What actions would you take as a state legislator to protect and strengthen Washington’s food security safety net, including both public nutrition programs and the food banks and food pantries serving communities across the state?

This is critical work. We need to make applying for benefits easy and accessible to get people connected. Make sure our kids have access to food all year, not simply during the school year. Build the public infrastructure within our communities and scale and replicate programs that are working. Ensure strong rainy day funds and general fund reserves to close necessary gaps (depleted in recent sessions), appropriate funding to critical community support organizations and networks which keep our communities afloat.

What have you done to understand food insecurity in the communities you seek to represent—including engaging with people experiencing hunger or local hunger-relief organizations—and what policies would you prioritize to address the root causes of hunger and ensure Washington residents can afford and access the food they need?

I’ve been on the board of a young adult shelter for many years and see the critical role our evening and morning meal programs serve. I’ve stepped in to support food drives as SNAP funding was jeopardized last year and partnered with the West Seattle food bank to deliver collections. Our schools have also had many community initiatives whether through groups like the Food Bank or St Vincent de Paul’s, involving our children as well to understand the importance of service and taking care of each other. Ensuring access to this critical resource would be foundational in my work as a Legislator. And utilizing my operations and systems background to help scale systems is a personal passion of mine.

What policies or investments would you support to strengthen Washington’s food system, increase access to locally produced food, support Washington farmers and producers, and reduce food waste?

I love our schools sourcing local food and making fresh real food for our children. If we have abundance locally, there is no reason people should go without. We simply must help bridge the gap and make the connections. At the young adult shelter, we always look to minimize waste and get food into the hands of the people that need it. I also worked for a startup focused on food waste reduction so this is a space I’m deeply passionate about.