by Sarah Smith-Moore, Senior Hunger Outreach Program Specialist, Community Engagement
People with lived experience reveal the complexities and provide unique insights that may not be understood from an outside perspective. Lived experts tell us they want to be included in designing policies, programs, and challenging harmful perspectives. A common quote shared throughout national lived experience programs is, “nothing for us without us,” which illustrates that people who are closest to the problem need and want to be part of the solution.
Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) values the active involvement of people with lived experiences of food insecurity and/or hunger. We believe unique insights and perspectives should guide decision-making, policy development, and program design. We believe community engagement is about ensuring those who experience food insecurity and/or hunger have a say in designing and implementing solutions.
To amplify the voices of those who experience hunger and food insecurity, Hunger Free Oklahoma is launching the Lived Experience and Resource Network (LEARN) Workshop that includes a paid eight-month program beginning September 2024 for Tulsa and surrounding area residents.
Up to ten individuals experiencing food insecurity receive training through LEARN. The program supports people to develop their personal narrative, learn more about policy and advocacy, and enables growth into agents of change.
Each participant will be paid a monthly living wage for time spent participating in the LEARN Workshop. Meals and snacks will be provided during Saturday workshops. HFO will also provide transportation and mileage and childcare reimbursements, if needed.
Storytelling is an important piece of the LEARN Workshop and earlier this year, Hunger Free Oklahoma launched Storytelling Roundtables, a paid storytelling session designed for people who have or are currently experiencing food insecurity and/or hunger. Participants moved through a storytelling workshop, an activity, and built a one to two-minute story describing how food insecurity and hunger has impacted their lives. The goal of Storytelling Roundtables was to provide an opportunity for participants to uncover and challenge the dominant narratives about hunger and food insecurity and develop skills to share their personal narrative to transform conversations in our communities.
Some of our participants shared their thoughts on what it felt like to participate in a Storytelling Roundtable:
“It’s an exciting time for me knowing that it’s possible to make a real and substantial impact on my community with regards to policies that affect us all.”
“Very thankful to have been exposed to this opportunity. The LEARN project has motivated me to do even more than I anticipated.”
“It’s okay to tell my story on how food insecurity has affected me.”
“I really appreciate HFO holding space for this. I needed it.”
What you need to know:
- Application for the LEARN Workshop is open until August 2. Click here to apply.
- LEARN Workshop is an eight-month program.
- One monthly in-person Saturday workshop
- One virtual check-in
- Some work in between sessions
- Saturday dates: 9/7/24, 10/5/24, 11/2/24, 12/7/24, 1/4/25, 2/1/25, 3/1/25, 4/5/25
- Location: Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Tulsa office
- Must be currently experiencing food insecurity and/or hunger
- Be a Tulsa or surrounding area resident
- 18+ years of age
- For more information, click here.
For any questions, contact Sarah Smith-Moore via email.