Podcasts about Action Center

Guest: Thomas White Mike speaks to propulsion engineer Thomas White about their experience participating in The Planetary Society's 2025 Day of Action, where they met with six Congressional offices to lobby in support of space science at a critical time. Inspired to take action? Visit The Planetary Society's Action Center: https://www.planetary.org/action-center Follow us on Bluesky! Mike: https://bsky.app/profile/miquai.bsky.social The Planetary Society: https://bsky.app/profile/planetarysociety.bsky.social

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Republicans on the House Ag Committee are trying to reach agreement on cuts to nutrition assistance and increases in farm bill spending. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, says Democrats will be largely opposed to SNAP cuts to fund a boost to commodity programs. “We can't rob Peter to pay Paul,” she said.Then, Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates and Gina Plata-Nino with the Food Research and Action Center discuss the political hurdles ahead with proposed cuts to the SNAP program.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

This week, we turn our eyes to DC for a fight that will impact this legislative session and sessions to come as Congress is considering hundreds of billions of dollars of cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would be devastating—not just to the Texans who rely on that coverage, but to our entire health care system. We welcome Peter Clark, Communications Director with Texans Care for Children, to talk to us about that and how you can get involved.  Visit the Action Center on the Texas Impact website at texasimpact.org to sign up for weekly action alerts. Find out more about the work of Texans Care for Children on their website txchildren.org  Read Bee's post on Medicaid cuts on our Substack texasimpact.substack.com/p/medicaid-cuts-let-us-stop-you-right  

On this today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Sen. Lisa Murkowski says President Trump is testing the limits of his power. The Nanook Diversity and Action Center closing and having its website taken down. And the BLM released a draft feasibility study for public comment last week that evaluates whether the proposed Alaska Long Trail would be a suitable National Scenic Trail.Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, smiles on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as she exits the Alaska House of Representatives following her annual address to the Alaska Legislature. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Among the many justice issues concerning people of faith in 2025, immigration is near the top of the list across the country and across faith traditions. This week we are bringing you three guests to lay a foundation for immigration advocacy—at the federal level and in Texas.  First up, we talk with Bobby Painter and Kristin Etter of the Texas Immigration Law Council, who bring us up to speed on current immigration realities here in Texas and throughout the country. Then, we welcome Texas Impact's Bobby Watson with the state of play at this point in the Texas legislative session.  Check out the Action Center on our website to consider how you can get involved. One timely option: consider joining Texas Impact's Immigration Team. Make sure you are signed up for Texas Impact's emails and our Rapid Response team so you can receive the weekly Action Alert and updates—because your voice is needed now more than ever.   Find out more about the work of the Texas Immigration Law Council at txilc.org

This week we are excited to bring you content from Texas Impact's Public School Defenders' Lobby Day. We are joined by State Representative Gina Hinojosa, House District 49, while walking back to the Capitol after she addressed the Public School defenders to discuss voucher plans and how Texans of faith can push back against SB 2 and other voucher bills.   Later in the program we are joined by Texas Impact's Public Education Policy Advocate, Grace Bonilla, to talk about the lobby day and the work of the PSDs.  You can learn more about the Public School Defenders and Texas Impact's other issue teams, and see our weekly action alert, in the Action Center at texasimpact.org. Watch a clip from Scott's interview with Representative Hinojosa on our Youtube Channel. https://youtu.be/-7b-1RC-o08

Advocacy works and the HOWL pack is a fast & effective group of hunting & conservation advocates. JOIN the HOWL PACK today... As the community grows, so does our voice, and our power to lead.  In this episode, Gabriella Hoffman leads us through several hot button issues that all hunters in the US are impacted by, and can be leaders & influencers on.  Reforming the Endangered Species Act, the Antiquities Act are top of mind.  Getting some updates to these laws will improve Federal Lands mgmt. and reduce Executive branch overreach, while helping do more for actual conservation and wildlife recovery where it's most needed.  Removing wolves from the constant legal and social battles that result from it being Federally listed... we must support the "The Pet and Livestock Protection Act" to return wolf management to individual states.  Take action friends... the ACTION CENTER has the current issues where your voice is needed.  Soon HOWL will have a powerful nationwide call for all of us to "HOWL AS ONE", so that our state and federal elected leaders know where we stand, what we value, and what we expect from them on the biggest issues facing hunters, wildlife and public lands.  Finally - jump over to Gabriella Hoffman's "District of Conservation" where you'll get the deep dive on every major federal issue impacting these issues. She's connected, informed and brings a great discussion to key topics we all need to follow and act on.  HOWL for Wildlife - HOWL Pack Membership HOWL for Wildlife - Take Action  District of Conservation - Podcast  *** #conservation #wildlife #howl #endangeredspeciesact #antiquitiesact #publiclands #nationalforest #blm #ESAreform #wildlifemanagement #wolfdesliting #wolves #wildlifeconservation #hunting #howlpack 

This week we are going back to back with United Methodist Bishops as we welcome Bishop Ruben Saenz from the Horizon Texas Annual Conference—formerly the North, Central and Northwest Texas Conferences.  We thought this was a timely conversation as Bishop Saenz and other United Methodist Bishops in the South Central Jurisdiction wrote a pastoral letter addressing how we treat our immigrant neighbors.  Immigration is an issue that is front and center in response to the opening days of the Trump Administration, but we also expect it to be a hot topic during the Texas legislative session.  It is important that faith leaders and Texans of faith clearly state our desire to live out our faith principles. If you are interested in working on immigration during the legislative session, Texas Impact has a team for you. Check out the Action Center at texasimpact.org and sign up for Texas Impact's Immigration team–or one of the other teams to work on issues important to you.  Read the letter signed by UMC Bishops here: www.txcumc.org/beyondbordersletter

This week we are bringing you content from the United Women in Faith Legislative Event. This is typically Texas Impact's biggest event of the year—and this year the UWF had record participation with 350 registrants from United Women in Faith and various other faith groups participating over the three day event with hundreds making Capitol visits to their Legislators. In this episode we share Bishop Cynthia Harvey's keynote address from Sunday evening–although Bishop Harvey notes that she doesn't do keynote addresses… she preaches. Bishop Harvey is the Bishop of both the Texas Annual Conference and the Rio Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and previously served as the President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.  Bishop Harvey joins a chorus of faith leaders calling Texans of faith to action… to care for our neighbors and engage in the work of justice And, Texas Impact has tools and resources for you to do that work. Check out texasimpact.org and click on the Action Center to find out how you can get involved. Join the Rapid Response team to get updates on actions you can take and join our weekly Zoom on Mondays to learn more.

