for people to make sure they receive help. Hearing the speakers for the “Sharing Your Advocacy Story” like the two panelist tell their stories about why and how became advocates for this cause of anti-hunger that I would say moving as my family relies on SNAP and what really made me fight against hunger as I have experienced a fraction of what other people suffer with at the end of the month, but I want to make sure that people have access to resources they need. As with one of the panelists’ story, their story resonated with me because he was put into a caretaker position before he could support himself, as I have seen this happen to my family and people in my community. It was only the programs that help against hunger that helped him and his family and got him to where he is now, but if these resources were presented any earlier than he would not have to be in that position for so long.
As with a fellow YAC member’s story and how not just about food insecurity but also the fear of being shamed for being poor, as illustrated with the story of his mother whispering about their SNAP balance and him encouraging his mother to not be ashamed for having help. This really shows me that many people on these programs feel ashamed for receiving help, not just in Oklahoma but in the U.S.A, when that should not be the case. These programs exist for that reason, to help, and should continue to help. That is what I feel I focused on in the capitol tour and interviewing and asking about these bills, which ones will pass or fail, as these programs are deeply useful and that their main purpose is to help. People often refuse to seek help out of shame, either by friends, family, or just a deeper personal struggle, but if we do keep advocating for these programs and these bills, and make sure that people understand that there is nothing to be ashamed of for getting help, then that is the base of our mission done.
I also tried to observe the work that the senators and representatives were doing, if they were in their office because we visited the deadline day for all the bills they were voting for. We met Representative John Waldron, he was nice to interview as he tried to supply us with the best answers he could, as he tried to explain the bills he was voting for, and he would explain why he voted the way he did. We also talked with him about the importance of school meals, free and reduced lunches, and breakfast after the bell programs. He was a former teacher and is very connected with these programs and has seen them work before. There were also students who were part of the house or representatives page program, which is a program for juniors and seniors that involves working with representatives, taking part in mock trials, and running errands for them. While we were interviewing and talking to Representative John Waldron a group of those students walked past us, following another representative. I mentioned the program to John Waldron and we exchanged e-mails in hopes that I can apply to the program soon.
The whole time in the capital was an experience as I walked through the halls, most of the walls had paintings, originals for sure as the impasto were thick on the canvas and the underpaint showed through the layers. It was also nice to go through the museum at the end of the tour, as it showed the process of restoring this landmark building, it was a fun experience to walk through. It was really an honor to be there at the Capitol and to talk to the representatives and senators that worked with us to fight hunger in Oklahoma.
~Jo Froman