Food First

March 13, 2022 - Monologue

Why are people struggling with more month than money? To answer this question, we must trade on trust, be grounded in facts, and rooted in data. Tune in for FACTS on Food First Michigan at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio and hear from Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, a leading economic expert on anti-poverty measures and t...

February 27, 2022 - Food for Thought

“Little by little, a little becomes a lot.” – Tanzanian Proverb John van Hengel, the father of food banking, created ripples of positive change that are still being felt today. John led by example that significance is more important than success. John began distributing unsellable food from grocery stores to agencies that wanted to help their communities. Ergo, America’s first food bank. Tune in f...

February 20, 2022 - Food for Thought

February 20, 2022 - Monologue

Four years ago, Dr. Phil and Gerry started Food First Michigan with the intent of changing the conversation about food security in Michigan. The reason we can see farther is because we’ve been standing on the shoulders of giants - giants that have joined the movement of creating a food secure state. This charge is born out of believing food insecurity CAN be solved and that it is in the best inter...

February 13, 2022 - Food for Thought

February 13, 2022 - Monologue

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on our nation’s food systems and economy, forcing millions of Americans to turn to the emergency food network for aid. Food banks, food pantries, and other community organizations have stepped up to meet the increase in need. Tune in for Food First Michigan on WJR Radio this Sunday at 9:00 PM to hear from Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president a...

February 6, 2022 - Food for Thought

February 6, 2022 - Monologue

February 27, 2022 - Monologue

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Anatole France Pets are special. Economics play no role in the joy, comfort, and stability a pet brings to a home. Tune in this Sunday for Food First Michigan on WJR Radio at 9 PM to hear Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Matthew Pepper, president and CEO of Michigan Human...

January 23, 2022 - Food for Thought

January 23, 2022 - Monologue

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” - Nelson Mandela Soon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will share her take on the strength of our state and her hopes for the future in her State of the State Address. In one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speeches from 1941, he shared a desire to see everyone experience freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of poverty, and freedom from fear. O...

January 16, 2022 - Food for Thought

January 16, 2022 - Monologue

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how made them feel.” Maya Angelou Tune in for Food First Michigan this Sunday at 9 PM to hear from Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Rob Fowler, CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). Rob has served as president a...

January 2, 2022 - Food for Thought

January 2, 2022 - Monologue

“Traditions touch us, they connect us, and they expand us.” Rita Barreto Craig Tune in for Food First Michigan this Sunday at 9 PM on WJR Radio to hear Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank celebrate the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s stand-in-the-gap champions, also known as Hunger Heroes, on their annual holiday show! Our Hunger Heroes prove their...

December 26, 2021 - Food for Thought

December 26, 2021 - Monologue