In our latest, we talk about Chevron's energy partnership with Israel with Dov Baum, director of the American Friends Service Committee's (AFSC) Action Center for Corporate Accountability. We get into where and how much Chevron is making from Israel. We talk about the current call for a boycott of Chevron over their support of Israel's genocide in Gaza, organic boycotts of companies like Starbucks and McDonald's and the history of energy boycotts. We also discuss this weekend's actions at Chevron locations around the country. Bio// Dov Baum is director of AFSC's Action Center for Corporate Accountability. Dov is the co-founder of Who Profits from the Occupation and of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel. She is a feminist scholar and teacher who has taught about militarism and the global economy from a feminist perspective in Israeli and U.S. universities. Dov is also one of a group of Israeli Reservists who have made public their refusal to serve in the military, including in a public statement to the Washington Post. --------------------------------- Outro- "Just from Chevron" by the Dirty Projectors Links// + Boycott Chevron: www.boycottchevron.info +Chevron Weekend of Action: Jan 31-Feb 2 (https://bit.ly/4aVMSVX) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠⁠⁠ +Our rad website: ⁠⁠⁠https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠⁠⁠ + Join our Discord community (https://discord.gg/uvrdubcM) +NEW: Follow us on Substack (https://greenandredpodcast.substack.com) +NEW: Follow us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgreenred.bsky.social) Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠⁠⁠ Our Networks// +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠⁠ +We're part of the Anti-Capitalist Podcast Network: linktr.ee/anticapitalistpodcastnetwork +Listen to us on WAMF (90.3 FM) in New Orleans (https://wamf.org/) This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). Edited by Scott.

