The voices we need at the table

By Naomi Lin & Brandon McKinley

As a child, Jessica spent long summer days playing under a mesquite tree. In the shade of its branches, she used to listen to the older women in her tight knit farming community talk about various food remedies and recipes while they made tortillas.  

That’s when she first learned how important food was to our lives.  

Now as a senior who lives far below the poverty line, Jessica says it’s a constant struggle to eat healthy.  

“Sadly, now many people are ill due to lack of nutritious and healthy foods,” she said. “Food grown solely for profit and commercial gain is not in the best interest of people’s health.”  

Jessica is among twelve storytellers that joined Metro Caring’s inaugural Voices at the Table program, an evolution of our former spokesperson certification program. We invited community members to develop their leadership skills and lived experience with food insecurity into a powerful narrative to change unjust systems. 

Throughout the fall, this group of passionate changemakers met weekly. Together, we explored how food insecurity isn’t simply a matter of scarcity. It’s a result of systemic issues—issues deeply tied to policy, access, and power. 

At the heart of this program lies a critical issue: the urgent need to address hunger and fight for food sovereignty, where everyone has the right to food. This isn’t just about making sure people have enough to eat—it’s about transforming the systems that perpetuate hunger and inequity. And, importantly, this movement needs to involve and be led by people with lived experience, who are most impacted by the policies and decisions made around issues like SNAP benefits and grocery store closures.  

Twelve participants learned community organizing tactics, how to practice self-care and mental wellness in this work, how the state legislative process works, how to testify on legislation, and about the root causes of hunger. We even had the opportunity to tour the people’s house—the State Capitol—with State Representative Javier Mabrey and State Legislative Aide Isabella Martinez to witness firsthand how change happens in the halls of power. 

In December, Voices at the Table gathered for a night of celebration and, of course, a shared meal. Each participant shared their story to invited guests and Metro Caring staff and volunteers, using their experiences to bring attention to the issues they care most about and to inspire others to take action.  

We’re proud to celebrate this inaugural cohort of storytellers, organizers, and community leaders: 

• Areli Garcia 
• Cassandria Faircloth-Carmouche 
• Cinthya Garcia 
• Elaine Pratt 
• Genoveva ‘Eva’ Rodriguez 
• Jessica Marsteller 
• Karina Sida 
• Keila Rodriguez 
• Kourtney Perales 
• Leticia ‘Lety’ Enriquez 
• Luz Macias 
• Reyna Gallegos 

These storytellers will continue to help Metro Caring determine policy and advocacy priorities and organize people in their own neighborhoods and communities to join our movement. Lawmakers will hear their stories at the State Capitol this legislative session as they testify on why certain policies would improve the lives of all Coloradans.   

“It was an enriching experience,” Karina said in Spanish. “All the topics that were discussed were very interesting. I felt very confident to share my story.”  

For Jessica, she learned how important it was to come together on these issues.  

“I learned I’m not alone,” Jessica said.  

Special thanks to Charlie Kestler from the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, Bre Holligan and Holly Capello from Commún, Isabella Martinez from Rep. Velasco’s office, and Rep. Javier Mabrey for your thoughtful collaboration.