Food First

Food Security Council Report by Phil Knight

What is the Need? by Phil Knight

Stephanie Johnson joins the show to help us unpack the State of the State address and the upcoming legislative session and how their work and priorities impact our work of creating a food secure state.

The Tipping Point by Phil Knight

Year's End Show by Phil Knight

Paving Your Road to Success by Phil Knight

Changing the World One Day at a Time by Phil Knight

USDA Report 2022_Never Give Up by Phil Knight

Leaders see better, before and beyond the rest of us by Phil Knight

Kids COUNT by Phil Knight

Food is PowerFULL by Phil Knight

The Masks of Tradeoffs by Phil Knight

The End of an Era by Phil Knight

One Handful of Life by Phil Knight

There are over 6,500 food deserts in the U.S. These are places where economics and geography make it harder for people to access healthy, nutritious food. While the challenges for those in rural and urban food deserts may look different, their refrigerators often look the same. Michigan’s Food Banks stand is the gap to help meet this need in both the rural and urban food deserts across our state....

“Healthy things grow, growing things change and growing things change things,” says author Christine Cain. That has been the case at the Food Bank Council of Michigan over the past several years. Our work has expanded, scaled, and changed to help meet the need in the communities across our state. As we have gotten healthier, we are privileged to have earned the trust of our legislature, governor’s...

Poverty in America sounds like an oxymoron. It just doesn’t seem to fit together. Why must there always be a class of people in our country that doesn’t have enough? During this week’s episode of Food First Michigan, hosts Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson examine this question.

On this week’s Food First Michigan show we are talking with Scott Piggott, CEO of Michigan Farm Bureau, and member of the Food Bank Council Board of Directors, about the consequences of policy change. The recent federal legislation passed surrounding the debt ceiling means the Michigan Milk Producers Association will no longer be able to donate the 350 gallons of milk they have been supplying to t...

It’s been articulated, and rightfully so, that things only truly change because of relationships. The Mackinac Policy Conference creates an annual opportunity to build and enhance our relationships with influencers across the state. We want them to know, understand about food insecurity, its effect on children and our communities and, more importantly, we want them to grasp the idea that food inse...

Policy matters and that is why the Food Bank Council of Michigan and members of our organization attended the recent Mackinac Policy Conference presented by the Detroit Regional Chamber. Paula Cunningham, State Director of AARP MI served as guest host. Our interviews from the Policy Conference will be split into two different broadcasts. First up, this week’s episode of Food First Michigan feature...

Food is not the solution to poverty. It is, however, the first step toward a self-sufficient life. When hunger comes off the table, the ability to focus beyond the current crisis becomes clearer. When food is available, worry is replaced with comfort. Over 50% of the food our network distributes is fresh and whether it is a box, bundle, or bag it provides hope. That’s the power of food. On today’s...

Improving Life for Michigan Families Increasing the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System line item is an important investment we need to make in MI farmers and the families who are struggling. The faces of the individuals in need of food are changing. They are often in and out of food security, have enough for most of the month, but need help for a short time. Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet came t...

Governor Whitmer has proposed investing $160M to support school meals for all. Nine states have passed legislation to put in place universal school meal programs. Will Michigan be the 10th? On this edition of Food First Michigan, we talk with Dr. Diane Golzynski, deputy superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education, to get a better understanding of school meals for all.

It has been said that change is inevitable, and growth is optional. Leaders love change, expect things to change, and work to create positive change. All change is a critique of the past, has casualties, and needs a champion. This week’s episode of Food First Michigan focuses on how to use conversation as the gateway to change.

Nonprofits and charities across our state have extremely talented people working hard to help their neighbors in need but there are still too few of these individuals in the world. On today’s episode of Food First Michigan, you will hear from Taylor Moore, the innovative director of Food Rescue – Goodwill Northern Michigan, who is investing his life to ensure people in need have access to the fres...