On our podcast, we have often talked about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. In many of those conversations, we've talked about the benefits and eligibility, and ways to improve the work that SNAP does to help low-income families meet their food needs. In today's podcast, we're going to turn our attention to a particular challenge, and it's the SNAP skimming fraud. To help us understand this and the larger context of SNAP, we have the great pleasure of talking with Salaam Bhatti, who is the director of SNAP at the Food Research and Action Center, or FRAC. Interview Summary So, let's provide a little bit of level setting for our listeners. Can you tell us what role SNAP plays in the lives of individuals who are facing low income or food insecurity? Yeah, Norbert, the problem with being in the richest, most powerful nation in world history is that we are facing a food and hunger crisis. We have the means, we have the resources to solve for it, but we haven't. For the record, the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, did a study last year. They do this study every year where they report food security in the country. In 2023, 86.5 percent of U. S. households were food secure. The remaining 13.5 percent, which is 18 million households, were food insecure. And this was an increase from 2022. So, 86.5 percent of food security is barely a B+. To be in the most powerful wealthiest nation in the world and we're barely getting a B+ in this space is unacceptable. And so, we saw some really interesting policies happen during the pandemic. We saw emergency allotments come in for the SNAP program, where all households received the maximum benefit amount for their households. And that, unfortunately, sunset. When that emergency allotment was in place, food insecurity-surprise, surprise-decreased. But not just that, we also saw Medicaid healthcare spending costs decrease as well. Because who would have thought that when people had food security, they didn't need to go to the emergency room because their blood sugar was low. So, we're experiencing a lot of challenges where we've seen the government show its hand that it can end poverty. It can end hunger. It just chooses not to. We know that SNAP is an entitlement program. It's available to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements. But we know that everyone who's eligible doesn't participate in the SNAP program. Can you help us think about how more people can be enrolled who are eligible. And maybe we even need to think more broadly about what is eligibility? What are your thoughts about this? In a given month these days, about 42 million people participate in SNAP. That's a lot of people. I would say that 42 million people are participating in it every day, but unfortunately, SNAP benefits do not last the whole month. By the third week of the month, people's SNAP benefits have been exhausted. Now, taking a step back, in case the listeners don't know how SNAP benefits work, it's a, as you said, a government program. And it comes in the form of an electronic benefits transfer card, an EBT card. It looks like a credit card, looks like a debit card. But really, it's more like a hotel card key, because it doesn't have the security measures, which we can talk about later in the show. It doesn't have the security measures that a credit and a debit card have. It is essentially a glorified hotel key. It's got the magnetic stripe on the back, circa 20 years ago. Maybe 15. I'm dating myself. I don't know how long ago it was we were swiping the cards. But all you gotta do is you swipe the card and you type in your PIN. And then you can use it at the EBT retailer. That is in a nutshell how 40 million people are utilizing SNAP benefits every single month. The program itself is also vital to retailers as well. We've seen that every dollar of SNAP benefits generates about $1.54 in economic activity during an economic downturn. So that means that when somebody is using their SNAP benefits at the grocery store, it's helping that grocery store keep the lights on. You know, employ the cashiers. And we need to employ cashiers, enough of this self-checkout stuff. It helps to pay the truck driver who's transporting the produce to the store. And it ultimately even helps pay the farmer for growing the crop. So, it's a great investment from the federal government into not just our households to help them put food on the table, but really into the whole local economy. And it is immediately used directly by the people and helps so many people. Now so, to your question about how do we enroll more people? Well, luckily we are at a time where the USDA reports that in the fiscal year 2022, 88 percent of eligible individuals were participating in SNAP. And that is the highest participation rate we've seen since they started tracking this in the past 50 years. That's great. But again, it's just a B+ so we can do better. There is room to improve. In the study, it showed that older adults, those who are over 60, they're participating at lower rates with only 55 percent of eligible members in that age category participating. We also have so many military families and veterans who are eligible, but don't participate. This SNAP gap is something that our partners are working throughout the states, throughout the entire country. We're working in partnership with a lot of federal agencies and partners as well. So, how do you ultimately close the SNAP gap? We're seeing a lot of targeted outreach. Seeing a lot of education efforts, but, you know, with 88 percent of eligible people participating, what's going on-on the local level? And unfortunately, Norbert, we've seen that state agencies which administer the SNAP program are unfortunately understaffed and they're underfunded. I used to be a state advocate at the Virginia Poverty Law Center. And when I was, hustling in the halls and lobbying for a million households with low income, I became friends with our social services agency because we had similar goals. We wanted to help households with low income. And we came to learn that the agency that we are relying on to administer the program was never getting their budget met by the legislative assembly. So, what we did was we got into partnership with them to advocate for their budget so that they could retain their staff, and so that the staff could do the job. That is something that we have to do across the states. Support these social service agencies in getting the funding so that they can have the staffing so that they can administer the programs in a timely way. Unfortunately, I don't know if you've seen this but earlier this year, the USDA Secretary Vilsack sent out a letter to like 44 state agencies, including D. C. and Guam. Being very concerned about their timeliness issues because they're supposed to complete the application reviews and determine eligibility within 30 days. And that's for a normal SNAP application. You have seven days for expedited applications. And 44 of these agencies were not meeting the mark. That's bad for, in terms of deadlines, but even worse for the families experiencing the food insecurity. So that is a very layered answer. It's the seven-layer dip answer of how we increase participation. Well, we need more staff to, to help that out. I hear that, and I'm really grateful for how you hit it at this point, and I want to draw a little more attention to it. While you talk about 88 percent participation, it looks different on a state-by-state level. Some states have a higher level of participation, other states don't. Do you think it's really the ability of those state agencies to provide that support, or do you think there are other factors that may be influencing the differential participation rates across states? Yeah, so we saw a big retirement, the great resignation, that happened during the pandemic. There were so many state agency employees, you know, who were, who were doing the job because they were passionate about it. They were also at retirement age. So, we saw quite a resignation happen. Because it was incredibly difficult. It was traumatizing to be involved in this space. And so, they resigned, or they retired, or they moved on to somewhere else. The new workers came in and they learned the programs with the flexibilities that were provided during the pandemic. Now, they have to relearn the program because all those flexibilities are gone. So, we're seeing a lot of administrative burden taking place within these agencies. I have a colleague, Carolyn Barnes, who's worked on this idea of administrative burden and the challenge of what's sometimes referred to as street level bureaucrats. The people who are on the ground who do the administration of these programs and the challenges that they face and the ways they engage folks. I appreciate hearing more about this. And I'm going to ask a potentially controversial question then. What if we took that responsibility out of the hands of state agencies and privatized that? What would that look like? Oh, and people have tried that. Governments have tried that, and it's always resulted in net losses. Not only has it cost the states more, but it has also led to the participants not receiving their benefits, or receiving less than, or receiving an error of more than. So many errors have resulted, which has made the program and administration worse. Which is an interesting question because a lot of people don't know that there are skilled employees at the helm within the agencies that are working on these eligibility determinations. They're known as merit-based staff. And every now and then you'll see a Farm Bill, that's the piece of legislation that houses the SNAP program, it'll come in and they'll try to privatize parts of the program. In the guise of, 'Oh, we're just wanting to help the agencies out and get the benefits to the people.' But listen, the several states that have privatized their benefit programs have learned the hard way and they've done away with those privatization efforts. Okay. I want to turn our attention to something that you hinted at, and we talked about at the top of the program. This idea of skimming or the SNAP skimming fraud. And this is not something that participants are doing. It's something that's happening negatively to participants. So, could you tell us a little bit more about this skimming issue? You know, skimming is a very serious problem that has affected all types of consumers. It's a device that gets put on the point-of-sale system, like that thing that you insert your