WEBVTT - Work in Progress: Karen Pittman & Claire Babineaux-Fontenot 0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:16.120 Hi, everyone, It's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Happy holidays, 0:00:16.400 --> 0:00:20.799 Whips Marties. As we get toward the end of this year, 0:00:20.840 --> 0:00:24.160 I've really been thinking about this community that we all share, 0:00:24.480 --> 0:00:26.840 in the stories we get to share, and I really 0:00:26.960 --> 0:00:29.640 cherish you all, and I think I wanted to end 0:00:29.680 --> 0:00:36.199 the year with a conversation that felt worry I guess 0:00:36.479 --> 0:00:40.120 of a year ending and inspiring. And that's why I'm 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:42.839 so thrilled today to be joined by two women I 0:00:42.880 --> 0:00:48.479 admire so so much, the incredible Karen Pittman and Claire 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:53.239 Babineau Fontanelle. You probably know Karen Pittman because she is 0:00:53.280 --> 0:00:57.800 a wildly accomplished actress in television, film, and theater. She 0:00:58.160 --> 0:01:03.440 stars as Mia Jordan on Apple's award winning The Morning Show. 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:08.160 She also plays doctor Niah Wallace on Max's And just 0:01:08.360 --> 0:01:11.800 like that, Pittman's resume is so long. I'm not going 0:01:11.880 --> 0:01:14.039 to read the whole thing to you, but my god, 0:01:14.520 --> 0:01:16.839 I just look up to her so much as an actor, 0:01:16.920 --> 0:01:22.399 as a producer, she is truly incredible, And today she 0:01:22.560 --> 0:01:25.319 brings a friend and another woman that I look up to, 0:01:25.880 --> 0:01:30.200 Claire Babino Fontino. She is the chief executive officer of 0:01:30.280 --> 0:01:37.560 Feeding America, America's largest organization combating food insecurity. They run 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:41.160 a network of local food banks, statewide food bank associations, 0:01:41.200 --> 0:01:44.880 food pantries, meal programs, and they happen to be the 0:01:45.160 --> 0:01:48.720 largest charity in the United States. Since twenty twenty two, 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:53.320 under her incredible guidance, the organization has reached new milestones 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:56.840 in addressing domestic food insecurity. And as you'll hear from 0:01:56.840 --> 0:01:59.720 Claire today, there is not a community in this country, 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:03.720 suburban or rural, that does not have folks facing food 0:02:03.760 --> 0:02:08.840 and security. It is a truly nonpartisan issue. It affects 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:10.840 each and every one of us, and if it hasn't 0:02:10.840 --> 0:02:13.360 affected you yet, it definitely affects someone that you know. 0:02:14.120 --> 0:02:19.400 And the work that she does to serve communities is 0:02:20.000 --> 0:02:23.880 so exemplary and so impressive to me, and also exemplary 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:27.000 and impressive to Karen, because Karen has been an ambassador 0:02:27.360 --> 0:02:31.240 for Feeding America for quite some time and also has 0:02:31.240 --> 0:02:34.920 a personal connection to Feeding America as an organization that 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:38.280 I think will move you in the way it moved me. 0:02:38.840 --> 0:02:43.160 So let's dive in and be inspired about what it 0:02:43.200 --> 0:02:45.359 means to build community and show up for each other 0:02:45.480 --> 0:02:59.880 with Karen and Claire. Karen, Claire, thank you so much 0:03:00.120 --> 0:03:02.959 for coming on Work in Progress today. I just need 0:03:03.000 --> 0:03:05.840 to I'm going to put I'm going to take off 0:03:05.840 --> 0:03:08.960 my interviewer hat and like allow my fangirl freak flag 0:03:09.000 --> 0:03:11.120 to fly for a beat, and then she'll go away 0:03:11.200 --> 0:03:14.880 and I'll put my interviewer hat back on. But Karen Pittman, 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:20.160 I am obsessed with you. I'm assessed with everything you do. 0:03:20.760 --> 0:03:23.680 You are just so unbelievable. I am the Morning Show's 0:03:23.680 --> 0:03:26.840 biggest fan. And then I could run obviously