Food First

Having an impact by Phil Knight

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." - Calvin Coolidge Listen in as we are celebrating our champions of the movement that have come alongside us in unprecedented ways. Tune in to hear from Brian Peters, CEO of Michigan Health & Hospital Association. MHA is our Title Sponsor for our Michigan Harvest Gathering and helped collect 3.5 million p...

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke Meeting the Need for our Village Hunger Project is a project that Addy Battel and Pearl Daskum started when they were 12 years old. I know I wasn't doing anything this empowering at 12 years old. These young women value their community and wanted to take the path to make a difference and they have done just t...

Everything rises and falls on leadership - not some things, not most things - everything. Tune in tonight at 9 pm to hear from Michelle Lantz, the new CEO of Greater Lansing Food Bank. To say that Michelle hit the ground running is an understatement - within her first 100 days, she has lead through crisis associated with the UAW strike; hosted Governor Whitmer in the food bank; and closed on prope...

"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." - Thomas Edison Tune in tonight at 9 pm to hear from Lesli Hoey an associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan. Lesli is helping us think better and different while investing in her one handful of life in the mission of establishing equity through urban planning. If urban planners aren't aware...

"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more." - H. Jackson Brown Jr. The giving season is upon us as well as the annual Michigan Harvest Gathering, which brings people together from everywhere to raise food and funds for our hungry neighbors across the state --> https://www.fbcmich.org/resources/michigan-harvest-gathering/ Listen in to hear from two policy...

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." - Arthur Ashe As the holiday season approaches, please remember that if you don't have the treasure - you may have the time and talent and that is just as important. Tune in at 9 pm tonight to hear from two gentlemen who are using their treasure to help create a food secure state. Tom Celani and Bill Schuette. Tom is a...

People who end up being 'first', don't actually set out to be first. They set out to do something they love.' -Condoleezza Rice Food banking has shown the world that when they're faced with a problem, amazing things can happen. Three years ago Phil and Gerry started Food First to change the conversation and they have done just that. Part of changing the conversation is listening to people who don'...

It's often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Everything in life is complex. Take the Sigmoid curve for example - it's the key to growth and transformational change - without change, you're going to get the same results. Listen as Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America and a thought leader, addresses hunger in the U.S. as his...

I love money because it gives people options that the otherwise would not have. Gerry and I had the pleasure of getting to know the breath of fresh air in politics, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on the show. Secretary Benson is standing in the gap for our hungry neighbors as well as running marathons while 8 months pregnant - Boston Marathon nonetheless! Secretary Benson is genuine, enthusiast...

Join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, and Dr. Dawn Opel for this episode of Food First! Listen in and learn how multiple sectors including healthcare, government, academia, and nonprofit can work together to better serve community members in need. New innovation, the use of data, and multisector integration are key for helping community members leverage services to help themselves become more self-...

The 2020 Census is right around the corner and poses an opportunity not only to ensure federal resources and political representation are properly allocated, but to engage individuals and strengthen communities. For every community member that is not counted, Michigan could miss out on about $1,800 in federal funds! Listen in on as your hosts, Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, speak with the Pres...

Food insecurity is immoral, unacceptable, and beatable. A vision of a better tomorrow fuels us today. Listen in as Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson host Ernie Birchmeier, the manager of the Center for Commodity Farm and Industry Relations at the Michigan Farm Bureau. Tonight on Food First Ernie paints a picture of the hardship that Michigan farmers are facing due to the rainy spring and hot, dry...

A tool is only as good as the craftsman who uses it. There are four major tools that must be used to create a food secure Michigan – government, the business community, personal responsibility, and the food bank network. Be sure to join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, and Carrie Calvert - Managing Director of Government Relations at Feeding America tonight for a discussion about how available tool...

Listen in on a “wonky” policy conversation on this episode of Food First! This evening Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, discuss the proposed changes to broad-based categorical eligibility. The duo breaks down the disparity between income limits for benefit programs and income needed for self-sufficiency. Exactly how much income does it take to be self-suffici...

Nobody likes a crisis, but a leader proves their value during an emergency more than at any other time. Farmers in Michigan have faced an extremely challenging growing season due to inclement weather, with some farmers only having planted about 20% of their crops. Gary McDowell, the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has led the agricultural community through...

Everyone wants to drive hunger out of Michigan, so why not drive it out over newly paved roads and solid bridges? Last year the American Society of Civil Engineers rated Michigan state roads a D-. Michigan’s food bank network drivers rely on state roads and cover an estimated 2 million miles each year to deliver more than 200 million pounds of food to nearly 3,000 local pantries. Join Dr. Phil Kni...

As we frequently say on Food First, solving hunger starts in the field! Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson catch up with Senator Roger Victory​ who took a break from his work on Victory Farms to speak on the show. Senator Victory represents Michigan’s 30th District located in Ottawa County. In this episode of Food First Phil, Gerry, and Senator Victory discuss the tough weather conditions Michigan...

Defining the reality of living in poverty by Phil Knight

We are overwhelmed with opportunities and the only thing that goes faster than time is an opportunity! Listen in to Food First tonight as Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson discuss the three principles of great partnerships - shared priorities, shared pain, and shared payment. These principles are key in every partnership from individual relationships to multifaceted collaborations. Phil and Gerry...

Hear the LAST Food for Thought episode! Don't worry - you still get to hear Phil and Gerry's thought-provoking conversations on a weekly basis, just under a new name: Food First. Not only are Phil and Gerry changing the conversation about food insecurity, but they are embodying a movement that will help us accomplish both the personal and political will to bring about social change. 1 in 6 childre...

Sourcing food is a key paramount practice that we must be GREAT at. We must source food like lives depend on it because they do. From farmers to our hungry neighbors who are struggling with more month than money - we cannot accept anything less than greatness. Although Michigan's growing season is short, we are the 2nd most agriculturally diverse state in the nation. Hear from Jeannie Igle a 4th g...

Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson sit down with the Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Farm Bureau, Scott Piggott. The Michigan Farm Bureau is an organization that stands in the gap for farmers all across the state. Scott is a wealth of information on Michigan’s agricultural community. In this episode of Food First, we discuss Michigan Farm Bureau’s innovative way of educating children through th...

Every one of us at every level should starve our distraction and feed our focus when it comes to food insecurity. If we focus on Food First in all of our endeavors and ask the question of the priority of food in all of our efforts - a major cultural shift will take place in our state. Hear from influencers that are making Food First a reality. In this episode we have Carl Bednarski, president of M...

The first of our newly re-branded show, Food First Michigan! Phil and Gerry caught up with Rachel Hurst, Corporate Affairs Manager of Michigan Kroger and the new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Gordon at the Mackinac Policy Conference. Although Director Gordon is new to MDHHS, he demonstrates the attributes of being a true leader who wants to make a difference. He wants t...