card into or swipe at the checkout. And it's indistinguishable from the actual point of sale system. You could have a trained eye and still not be able to tell that this point-of-sale system has been compromised. So, what happens is when somebody uses a compromise point of sale system, their information, their card number, their pin is all taken. And within the same day, within an hour, you'll see the benefits are extracted. Usually in an entirely different state, and just the account balance is completely wiped out. The SNAP participant does not find out. If they don't check their account balance, they won't find out until the next time they're at the grocery store and they've done their, you know, 30 minutes of 45 minutes of shopping, with their kids in tow, and they've put everything on the conveyor belt and they're checking out and they swipe their card. And it says your payment is declined. And that is an awful harrowing situation that people are subjected to in the richest nation on the planet. They can't even use their government benefits to put food on the table. And then the process that currently exists to replace those stolen benefits is a lot of administrative burdens there as well. Where you have to you go home without the food, you fill out a piece of paper to say what happened, and then it takes weeks for you to get your benefits replaced. And God forbid that this happens to you more than twice in one year because the current resolution from Congress only allows two benefit replacements every year. But I mean, Norbert the question might be, who's stealing all this stuff? And why aren't the states doing something about it? Or why isn't the SNAP participant doing more to protect themselves? What we have to understand is that there are federal authorities, the FBI, are looking into this. They are investigating this because tens of millions of government dollars have been stolen. Over 120,000 households have been affected. This is big. This is bigger than the SNAP participant. This is bigger than the state. This is bigger than the retailers. And so, there's a lot for the federal government to do not just in replacing the benefits. Because that's you know, you we have a hole in the boat and we can't throw money at the hole. We need to fix the hole. So, what are we looking at here? We're looking at the opportunity to Secure our cards, secure the EBT card, by moving to chip. So, that is the next big thing You know what I appreciate out of this conversation is the experience of individuals who are using their SNAP benefits and they go to the store and the pain of discovering that their SNAP benefits have been expended. Not by them, but through some other means. I know the experience of having identity theft and, losing a credit card and not being able to do it. But I'm not in a situation where that means I'm not able to put food on my table. So, thank you for bringing our attention to the individual tragedy of that experience. And I think that's something important. But what you're also hinting at is that this is not some small-time incident. This is something much bigger. And of course, the federal government has a deep interest in trying to address this issue. And there needs to be some fix. And how this fix occurs also needs to be cognizant of the individual experience of low income individuals who are just struggling to make sure that they're able to solve this food problem. Yeah, you were talking about identity theft and when identity theft happens in the private sector things are resolved pretty quickly. If your credit card is hacked, nowadays you can just go online and say dispute charge and everything's taken care of within 24 hours. But can you imagine like not getting food benefits, like your debit card, your bank account being emptied, and you don't get everything back for weeks. It's mind numbing. It's really awful to think about. You've mentioned some technology fixes. And seems like they're pretty well known, the chip technology. Are there other fixes or in terms of technology or security systems that could help prevent this skimming challenge? One of the other challenges we're facing with the skimming is that the replacement benefits are temporary, it's going to expire on December 20th of this year (2024). And this is an extension that happened after the original replacement benefits, which was just under two years. These short-term fixes, or these short-term replacement benefit strategies are not what we need. We really need a permanent replacement benefit because no matter how secure the card gets, criminals are just going to be creative, and they will attack every single type of card as they continue to do with chip cards. Because we're talking about skimming, there's also something called shimming. S H I M M I N G. And that's when the point-of-sale system isn't compromised from the top, but from within, where you insert the card. That's shimming. So, that's something that exists as well. Chip cards will go a long way to decreasing the benefit theft when chip cards rolled out in the private sector it reduced theft by like around 90 percent. We're hopeful and optimistic that similar patterns will emerge there. But that's of course not 100 percent. It's not AA+++ It's a reason for why permanent replacement benefits need to continue. When it comes to chip card benefits, your listeners might be like, wait, wait, wait, this is 2024. We still have cards that haven't gone chip? It's because there's so many layers in the financial sector of what's going on the back end of these cards. So thankfully there was this massive process known as the x9 process where the entire industry came together. All the card manufacturers, grocers, convenience stores, retailers, banks, us humble nonprofits, and we came in to talk about what needs to be done. And so, they finally released the standards just over a month ago. And now we have two states in the running California and Oklahoma to roll out chip cards in the new year. All eyes are on Cali and Oklahoma to see how it goes before, I guess other states are going to hop on. The chip card is going to be the next big thing in the SNAP benefits world. Thank you for sharing this. I want to ask you one additional question about this technology issue. And it's related to a project I'm working on. It's the idea of online grocery shopping and the expansion of the SNAP benefits for online grocery shopping. And I'm wondering if there's any relationship between what you're seeing in skimming and the ability to use online grocery shopping. Or are these completely disconnected? I haven't seen anything regarding theft online, it's all been physical. We are seeing some promising things coming out of online shopping, especially for people who are living in areas without food access. Once we can bridge that gap of getting fresh food, like the produce and meats and chicken and fish, to people who are far away from grocery stores, then we've found the magic solution. But it's a promising trend on the online delivery space. Oh, that's awesome. I want to ask you just more generally about SNAP and where FRAC is right now. Where are you all thinking about in this space? And then what are ways that you can get just regular everyday people to help in the policy work of eliminating food insecurity? For more than 50 years, FRAC has been working to improve health, nutrition, and the well-being of people who have been struggling with poverty related hunger in the United States. Now, we have made tremendous strides in the fight against hunger. We've played a critical role in expanding SNAP. We've secured increased benefits for households with low incomes through landmark legislation, litigation. But unfortunately our work is far from over and we are really trying to work ourselves out of jobs. We cannot do it alone. We really need all hands on deck, especially as we are seeing in this upcoming Farm Bill effort some cuts that are being suggested or offered to SNAP benefit. We really need all hands on deck to protect this program. To build a nation free from hunger we encourage your listeners to go to frac.org, frac.org. Sign up for our action network and urge your members of Congress to prioritize ending hunger in America. Now, I know that oftentimes we're not sure what we should be saying to our Congress members. Our action network tells you all the things and it helps you really quickly and easily customize templates. Send in your own messages to your members of Congress. And also learn about hunger in your state and the solutions that exist as well. So, what will it achieve for you at the end of the day? Your efforts will advance bold and equitable policy and program solutions. And provide technical assistance and training to thousands of anti hunger advocates across the country, because we're collecting your stories. And your stories help impact Congressmembers. It helps us win their hearts. Bio Salaam Bhatti joined FRAC in November 2023 as the SNAP Director. In this role, he works to strengthen SNAP access and benefit adequacy. Salaam works closely with the Interim President to develop, lead, and track annual work plans; set and meet unit goals; collaborate with other unit Directors to assist in achieving FRAC's strategic plan goals; and expand the unit's innovation and work. Salaam joined FRAC after working at the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC). While at VPLC, he successfully lobbied to fully repeal the drug felon ban for SNAP and TANF, twice achieved record increases to TANF cash benefits, subsidized reduced-priced school meals, repealed the TANF family cap, ended lunch shaming policies in schools, and received a unanimous vote to expand SNAP for over 20,000 families.  Salaam also helped develop a mobile-friendly, SNAP screening tool which is used by tens of thousands of people & multiple non-profits and has been rolled out to be available for all states and D.C. He received the Young Alumni Achievement Award from Albright College for his work in alleviating poverty and promoting Muslim-Jewish relations. Salaam also received the inaugural Stuart A. Freudberg Award for Regional Partnership for his work with Maryland and DC Hunger Solutions to address food insecurity across the metropolitan Washington area from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Salaam has a J.D. from Touro Law School, is barred in New York and Virginia, and received his Bachelors in Political Science and International Relations from Albright College (with a year abroad in the University of Aberdeen). 