the laundry 0:03:26.840 --> 0:03:29.040 list of your entire resume, but I will save that 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:33.440 for the intro to this episode. Uh and Claire, my god, 0:03:33.880 --> 0:03:39.520 the work that you do at Feeding America, you your 0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:43.400 whole organization, the way that you better the country, the 0:03:43.440 --> 0:03:45.280 way that you help people think about bettering the world 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:48.320 around them. You are a rock star to me. So 0:03:48.440 --> 0:03:54.000 to be here with a literal rock star of activism 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:57.320 and an actor who I just am like weaken the 0:03:57.360 --> 0:04:00.200 knees to chat with. I'm the fact that you too 0:04:00.200 --> 0:04:02.160 are here also to talk about doing good. I'm like, 0:04:02.200 --> 0:04:06.440 of course, you are, of course you perfect people. So okay, 0:04:06.440 --> 0:04:08.560 I've told you that I adore you both, and now 0:04:08.640 --> 0:04:11.480 I will button it up and we can talk. 0:04:13.120 --> 0:04:16.400 Let's not keep it buttoned up for God's sake, Okay? Agree? 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:18.599 And oh, by the way, we might have to compete 0:04:18.640 --> 0:04:22.640 over who, in fact is the biggest fan for Karen. 0:04:24.960 --> 0:04:27.600 I'd like to just focus on the things we can 0:04:27.600 --> 0:04:28.160 agree on. 0:04:28.720 --> 0:04:31.760 How about the world needs more of that? 0:04:32.560 --> 0:04:33.800 Yeah, I think so? 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:37.040 So Yes, great, I think so. We are the co 0:04:37.200 --> 0:04:40.240 chairs of the Karen Pittman Fan Club. Welcome to our 0:04:40.279 --> 0:04:41.000 weekly meeting. 0:04:41.160 --> 0:04:46.479 I like how you did that? Thank you God you guys. 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:49.960 We're talking about the American incredible work they're doing, so 0:04:50.520 --> 0:04:52.200 I can't wait to jump in and talk about that 0:04:52.279 --> 0:04:54.360 and Claire and all of her work. 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:58.120 Likewise, so normally, what I love to do with folks, 0:04:59.080 --> 0:05:02.200 and in me, if you will on doing this together, 0:05:02.800 --> 0:05:05.520 is generally when I sit down with people, it's because 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:08.480 they are doing such incredible things in the world at present, 0:05:08.600 --> 0:05:12.200 as both of you women are. And I'm always really 0:05:12.320 --> 0:05:18.120 curious how these incredible humans became the incredible humans they 0:05:18.160 --> 0:05:23.159 are today. And I wonder if you each were able 0:05:23.200 --> 0:05:26.760 to meet your nine or ten year old self, if 0:05:26.760 --> 0:05:28.800 you would see the woman you are today in her 0:05:29.040 --> 0:05:34.360 What was that little girl into Karen? Was she a storyteller? Claire? 0:05:34.360 --> 0:05:37.880 Were you passionate about issues in the neighborhood? Like do 0:05:37.960 --> 0:05:42.719 you see the women you are today in the little 0:05:42.720 --> 0:05:43.599 girls you used to be? 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:47.760 Absolutely, if I had to tell you the kind of 0:05:47.800 --> 0:05:50.719 work I would wind up doing what I was nine, 0:05:50.880 --> 0:05:53.280 I would think I'd be doing this kind of stuff. 0:05:54.520 --> 0:05:56.880 And in fact, even the fact that I became a 0:05:57.000 --> 0:06:04.080 lawyer was something that I remember asking telling my dad 0:06:04.480 --> 0:06:06.200 when I grew up. I was around that age. I 0:06:06.200 --> 0:06:07.480 was a little bit older when I went to my 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:08.960 dad and said, when I grew up, I'm going to 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:11.520 be a lawyer, And he said, of course you will, 0:06:11.560 --> 0:06:14.880 little girl. You argue all the time. That way, I 0:06:14.960 --> 0:06:18.479 will pay you to do it. So, so imagine me 0:06:19.360 --> 0:06:25.960 as a blonde, frizzy haired ball of fire. That's what 0:06:26.000 --> 0:06:30.119 I was. I was. I was an activist. In fact, 0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:33.440 I