Hunger in Oklahoma: Facts, Damages & Solutions

It's a MitchellTalks Special: Hunger In Oklahoma.

When the Stitt Administration declined a new federal summer food program designed to feed 400,000 Oklahoma children, the conversation regarding food insecurity became heated. With Oklahoma's poor health ranking (46th) and equally deficient hunger status (the fifth hungriest state in the nation according to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma) as a backdrop, we've brought together five of Oklahoma's top experts in related fields to discuss the ongoing damage to children and families and what policy-makers need to be doing to solve this dilemma.

Host Scott Mitchell is joined by Jeff Dismukes, the Executive Director of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma, Joe Dorman with the Oklahoma Institute Child Advocacy, Chris Bernard of Hunger Free Oklahoma, and Sheamekah Williams with the Evolution Foundation.

In this discussion, the group talks about how organizations work with partners to address child food insecurity by leveraging federal nutrition programs. The panel also addresses how food insecurity directly impacts Oklahoma children and families.

For more information about each of these organizations, follow the links below.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma - A program that began in the 1980s, DBSA works to provide peer support for people living with mental health disorders.

Oklahoma Institute Child Advocacy - OICA was launched in 1983 by a group of citizens who were concerned about horrific stories of abuse experienced by Oklahoma children who were in the state’s custody.

Hunger Free Oklahoma - This organization works to advocate for and develop food insecurity solutions. "...with a goal to ensure all Oklahomans have access to affordable, nutritious food."

Evolution Foundation - The foundation provides "resources, support, and technical assistance to families, community coalitions, and children behavioral health service providers in the state of Oklahoma."

Oasis Fresh Market - Aaron “AJ” Johnson Founder/CEO of Oasis Fresh Market, the first full-service grocery store in 14 years in North Tulsa’s predominantly Black neighborhood.