Northfield Union of Youth Executive Director Kelli Podracky and Community Action Center Community Associate Ollie Podracky – mother and son – discuss the ways the NUY and CAC work together and the collaborative nature of Northfield’s non-profit community.

Introducing How We Can Fix Hunger, Food Deserts, and a Broken System (with Chef Tom Colicchio) from Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.Follow the show: Assembly Required with Stacey AbramsStacey talks to renowned chef, activist, and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio about why the United States has a food insecurity crisis despite being the richest country in the world — and why this issue is especially pressing with an incoming Trump administration. They discuss what can be done to address the problem head on, including what Colicchio has learned from years of advocating for school lunches and solving for food deserts on Capitol Hill. Then, Stacey answers a listener question about what the potential appointment of Robert F. Kennedy will mean for the FDA, CDC, and America's health in general. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at assemblyrequired@crooked.com or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.Learn & Do More: Watch the documentary “A Place At The Table”Visit Double Up Food Bucks to see if your state has this program, or how to get it thereCheck out Food Research and Action Center for information on your state's school meal programsSupport the Eco-Friendly Mobile Farm Stand ProjectDonate to children and families in need at your local food bank, Feeding America or No Kid Hungry. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

How do we make it easier for more Americans to reliably put food (in particular, hot food) on the table? That's today's big question, and my guest is Salaam Bhatti. Salaam is the SNAP Director at the Food Research and Action Center, a 501c3 that uses advocacy and strategic partnerships to improve the health and well being of people struggling against poverty related hunger in the United States.Before joining the Food Research and Action Center, Salam was the Public Benefits Attorney and Deputy Director of the Virginia Poverty Law Center where he specialized in public benefits law. Salaam also served as the director of Virginia Hunger Solutions, where he supported the initiative's mission of eradicating hunger and enhancing the nutrition, health, and overall well being of children and families living in poverty throughout this great commonwealth.-----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.comNew here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.-----------INI Book Club:Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna DewdneyFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-clubLinks:Follow Salaam on TikTok and TwitterFollow FRAC on Instagram and TwitterGet involved with the FRAC Action NetworkDonate to FRAC to help end hunger in AmericaCheck out FRAC's Road to the Farm Bill resourcesCall on Congress to protect and strengthen SNAPRead the USDA Food Security report and FRAC's Statement of Poverty reportRead FRAC's brief with the National Women's Law CenterFollow us:Subscribe to our newsletter at importantnotimportant.comSupport our work and become a Member at importantnotimportant.com/upgradeGet our...

From Conflict to Convergence - a Book DiscussionFriends, one of the greatest lessons I've learned in my journey is that when we come together with honesty, integrity and good will, we can find solutions that are better than what any one person could have come up with on their own. And if there's anyone who embodies that belief, it's today's guests, Rob Fersh and Mariah Levison of Convergence!Now, let me tell you, these two are champions of bridging divides and resolving conflicts in ways that don't just settle for middle ground, but actually aim for higher ground—solutions that honor everyone's needs and values. Rob Fersh, the founder and senior advisor of Convergence, has been in the trenches of policy resolution for decades, working on everything from hunger in America to U.S.-Muslim relations. His leadership in organizations like the Food Research and Action Center and Search for Common Ground has literally shaped the way we tackle big issues in this country.And then we've got Mariah Levison, the current CEO and President of Convergence. Mariah's got this incredible knack for building trust and relationships across the most contentious divides. From running the Minnesota State Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution to teaching the next generation of mediators, she's all about conflict resolution and creating solutions that really stick.Together, Rob and Mariah co-authored a must-read book, *From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems*. And today, they're here to talk about how we can all get better at listening, understanding each other's values, and finding those higher ground solutions—especially in a time when our society seems more divided than ever.But here's the kicker—they're not just talking to the leaders or the policymakers; they're even emphasizing the importance of engaging young people in this process. Because, let's face it, the future belongs to them, and it's crucial that they learn how to navigate these differences to build a more functional and civil society.Learn more about and connect with Rob Fersh, Mariah Levison and Convergence by checking out the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com.What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you've got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site's contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact If you would like to support the show, you're welcome to DONATE or shop Amazon by going through our Support Us page and I'll earn through qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I look forward to hearing from you!

Imagine having 40% of the public land in your state closed to hunt/harvest of ALL species, regardless of wildlife abundance and ecosystem health!!  Proposals on par with this are being considered and promoted for California's coastal waters. "Hunting the Ocean" can mean many things... pier fishing, spear fishing, free diving for spiny lobster, crabbing, shore fishing, angling from a boat or kayak, and many more things!  One thing is certain... even with the most regulated coastal fisheries in the world, the opportunity for individuals to access and enjoy the hunt in coastal California waters is under attack.  Listen in to this episode of Matt Bond (allwaters.org) and Devin O'dea (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) explain the convoluted path and petition process which could disenfranchise subsistence anglers, eliminate adaptive management in complex ecosystems. You'll hear the connection between these closures and billion $$ organizations that will continue to have priority access for their use and purpose, while individuals are pushed out.  Tap into the links and resources below to continue following, and take action by using the HOWL for Wildlife Letter to the Editor tool, send comments to the Fish & Game Commission (email).  Join HOWL to stay informed and ready when we deploy our Action Center and pull the Hunting and Angling communities together in this fight.  All Waters Protection and Access Coalition (AllWaters.org)  All Waters - IG  California Fish & Game Commission Meeting Aug 14 - Agenda (item 9)  California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife MPA Review Process  Ocean Protection Council - 30x30 Review and Comment Process California Backcountry Hunters & Anglers - MPA Closures  *** #california #marineprotection #wildlifemanagement #oceanprotection #spearfishing #allwaters #marineprotectedarea #ecosystem #hunting #fishing #30x30 #conservation 

This week's Pipeliners Podcast episode features Sarah Magruder Lyle going over 8/11 Day and its importance. Sarah discusses different tools and resources available such as DIRT and DPAC to aid in proper digging practices. Visit PipelinePodcastNetwork.com for a full episode transcript, as well as detailed show notes with relevant links and insider term definitions. 