think I sometimes created issues so that I can 0:06:33.480 --> 0:06:37.120 help resolve them because I was so bent on being 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:39.960 a part of these positive solutions. And then the final 0:06:40.000 --> 0:06:42.840 thing I'd say is in my family, which is unique 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:45.839 and huge, there were all kinds of talents in my 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:50.800 family that I did not have, so I. However, I 0:06:50.920 --> 0:06:54.720 was the best namer in our whole family. So I 0:06:54.760 --> 0:06:58.800 would name stuff for us. So as an example, if 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:01.560 I Big Crew played basketball, I would come up with 0:07:01.600 --> 0:07:04.480 the name for the basketball game. We're playing baseball, come 0:07:04.520 --> 0:07:07.160 up with the name for the baseball game. In retrospect, 0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:10.000 the names weren't great, but to me, I thought they 0:07:10.040 --> 0:07:16.320 were absolutely extraordinary. So the Babano Kids World Championship to 0:07:16.520 --> 0:07:25.040 end all championships southside versus north side baseball tournament. Bam, 0:07:25.320 --> 0:07:28.080 there you go. That was my that was my strength. 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:31.200 You were like, somebody get this kid, a screenprinting kid. 0:07:31.360 --> 0:07:34.720 She needs to make merch. She wants a bumper sticker, 0:07:34.800 --> 0:07:36.240 she wants a fridge magnet. 0:07:36.800 --> 0:07:40.960 Yeah, but the name was so long nobody could ever 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:45.200 remember the whole name, right, And so you know, I 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:48.760 don't know how effective I was, but I was very passionate. 0:07:49.120 --> 0:07:52.640 I was very I was so committed. I was committed. 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:56.520 I agree amazing, And Karen, what about for you? 0:07:56.520 --> 0:07:58.360 You know, I think my nine or ten year old 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:02.120 self black Claire, I was raised in the South. 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:06.760 Uh, she's Louisiana native. I'm Mississippi native. Am I right 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:07.200 about that? 0:08:07.240 --> 0:08:07.560 Claire? 0:08:07.920 --> 0:08:08.680 You got that right? 0:08:08.720 --> 0:08:11.200 We are greats. Girls raised in the South, you got 0:08:11.200 --> 0:08:12.960 that girls and girls raised this. 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:21.800 And uh, you know, my youngest self was like Claire 0:08:22.000 --> 0:08:24.120 in that there was this there's a great bit of 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:28.960 activism right in my in my raising and my growing up, 0:08:29.880 --> 0:08:34.000 the sense of you know, integrity, moral integrity, and what's 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:36.920 right and what's wrong. But my real way into it 0:08:37.000 --> 0:08:46.360 was through this really strong thread of empathy, you know, 0:08:46.440 --> 0:08:50.600 and really seeing myself and other people's struggles. So for 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:53.560 me it translated into being an actor, do you know, 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:54.440 Because it's actors. 0:08:54.440 --> 0:08:55.920 We must have this great. 0:08:56.760 --> 0:09:04.640 Uh well of empathy and sympathy for humanity and in human. 0:09:04.440 --> 0:09:06.400 Plight to put ourselves in there. 