Food insecurity is widely considered a national crisis in the United States, with the latest numbers from the USDA suggesting that more than 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, live in food-insecure households.
Food insecurity is linked to chronic diseases, mental health issues, and poor childhood development and academic performance—and communities of color are among the hardest hit.
As founder and executive director of A Red Circle, a nonprofit based in North St. Louis County, I work with the organization to address racial and economic disparities in historically underserved communities, with a mission centered on food access, education, community wellness, and the arts.
With SNAP cuts looming and grocery prices surging, I am advocating for community-centric policies that address the nation’s food insecurity crisis at the local level.
The House-passed Republican reconciliation plan would cut nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through 2034, based on Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates — by far the largest cut to SNAP in history.
The bill, which is now being debated by the U.S. Senate, reduces the federal contribution to states’ SNAP programs, cutting federal funding for food benefits in a state by as much as 25%, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
It would cut the federal share of states’ administrative costs in half, and shift those costs to state budgets.
“When a state doesn’t have sufficient revenues to backfill for these large federal cuts totaling billions nationally, it will have to shift funds from other vital public services, choose how to cut SNAP benefits and restrict the number of people getting help, or opt out of having a SNAP program entirely,” the CBPP said in a release.
Access to fresh, healthy food is not a privilege—it’s a right. When national systems fall short, local communities must lead.
Red Circle has implemented impactful policies in Ferguson, Missouri, that can be adapted for other local communities around the country, including:
Good Food Fridays – Weekly produce distribution with nutrition education, bridging gaps left by SNAP cuts and school meal rollbacks.
People’s Harvest – A Black-led grocery and food production kitchen in development, designed to bring affordable produce to food deserts while supporting Black food entrepreneurs.
Red Circle Farmhouse – A food justice hub, teaching farm, and agritourism site offering workshops, youth internships, and farm-to-table education.
I was a recent co-author of “Food Pricing and Consumer Choice: Recommendations for Improving Affordability for Fresh Produce in Missouri,” a peer-reviewed policy brief published in April in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.
It details these five food policy recommendations:
1. Expand Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) for SNAP – Allow more low-income families to qualify, easing administrative burden and reducing churn.
2. Fund and expand Double Up Food Bucks – Match every SNAP dollar spent on produce, driving access and demand.
3. Provide grants for local food infrastructure – Support urban farms, cold storage, and cooperative grocery facilities.
4. Support nutrition education – Teach cooking and healthy shopping through community-based programs.
5. Ensure fair compensation for farmers – Create equity-based pricing to help small and minority farmers thrive.
It’s not just about the food—the physical food—that people are able to enjoy for their bodies, but it’s about knowing that they belong in that type of environment. One thing we try to stress is that everyone belongs in the good food system. Everyone belongs.
Erica R. Williams is the founder and executive director of A Red Circle, a nonprofit
that works for community betterment in North St. Louis County. Williams holds a BA in Paralegal Studies and an MBA, both from Maryville University.