Food Tank, in collaboration with The Germeshausen Foundation, and Oatly, recently hosted a special luncheon event on Capitol Hill to explore issues of food access and affordability, Food is Medicine, and food loss and waste prevention. Discussions explore the interagency collaboration that is moving the needle on food loss and waste, the importance of federal nutrition programs to food is medicine solutions, and the momentum that continues to build around food systems transformation. Speakers include U.S. Congressmembers Jim McGovern, Chellie Pingree, and Ayanna Pressley; Catherine Oakar, The White House; Admiral Rachel Levine, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Jean Buzby, USDA Office of the Chief Economist; Alberto Gonzalez Jr., USDA Food and Nutrition Service; Ruth Petersen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sophia Adelle, Farmlink; Alexandra Ashbrook, Food Research and Action Center; Caron Gremont, FRESHFARM; Regina Harmon, Food Recovery Network; Steven Jennings, Ahold Delhaize USA; Mandy Katz, Giant Food; and Amanda Oenbring, Upcycled Food Association. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Senior Director of the Community Action Center Anika Rychner and Director of the Northfield Public Library Natalie Draper discuss the Runway Revival event at the Weitz Center on August 22nd.

 Senior Director of the Community Action Center Anika Rychner and Director of the Northfield Public Library Natalie Draper discuss the Runway Revival event at the Weitz Center on August 22nd. 

On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you a panel discussion at Southeast Uplift, which is a coalition of southeast Portland neighborhood associations. The panel features people involved in creating micro-villages in neighborhoods in northeast and southeast Portland. A recent study by the Homelessness Research and Action Center at Portland State University on Alternative Shelters found that alternative, village-style shelters provide better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness than traditional, congregate shelters. More information on alternative shelters supported by the Joint Office of Homeless Services can be found on the JOHS website. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs dot us. Thanks again for listening to Out of the Streets of Portland.  

Salaam Bhatti is the SNAP Director at the Food Research and Action Center, a 501(c)(3) that uses advocacy and strategic partnerships to improve the health and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States. Tune in to learn how to bring together diverse perspectives, challenge established norms, and seek innovative solutions for modern society. Salaam Bhatti: “The best way to find change is to go out and find like-minded people. Create a coalition to make that change happen. But if you want to perfect that, then you have to find people who disagree so that you can really understand why you believe what you believe. And maybe there are things that just need education, that just need more facts to help bring them to your side. Or maybe you were wrong and you can come to a compromise or an agreement. But until you get out of your comfort zone, the change you will try to make will only be fleeting and never systemic.”00:00 Intro to Salaam 01:25 From law to public benefit activism04:50 How sparking joy drives passion in food justice06:09 Addressing food insecurity for an equitable food system08:20 How zoning and economic inequalities exacerbate food insecurity10:55 Why building strategic alliances can bridge divides to pass policy reform14:28 Exploring the ripple effects of SNAP program changes on the economy18:00 Overview of the Food Research and Action Center19:14 Addressing poverty related hunger solutions and challenges21:20 How choice and increased access improves health outcomes26:17 Reimagining food policy for modern needs28:22 Why getting out of your comfort zone can lead to systemic change31:11 Takeaways for changemakersLinksFood Research Action Center (FRAC)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Report: Household Food Security in the United States in 2022Quantifying the Impact of SNAP Benefits on the US Economy and JobsKeep in TouchSubscribe, rate, review the show at foodlabtalk.comFollow Food Lab talk on YouTube and LinkedIn*The views expressed by the guests in this podcast don't necessarily represent the host's views, nor those of his employer.

Daniel Aipa of The Ku Project sits down with the Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC), Monique Ibarra, to learn how she got to where she is now and about the services behind the domestic violence non-profit. In this talk story session, we cover a lot of different topics like bringing awareness to domestic violence, the services and programs DVAC provides for survivors of domestic violence, and we share personal stories of overcoming adversity. We realized having these conversations not only brings awareness but also creates a space of healing and reflection.   Learn more about DVAC: https://domesticviolenceactioncenter.org/

Could the era of TikTok in America really be ticking away? Join me, as I dissect the buzz about HR 7521, the legislation that could change the social media landscape as we know it.Roll call: Final Vote Results for Roll Call 86 (house.gov)Read HR 7521 Action Center (votervoice.net)Thomas Massie on X: "The so-called TikTok ban is a trojan horse. The President will be given the power to ban WEB SITES, not just Apps. The person breaking the new law is deemed to be the U.S. (or offshore) INTERNET HOSTING SERVICE or App Store, not the “foreign adversary.” https://t.co/iKtAQFGeQH https://t.co/P26hEbzQrf" / X (twitter.com)Congressman Greg Steube on X: "This isn't just about TikTok, it's about political power. Giving Biden's DOJ more authority to target speech they don't agree with right before the presidential election is a dangerous move. Joining @SchmittNYC on @NEWSMAX to discuss more.

For International Working Womens Day --"At the Table and on the Menu: Respectability Politics and Tokenism in Genocidal Times," part one of a conversation between muslim, Arab and Palestinian Women about hollow inside strategies as Israel's genocide of Palestinians goes unabated. Moderated by Maha Hilal, an expert on institutionalized Islamophobia, the War on Terror, and counternarrative work. She is the author of the book Innocent Until Proven Muslim: Islamophobia, the War on Terror, and the Muslim Experience Since 9/11, and is the founding executive director of Muslim Counterpublics Lab.  Panelists include: Iman Abid, director of Advocacy and Organizing at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR); Ramah Kudaimi, campaign director at the Action Center on Race & the Economy; Iman Hassan, director of the Stop the School to Prison Pipeline program at Massachusetts Advocates for Children; and Mariam Durrani, professorial lecturer at the School of International Service and a faculty affiliate with the Anti-Racism Research and Policy Center at American University. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on our website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! Links: Muslim Counterpublics Lab