0:09:06.480 --> 0:09:08.480 But it also makes a lot of sense that I 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:13.880 would be involved with organizations like Feeding America, who you know, 0:09:13.960 --> 0:09:19.920 they walk the talk, they actually put action behind this 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:27.559 empathic this desire not just to embody empathy, but also 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:31.320 to do something positive in the world. I think my 0:09:31.400 --> 0:09:33.680 nine or ten year old self would be more impressed 0:09:33.679 --> 0:09:36.880 that I was sitting here with you and Claire and 0:09:37.360 --> 0:09:43.920 amplifying on my platform any supporting families and their their needs, 0:09:43.960 --> 0:09:49.480 and she would be that we had gotten some accolades 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:54.160 or acknowledgments because really, in my family, and I think 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:57.640 this is true for Claire's family, to helping people was 0:09:57.880 --> 0:10:00.480 really the way that you needed to be in in 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:03.160 the world. You need to be of service. So I 0:10:03.160 --> 0:10:04.920 think she'd be pretty freaking impressed. 0:10:05.480 --> 0:10:06.240 Actually love that. 0:10:06.760 --> 0:10:09.280 And may I quickly say something about what Karen was 0:10:09.280 --> 0:10:14.720 saying about Karen? Right, so she's talking about platforms. I am, 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:17.960 I'm impressed by this. I appreciate that you would use 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:22.680 sure platform, you'd share a platform with me right now, Karen, 0:10:23.200 --> 0:10:27.360 But we have volunteered together. You know how to pack 0:10:27.440 --> 0:10:31.680 some food. Girls, I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.800 hard work, willing to roll up the sleeves. And I've 0:10:34.800 --> 0:10:38.559 been around let's call it talent that maybe that's not 0:10:38.600 --> 0:10:42.680 their finest attribute, right, but the way you just jump 0:10:42.720 --> 0:10:46.200 in and and ask, so where can I help, and 0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:49.720 then just do it. I'm so, so so inspired and 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:50.520 impressed by that. 0:10:50.640 --> 0:10:53.520 Well, we started out the conversation, Sophia talking about common 0:10:53.559 --> 0:10:58.560 ground and where we can come together. And a part 0:10:58.600 --> 0:11:02.319 of my whole nition as an actor is to demonstrate 0:11:02.640 --> 0:11:08.400 authentically where we are all the same. This area of 0:11:08.440 --> 0:11:12.000 reaching out and supporting each other is important. I'm not 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:16.960 one of those actors that wants to just write a check. Although, listen, 0:11:17.000 --> 0:11:22.560 write a check to check. 0:11:22.440 --> 0:11:23.360 Please write a check. 0:11:23.520 --> 0:11:25.880 But I also think what's more important is for you 0:11:25.960 --> 0:11:28.880 to show up as possible. That we all can make 0:11:28.920 --> 0:11:33.080 a difference by just really showing up and volunteering our time, which, 0:11:33.080 --> 0:11:36.400 by the way, simply as valuable as writing a check, 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:37.400 maybe even more so. 0:11:37.679 --> 0:11:44.120 Depending upon the level of visibility you have in the world. 0:11:44.160 --> 0:11:46.240 So I try to use both of those things as 0:11:46.320 --> 0:11:49.480 service to the organizations that I think are are worthy 0:11:49.520 --> 0:11:51.880 and valuable, and that certainly Feeding America and what Claire 0:11:51.920 --> 0:11:52.480 is doing there. 0:11:53.000 --> 0:11:55.360 I love that. And you know, I have to say, 0:11:55.400 --> 0:11:58.720 I love what you pointed out that that your younger 0:11:58.760 --> 0:12:02.840 self would probably be the most excited about this. It's 0:12:02.880 --> 0:12:05.720 not necessarily the you know, the award show that gets televised. 0:12:05.720 --> 0:12:09.480 The awards are lovely, but you know, when that happens 0:12:09.480 --> 0:12:12.800 to you, that's that's for you. That's for your artistry. Yes, 0:12:12.880 --> 0:12:15.520 you carry your whole crew on stage and your writers 0:12:15.559 --> 0:12:18.760 on stage and all these folks. But I think what 0:12:18.880 --> 0:12:22.400 I've begun to learn in my communities of storytellers like 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:25.920 us is there are folks who love to be artists 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:29.480 because it is their greatest personal passion. And I think 0:12:29.520 --> 0:12:32.800 there's a yes there, and there's also a yes and 0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:35.040 because for me, what I like the best about it 0:12:35.080 --> 