The legacy of economic injustice and the burden of hunger fall heavily on rural communities.
Rural communities experience alarming rates of food insecurity as policies fail to address the
agricultural, economic, and financial needs of Americans living in hard-to-reach areas—denying
farmers land and capital, and denying families food and resources. In this conversation, we will
explore parallels between the past and today’s current struggle for food and economic justice,
and dive into how community organizing, policy, advocacy and cross-sector collaboration play a
pivotal role in addressing the root causes of rural hunger and food insecurity.

Meet Our Panel

Beth Brewster, Supervisor of Food Services, Caroline County MD

Dwayne Patterson, Chief Equity Officer, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Matthew and Tia Raiford, Co-Founders, Strong Roots 9

Kashi Seghal, CEO and Founder of Retaaza – Kashi is Founder & CEO of Retaaza

Sarah Steely, Director, No Kid Hungry Virginia (moderator)