There's a lot happening and HOWL has reached 1000s of accounts on Instagram in the last couple weeks.  Through the support of individuals, influencers and organizations HOWL is connecting with more people and enabling hunters to be advocates for hunting! How can you help HOWL for Wildlife support and protect hunting, conservation and wildlife success?   - follow and share our content from Instagram and this podcast.  - use the Action Center and take action in your community and across state lines.  - become a member of HOWL for Wildlife.  Here is a quick update on a bushel of issues and opportunities in front of the hunting (and angling!) communities across the nation. The pack of HOWL advocates is having positive impacts through education, communication and taking action. Thanks to 1000s of individuals sharing their values and perspectives with decision makers - we are collectively protecting hunting opportunity and guiding the continued use of regulated hunting as the primary mechanism in successful conservation.  Resources:  HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center HOWL for Wildlife - Memberships, Join the Pack HOWL for Wildlife - IG  Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt - Save the Hunt! CRWM - IG  Mile High Hunt Expo - come to Denver, HOWL will be there.  ** #conservation #wildlife #wildlifemanagement #hunting #trophyhunting #blackbear #elk #muledeer #whitetaildeer #deerhunting #elkhunting #colorado #antihunting #wildlifeconservation #citizenadvocacy #savethehuntcolorado  

Nutrition expert Monica Reinagel joins us for another edition of Midday's Smart Nutrition. According to the Food Research and Action Center, one in eight U.S. households experience food insecurity or do not have access to nutritional, affordable food. On today's show, we talk about how to fight hunger and malnutrition in the United States. Monica is a licensed nutritionist, author and speaker. She is also the host of the “Nutrition Diva” podcast and the “Change Academy Podcast” which focuses on the art and science of behavior change. Carmen Del Guercio, the Executive Director of the Maryland Food Bank, also joins us to talk about hunger.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Between the corporate interests, the politics, the infrastructure and the shaming, what can the grown ups in the room actually do to make the school cafeteria a safer, healthier place where kids want to be? Ross Wilson of the Shah Foundation, Jessica Terrell of the Left Overs podcast and Crystal FitzSimons of the Food Research and Action Center try to answer that.

Federal and state dollars pay for so much of what goes into the American public school education of our kids, but it isn't so straight forward when it comes to keeping them fed on school grounds. What movements and laws lead to American school kids accessing lunch? What does it cost, and who has to pay? Jessica Terrell, journalist and host of Left Over podcast and Crystal FitzSimons, Director of School and Out-of-School Time Programs at the Food Research and Action Center are our guides to the first part of our two-parter on school meals in America.  

Over 60 national movement and organizational leaders were arrested protesting at the U.S. Capitol against a proposed military funding package, sending billions of dollars to Israel. They say it's fueling genocide in Gaza and occupation of the Palestinian people. They also said they are fighting against increased border militarization and immigration enforcement in the US at the southern border. The protest was led by the Action Center on Race and the Economy, the Adalah Justice Project, the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. It was also supported by dozens of other organizations. Protesters carried children's shoes to pay tribute to the more than 8,000 children killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, and those that they say are being victimized by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They also held banners that said 'ceasefire now.'​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Night Slice is a new initiative from the University of Iowa's Women's Resource and Action Center that's designed to create a safe, alcohol-free, after-hours environment to help combat alcohol-related crimes on campus. Join Lauren and Jada and they welcome guests Nina Morrison and Sumita Subramani to discuss the program. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-night-slice-creating-a-safe-sober-space-for-college-students/ Have an question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support "From the Front Row" by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as debut 'Pop Smart,' Rick's entertainment and culture beat; fasten our seatbelts for America's best roller coasters; and catch up with Deaf Action Center's David Hylan on the occasion of his upcoming retirement.

Before Nanci Kreidman started the Domestic Violence Action Center in Hawaii in 1990, there were few places for victims to get help. The non-proft started with a staff of just two people. Today, there are 50 employees dedicated to continuing critical services and programs. Kreidman reflects on the progress made over the years and the challenges as she retires from DVAC and hands over the reins. Listen now on our website or find 'Muthaship' wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the Students for Life team hosted an urgent nationwide webcast on the devastating effects of the Chemical Abortion Pill on the environment and how it is poisoning women and children. Kristan knew this audience would be willing to take action by contacting their state's Attorney General. You can do so by going to: Thisischemicalabortion.com/Action-Center

We are just a few weeks away from NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day, which is taking place on Saturday, June 10. Family Health & Fitness Day is an annual celebration that promotes the importance of parks and recreation in keeping communities healthy. I'm thrilled to be talking more about Family Health & Fitness Day on today's episode, as well as all the ways parks and recreation provides accessible, close-to-home health and wellness opportunities in communities across the country. Joining me is Cina Makres, a program specialist on NRPA's health team, who is leading up NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day efforts this year, as well as Daniel Hatcher, the senior director of strategic partnerships at Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Tune in as we discuss how you can join in on the Family Health & Fitness Day celebrations in your community, as well as why parks and recreation is so well-positioned to build healthier communities. You'll also learn: Why Family Health & Fitness Day is a great opportunity to build awareness around the health and well-being benefits of the spaces and programs your agency manages Why partnerships are critical to building healthier communities and how you can leverage them on Family Health & Fitness Day How you can use the Family Health & Fitness Day Toolkit to assist with your marketing and promotions efforts What other resources are available (see below!) to help you communicate the importance of parks and recreation as it pertains to overall health Ideas for celebrating Family Health & Fitness Day with your own family (or chosen family), and much more! Additional Resources Discussed in this Episode: Download the Family Health & Fitness Day Toolkit Blog Post: Join Us for Family Health & Fitness Day on Saturday, June 10! Register Your Family Health & Fitness Day Event with NRPA NRPA's Family Health & Fitness Day Informational Webinar Community Wellness Hubs Toolkit Blue Star Families + Healthier Generation Nature BINGO Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Ways to Keep Active Together Kohl's Healthy at Home Let's Move in Libraries Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Workshop Food Research and Action Center

Did you know that most synthetic pesticides are petroleum-based? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Margaret Reeves, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at the Pesticide Action Center of North America. Reeves discusses the Pesticide Action Network's new report: “Pesticides and Climate Change: A vicious cycle.” She describes how pesticides contribute to climate change and explains the smoke and mirrors behind some “climate smart” terms and practices. Related website:  Report “Pesticides and Climate Change: A vicious cycle:” https://www.panna.org/resources/pesticides-and-climate-change-vicious-cycle-report and webinars: https://www.panna.org/resources/webinar-recording-pesticides-and-climate-change