0:12:38.000 is the community. It is the gathering, It is the 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:40.480 people on the set. It is going to live in 0:12:40.600 --> 0:12:43.480 a new place I've never been. You know, y'all said 0:12:43.520 --> 0:12:45.080 you were Grits girls, and I was like, listen, I 0:12:45.120 --> 0:12:47.679 got lucky enough to work in North Carolina for ten years, 0:12:47.720 --> 0:12:49.360 so I may not have been born there, but same. 0:12:50.480 --> 0:12:52.360 It is still the food I miss the most when 0:12:52.360 --> 0:12:58.120 I'm on the West Coast. But the community aspect, I 0:12:58.160 --> 0:13:02.360 think when you're empathy to represent people's stories is partnered 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:05.559 with the love of the community around you. It's only 0:13:05.679 --> 0:13:10.960 natural that so many storytellers become activists advocates. I actually 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:15.120 think we've probably always been both. And as you were 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:19.520 saying earlier, Claire, the idea that someone would spend their 0:13:19.600 --> 0:13:24.720 time both volunteering and using their platform. I think in 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.720 whatever way anybody like me or Karen has a platform, 0:13:27.760 --> 0:13:30.319 it's a privilege and you get to spend it. And 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:33.720 so what I want to dive into with you both 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:37.040 is your partnership Karen, the way you use your platform 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:41.800 for this incredible organization that Claire runs. It's the holidays, 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:45.080 as you said, you know, yes, everybody, I'll echo the sentiment. 0:13:45.160 --> 0:13:48.560 Please write a check to Feeding America and both and 0:13:49.280 --> 0:13:54.040 volunteering your time assisting with meal packing, assisting with delivery. 0:13:53.840 --> 0:13:59.640 That can change success rates for organizations. So please know 0:13:59.800 --> 0:14:03.800 that at whatever tax bracket you fall under, your time 0:14:03.920 --> 0:14:08.160 truly is the most valuable. But I would love for 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:10.920 you guys to talk to us, tell us the story 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:14.160 you know with all the listeners at home, about how 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:17.640 you connected Karen, why Feeding America stood out to you 0:14:18.120 --> 0:14:21.840 and clear how the organization does what it does, and 0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:23.480 if you can give us any of the stats. Y'all 0:14:23.520 --> 0:14:25.760 know I love a little bit of data, So well, 0:14:26.360 --> 0:14:29.720 we'll let people know how big you're, how big and 0:14:30.120 --> 0:14:31.680 magnificent really your reaches. 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:35.760 Let me give some context then, for how big the 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:42.320 reaches Feeding America is. Where hunger is there is not 0:14:42.520 --> 0:14:45.320 one county or my last name is bab A, no 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:47.960 font no, so I will have to say Parish as 0:14:48.040 --> 0:14:51.440 well because of the great state of Louisiana, but no 0:14:51.840 --> 0:14:54.440 county in the whole United States, and what did it go, 0:14:54.600 --> 0:14:58.160 whether or not people experiencing hunger, so we are where 0:14:58.160 --> 0:15:02.280 they are. That means we have that kind of breath, 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:06.680 including Alaska. So to give you a sense of scale, 0:15:08.000 --> 0:15:15.360 last year our network provided right at six billion meals 0:15:16.360 --> 0:15:23.480 to nearly around fifty million people, and that's not the 0:15:23.520 --> 0:15:26.520 most we've ever done. At the peak of the pandemic. 0:15:27.760 --> 0:15:33.000 In twenty twenty fiscal we provided six point seven billion 0:15:33.080 --> 0:15:38.920 meals to nearly sixty million. Sixty million human beings in 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:42.920 the United States Food and Security Rates which the USDA 0:15:43.200 --> 0:15:45.560 measures food insecurity, and for a lot of people, they're like, 0:15:45.600 --> 0:15:49.840 what its food insecurity? It really is about whether or 0:15:49.840 --> 0:15:56.480 not you have confidence all throughout the year that you 0:15:56.640 --> 0:15:59.080 will be able to access the nutrition that you need 0:15:59.120 --> 0:16:02.680 for yourself in your family. And if you don't consistently 0:16:03.000 --> 0:16:06.280 have that confidence, then you are food insecure. And there 0:16:06.280 --> 0:16:08.960 are lots of people who are experiencing food insecurity who 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:12.480 don't even realize that they are a part of that number. 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:14.960 Of course, food insecurity is a spectrum, so there are 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:19.320 some people who experience food insecurity only incidentally are right 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:25.680 after a major issue happens, a significant medical challenge that 0:16:26.080 --> 0:16:28.880 causes a family to real and then they can't make 0:16:29.000 --> 0:16:31.560 ends meet. Are a lot of the people that turn 0:16:31.600 --> 0:16:35.600 to us are part of a generational pattern of food 0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:42.200 and security. So the Feeding American network includes hundreds of 0:16:42.240 --> 0:16:46.520 food banks all across the country, over sixty thousand agencies 0:16:47.240 --> 0:16:53.000 and meal programs, pantries from huge, highly sophisticated pantries to little, 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:58.200 small church basement pantries, from the biggest urban sectors to 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:02.280 the farthest reaches of America. As I said, we try 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:04.480 to be where hunger is and we wish that it 0:17:04.480 --> 0:17:06.560 we're not as ubiquitous as it is, but that means 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:07.440 we have to be too. 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:11.119 We'll be back in just a minute. But here's a 0:17:11.119 --> 0:17:18.400 word from our sponsors. When you talk about, you know, 0:17:18.440 --> 0:17:21.720 how folks who don't have experience with food and security 0:17:21.840 --> 0:17:26.040 can wrap their heads around it, there's that stat which 0:17:26.119 --> 0:17:28.440 you know may have changed over the years, but when 0:17:28.880 --> 0:17:32.439 we were first pushing to get the ACA passed so 0:17:32.480 --> 0:17:35.160 that folks would have access to healthcare, I will never 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:39.399 forget it burned into my brain that there is a 0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:43.600 huge percentage of Americans that are just one four hundred 0:17:43.640 --> 0:17:49.760 dollars unexpected medical bill away from bankruptcy. Absolutely and to 0:17:49.920 --> 0:17:55.240 realize that a surprise four hundred dollars could I mean, 0:17:55.280 --> 0:17:58.800 it could torpedo your whole life. I think you also 0:17:58.880 --> 0:18:03.360 realize how close to being food and secure so many 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:07.880 folks are, because I mean, hats off to you, my god, 0:18:08.000 --> 0:18:11.680 six billion meals. Six billion is a hard number to comprehend, 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:15.159 but everybody knows what four hundred dollars means. And so 0:18:15.960 --> 0:18:20.080 I think when when we can start to consider that 0:18:20.320 --> 0:18:23.800 we could be walking through our day, walking through our office, 0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:26.400 walking through our neighborhood and have no idea how many 0:18:26.440 --> 0:18:30.160 people we pass on the street not hello to see, 0:18:30.320 --> 0:18:33.120 you know, walking into or out of a coffee shop, 0:18:33.200 --> 0:18:35.159 or standing on the corner waiting across the street. We 0:18:35.240 --> 0:18:38.040 have no idea how many of those people are scared 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:40.200 that they don't know where dinner is going to come from. 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:45.680 And it's why I'm so immensely grateful for the work 0:18:45.720 --> 0:18:49.840 that you do. And you know, even to know that 0:18:50.160 --> 0:18:53.119 there's two hundred food banks and the Feeding America Network. 0:18:52.800 --> 0:18:56.800 Actually over two hundred food banks in locating America Network 0:18:57.000 --> 0:19:01.000 and over sixty thousand agency partner and meal programs all 0:19:01.000 --> 0:19:03.600 across the country. But the point that you made before 0:19:03.640 --> 0:19:06.760 and Karen brought it up before as well. She's talking 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:12.240 about empathy and when when I had conversations having when 0:19:12.280 --> 0:19:15.920 I first joined Feeding America, there was somebody on the 0:19:15.920 --> 0:19:19.399 Feeding American National Office team who made a statement and 0:19:19.520 --> 0:19:22.080 they were just saying it very casually, but it burned 0:19:22.080 --> 0:19:26.360 in me, you know, which was well, you understand, empathy 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:30.760 is the acting emotion. And I'm like, what you know, 0:19:31.000 --> 0:19:36.680 sympathy people people go awe. But when people can see 0:19:36.720 --> 0:19:40.240 themselves in a situation, they're far more likely to try 0:19:40.280 --> 0:19:42.600 to do something about it. So I'm glad that you 0:19:42.680 --> 0:19:47.359 spoke to that particular thing, and I'll share as an example. 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:54.920 During COVID we saw the the largest public support we've 0:19:55.080 --> 0:19:59.280 ever seen in our history during COVID Wow. And we 0:19:59.480 --> 0:20:04.840 believe that was true for two reasons. One people, because 0:20:04.880 --> 0:20:07.080 we were trapped at home for a lot of that time, 0:20:07.600 --> 0:20:11.119 we saw those long lines of cards and went, oh, wait, really, 0:20:11.480 --> 0:20:14.399 because we didn't even conceive that that was happening in 0:20:14.400 --> 0:20:17.080 the United States. But the other thing is there's a 0:20:17.160 --> 0:20:20.399 shame that comes along with the status of being food 0:20:20.400 --> 0:20:24.920 and security insure are being living in poverty in this country, 0:20:25.400 --> 0:20:28.960 and those who do not live in poverty often look 0:20:28.960 --> 0:20:31.399 at those who do and say, well, you know it's 0:20:31.400 --> 0:20:34.040 because you did something wrong. Now, if you were like me, 0:20:34.960 --> 0:20:38.800 you would have put your money away, you would have etcetera, etcetera, etc. 0:20:39.560 --> 0:20:42.680 During COVID, I think people saw and start belief. They're like, wait, 0:20:43.840 --> 0:20:46.639 what would we do if I worked at a hotel, 0:20:48.200 --> 0:20:52.520 I met my partner at the same hotel, and then 0:20:52.720 --> 0:20:56.560 the hotel shut down. Yes, and that's where we got 0:20:56.600 --> 0:20:59.200 to income from. That happens every day in the lives 0:20:59.200 --> 0:21:04.240 of people sitting. They suddenly lose access to income. Sometimes 0:21:04.480 --> 0:21:08.560 a two income family gets reduced to one. Sometimes a 0:21:08.600 --> 0:21:14.480 two income family gets reduced to zero. So making sure 0:21:14.560 --> 0:21:18.320 that we're contemplating, as you already said, that statistic hasn't 0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:22.399 gotten any better. I think it's the US Bureau of 0:21:22.440 --> 0:21:28.160 Labor Statistics that publishes that we are one financial crisis 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:32.560 as a country away from being in one of those lines. 0:21:33.320 --> 0:21:37.640 And so many people who have volunteered in the lines. 0:21:39.000 --> 0:21:42.280 During COVID, especially, I'd be out, I was traveling across 0:21:42.320 --> 0:21:45.720 the country, and I would meet people and they were 0:21:45.760 --> 0:21:49.560 so sad, as they would say, you know, I used 0:21:49.600 --> 0:21:53.320 to volunteer here. I never imagine I be the person 0:21:53.920 --> 0:21:56.080 who needed food. But I can tell you this, I'm 0:21:56.080 --> 0:21:58.080 going to get back on my community, and when I do, 0:21:58.920 --> 0:22:01.000 I'm going to return to the other side of this line. 0:22:01.040 --> 0:22:03.920 I'm going to make sure I'm about positive change. And 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:09.280 my hope and my belief is that all of those people 0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:12.240 who experienced it in that way and when they rejoin 0:22:12.320 --> 0:22:16.760 that other line, and hopefully they all have, they do 0:22:16.840 --> 0:22:20.399 so with more empathy than they did when they were 0:22:20.440 --> 0:22:21.160 serving that line. 0:22:21.720 --> 0:22:27.639 Mmm, that's beautiful, Karen. What was it? What was it 0:22:27.680 --> 0:22:32.440 about the mission of Feeding America that activated that that 0:22:32.520 --> 0:22:34.800 action sends in you, that empathy in you. How did 0:22:34.800 --> 0:22:36.399 you pick this cause? 0:22:36.800 --> 0:22:41.240 Well, that was one of those trucks about Claire. So 0:22:41.280 --> 0:22:43.119 important that you brought this setups going to bring this 0:22:43.200 --> 0:22:46.040 up talking about the stigma that goes along with being 0:22:46.320 --> 0:22:51.600 in a family who is food and secure. The majority 0:22:51.720 --> 0:22:55.840 of African American homes are single parent homes in this country. 0:22:55.880 --> 0:22:58.400 That is, if it's a single parent home, it's run 0:22:58.440 --> 0:23:00.440 by someone who looks like me in one and right. 0:23:00.560 --> 0:23:05.560 And so I was one of those women in two 0:23:05.600 --> 0:23:11.000 thousand and twelve, twenty thirteen that was dealing with food 0:23:11.000 --> 0:23:18.520 and security. I wasn't not all the time, but intermittently 0:23:19.160 --> 0:23:22.359 enough where I was concerned about being able to feed 0:23:22.440 --> 0:23:26.040 myself and my children. And I came upon one of 0:23:26.080 --> 0:23:29.240 Feeding America's partners in Brooklyn, New York, where I lived 0:23:29.359 --> 0:23:33.800 in Fort Grade, and the shame that I had as 0:23:33.840 --> 0:23:37.919 a graduate of Northwestern University and NYU Graduate program, I 0:23:37.960 --> 0:23:40.880 shouldn't be in a position where I was food and secure, 0:23:40.960 --> 0:23:43.560 and yet I was because I had come upon one 0:23:43.600 --> 0:23:47.680 of those situations that Claire talks about where I had 0:23:47.800 --> 0:23:54.040 stepped into financially into a precarious position right, and I 0:23:54.119 --> 0:24:00.240 needed some support, and the organization was there for me 0:24:00.440 --> 0:24:03.200 through a church that I would go to in Fort Green. 0:24:04.760 --> 0:24:09.879 I walked past it and one day and I thought, 0:24:11.280 --> 0:24:14.879 what is that like? I don't you know, I was 0:24:14.920 --> 0:24:17.280 thinking about it, and I saw that there was fresh 0:24:17.280 --> 0:24:21.280 fruit and vegetables as opposed to canned or you know, 0:24:21.400 --> 0:24:24.600 powdered or whatever. And I thought, you know, I actually 0:24:24.600 --> 0:24:27.080 need to get over myself and get in that line. 0:24:27.440 --> 0:24:31.760 And it was it was truly difficult, staggering not to 0:24:31.800 --> 0:24:34.600 feel like I maybe I should call my mom, or 0:24:34.600 --> 0:24:37.520 maybe I should call my friends or my sister borrow 0:24:37.600 --> 0:24:39.520 some money but the truth of the matter was that 0:24:39.560 --> 0:24:41.399 I had to figure it out for myself, and I 0:24:41.440 --> 0:24:45.520 had such shame around it, much shame around this experience. 0:24:47.440 --> 0:24:52.080 So obviously, fast forward to ten twelve years later, and 0:24:52.359 --> 0:24:56.800 I have the opportunity through one of the outreach programs 0:24:56.840 --> 0:25:02.760 to volunteer and to talk with uh not just the 0:25:02.840 --> 0:25:04.880 folks of being in America, but also at City Harvest 0:25:04.920 --> 0:25:07.800 in New York and be a part of the program. 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:11.320 I felt like it was important not just to use 0:25:11.359 --> 0:25:16.800 my platform or just to you know, be a part 0:25:16.840 --> 0:25:20.080 of the organization, the volunteer organization, but to tell my 0:25:20.160 --> 0:25:22.639 story because I think people might look at me and 0:25:22.680 --> 0:25:26.639 the characters that I portray, these strong women and you know, 0:25:28.160 --> 0:25:31.240 who are out in the world and self actualizing and 0:25:31.280 --> 0:25:34.200 realizing and ambitious and et cetera, et cetera, But in fact, 0:25:34.240 --> 0:25:36.480