This article is by Rooya Rahin, Hunger Free Colorado’s Summer 2020 Policy Intern.
If you asked me nine weeks ago what SNAP, WIC, or any other hunger program acronym stood for, I probably couldn’t have told you. Through this internship, I have new knowledge about the intricacies of anti-hunger programs and broader lessons about policy and advocacy that have only strengthened my interest in this work. Today, I’ll tell you what I’ve learned about these programs and the ways I think they can be improved.
Collaboration is Key
First and foremost, no one can do this work alone. No one person, organization or government agency can do policy work by themselves. My online internship mostly consisted of Zoom meetings with policy experts, members of partner organizations, partners at government agencies, and community members. I learned that Hunger Free Colorado collaborates within their own departments and heavily with other organizations and state agencies.
I’ve also learned about the importance of gaining community input when policies affect the community. I’ve seen how this collaboration has sometimes been smooth, and other times has involved bureaucracy and required more compromise and discussion.
Advocacy at the Core of Policy
Something that has reinforced the importance of this work is the commitment and passion that everyone brings to their work. Never once did I see someone come into a meeting with anything less than a desire to make policy as beneficial and excellent as they could make it, even if everyone disagrees on what excellence means. In every meeting, there is an innate understanding that these policies affect real people and that our work needs to keep communities and their needs in mind. This passion makes advocates who they are and it’s inspiring to see that passion translated to action in advocacy work.
Policy During a Pandemic
I’ve also learned a great deal about what policy work looks like during a crisis. During a crisis, policy work is more crucial than ever. From learning about waivers and flexibilities for programs to promoting policies such as the 15% SNAP increase, I now have an understanding of the importance of public policy. Even small policies can make a huge difference.
Through watching the development and rollout of Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), I’ve learned about the difficulties in launching such a large program, which has been in the works since before my internship began and will only begin taking applications as my internship ends. It’s both thrilling and frustrating to watch a program come together and to see the innumerable hours spent on coordinating program implementation, advertising and protections.
The Future
I began this learning experience with Hunger Free Colorado, dedicating my summer to learning about public policy and food insecurity – all during the worst public health crisis our country has seen in a century. Coming into this work, I had little experience with any policy work and my knowledge of food and hunger issues was limited.
There aren’t nearly enough words to describe everything I’ve learned from this internship experience. I leave this internship with new knowledge and acknowledging that I still have so much to learn. I can guarantee that these are lessons I will carry with me through the rest of my education and into my future careers.
Want to learn more about hunger policy? Join the Hunger Free Colorado action network!