A federal pandemic-era program that provided free meals for all public school students ended last September. A recent survey by a group that advocates for universal free school lunch found that 847 school districts have racked up more than $19 million in debt from unpaid lunch fees. Crystal FitzSimons from the Food Research and Action Center joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A federal pandemic-era program that provided free meals for all public school students ended last September. A recent survey by a group that advocates for universal free school lunch found that 847 school districts have racked up more than $19 million in debt from unpaid lunch fees. Crystal FitzSimons from the Food Research and Action Center joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On the radio show this week, we cover Freedom Dreams to create a better future where everyone can thrive; addressing childhood hunger in America; how you can help stop gun violence in our nation; and access to healthcare. Through the show, we give tips for activism and ways to help make change! *Special guests include: Dr. Chera Reid, Center for Evaluation Innovation, @FreedomDreamNow; Gina Plata-Nino, Food Research & Action Center, @fractweets; Gloria Pan, MomsRising, @MomsRising; Felicia Burnett, MomsRising, @MomsRising

This week, we have another Action Center Review with John Stallone and Charles Whitwam of Howl for Wildlife. This episode highlights the importance of getting involved in issues outside your state or country. If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for Howl for Wildlife at howlforwildlife.org and support the Hunting and Outdoors community.

Listen to Charles and John give an update from the howl action center to see what's going on across state lines and Florida's Right to Hunt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we have another Action Center Review with John Stallone and Charles Whitwam of Howl for Wildlife. This episode highlights the importance of getting involved in issues outside your state or country. If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for Howl for Wildlife at howlforwildlife.org and support the Hunting and Outdoors community.

In this episode, we go full fangirl over the incredible life of former President Jimmy Carter. V also zooms in on how one Broadway production is shaking up a classic story on stages across the U.S. Then, they dive into the big changes slated to hit the SNAP food assistance program on March 1. And to explore all the ways this program helps our communities, V brings on Gina Plata-Nino, the deputy director of SNAP for the Food Research and Action Center. Gina debunks the “welfare queen” stereotype, explains why we should have more compassion for people who are food insecure, and lays out what can be done to help protect SNAP benefits ahead of reauthorizing the 2023 farm bill.   Follow FRAC's work at @fractweets on Twitter and at @fracgram on Instagram. Get more information on SNAP and find out how those benefits are changing come March.     Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Wolf Management in Colorado with Aron Snyder Show Notes:   In about a year, Howl for Wildlife grew to over 20,000 members and we're helping hunters have a voice. Almost every action we've been involved in has either progressed forward or was a win for hunting. It's a powerful tool to connect hunters with decision-makers and it's really had a positive impact. Aron Snyder is the president of Kifaru International, a company that makes some of the best hiking and hunting gear available. Here, we talk about something that's near and dear to Aron's heart: the wolf issue in Colorado.    Back in 2020, proposition 114 was on the ballot for Colorado to reintroduce wolves. 50.9% of the votes were in favor of the decision, meaning we lost by just a little. Hunters don't often want to get involved in things that don't directly impact them, but if everyone took a stand, we'd get a lot more done in our favor. There are over 16 million hunters in the US and in the age of social media and the internet, we're more in the know than ever. Colorado alone has over a million hunters and if they all stood up against the proposition, we'd likely be in a much different situation than we are today.   Proposition 114 states that 250 wolves will be transplanted by the end of 2023. The Colorado parks and wildlife commission has to create and carry out plans to reintroduce and manage the wolves. We need the commission to know which parts of the plan we support and get it in place before they potentially get non-hunters on the board. Aron and I talk about the details of the plan and how hunters can get involved. The easiest thing to do is head to the Howl for Wildlife website. Click on the Action Center and enter your name and email in the wolf management plan action and hit send. We also talk about other hot topics in the hunting world, which you can also check out on HowlforWildlife.org. What's Inside: Issues with wolf management in Colorado Why it's important for hunters to get involved Hot hunting topics to review and take action on What hunters can do to help   Mentioned in this episode Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/ GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/   Short Description: Aron Snyder is the president at Kifaru International and we're discussing the wolf management issue in Colorado. It's more important than ever for hunters to get involved, and the easiest way to do that is through the action center on the Howl for Wildlife website. Aron and I talk in-depth about the wolf issues as well as other hot issues in the hunting world. Tags big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, wolf management, gray wolves, Colorado, hunting advocacy, pro-hunting, howl for wildlife

This week, along with our Action Center Review with Howl For Wildlife, we are announcing our upcoming pig hunt in February 2023. We have limited spots left for anyone who wants to hunt pigs with the R2R crew, Chadapiller, and Seth from Black Bear Pursuit.    This Action Center Review brought to you by Howl For Wildlife is in regard to the Montana Grizzly Bear Management Plan.   Happy holidays everyone

Today's History Story: White Americans Kept Unions Exclusive – But Black Workers Still Triumphed The right to earn a living wage under just and safe work conditions is as inalienable a right as our freedom of speech. Still, the history of Black people in the American labor movement is rooted in injustice. White supremacy has sought to keep Black workers from the best jobs, the most robust industries, and their sacred labor unions. However, today is a different day, as Black workers now occupy more seats at the labor union table than any other race or ethnicity in America. Here to help us explore this dramatic change is Bianca Cunningham, campaign director at The Action Center on Race & the Economy (ACRE), a non-profit that directly takes on the financial institutions and anti-democratic actors that are responsible for pillaging communities of color and poor families, subverting voting rights, and destroying our environment. She's also the co-founder of the AfroSocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus of the Democratic Socialists of America. Bianca will share her story of unionizing her retail job, taking that first step towards reconfiguring the makeup of labor unions everywhere. _________________________ Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people who are leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. The BHY production team includes Tareq Alani, Brooke Brown, Tasha Taylor, and Lilly Workneh. Our producers are Cydney Smith, Len Webb for PushBlack, and Ronald Younger, who also edits the show. Black History Year's executive producers are Mikel Elcessor for Limina House and Julian Walker for PushBlack. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices