Community Leading Change

Our Community Engagement team are dedicated to understanding and uplifting community voices. We connect with neighbors where they live, work, play or worship. We also engage organizations anchored in neighborhoods by working together to foster connections, listen to feedback, and develop solutions side-by-side. What our team members learn along the way is used to improve how decisions are made for programs, services, and resources and to share our understanding to make impactful change.

MEET OUR NEIGHBORS

Our neighbors are leading the way to change. Our neighbors connect us on the neighborhood level so that we can learn and improve our services. By listening to neighbors we can ensure that the services provided by the Houston Food Bank are culturally relevant, accessible, and directly based on neighbor need. Our focus is on collaboration – external and internal – to ensure community members, aid providers, and other partners work together to meet community need.

Stephanie

“At first I did not understand some of the program terms but now I am able to speak like I usually do and feel part of the group.”

Victor

“I care for my grandbabies. It’s just me. So I try and do the best I can and knowing I can help with more programs for grandparents like me is nice.”

Linda

“I want to enact change now. I want to enact change locally. I want to know how I can be a part of the change.”

Julie

“Since we’ve started these meetings, I’ve learned that not only have we received from you all, we have received from each other. That plays a part when you are serving . We are all serving people and caring, and that means a lot when you help someone. Even though people need food, they need a word [of kindness] more than anything.”

CONNECTING & SUPPORTING CULTURES

In connecting with neighbors we serve and gaining their input, we aim to improve our services and programs that amplify the ability to provide service with dignity, reduce barriers, and build trust. We share our learnings in hopes that you will join us on this journey of building cultural awareness, knowledge and sensitivity.

From Voices to Action Summary: Joint Committee Report.

Impact Report

A guide providing cultural awareness and sensitivity about specific culture groups.

Food & Culture Guide

The Houston Food Bank in partnership with UTHealth Houston School of Public Health has mapped their sites throughout Harris County, TX. The map explores foreign born populations’ primary country of origin.

Interactive Map

How does the Community Engagement team impact change?

Within Neighborhoods

Rather than one-way relationships, we now prioritize a series of community conversations to better understand positive traits of neighborhoods, opportunities for improvement, and what neighbors are truly seeking. Houston Food Bank then consolidates the first round of conversations, examines resources and relationships, and follows up with neighbors to find the best options and route for implementation, as well as gain support.

Reaching neighbors is done in partnership with community-based organizations, multi-service centers, faith-based organizations, office staff of elected officials, and existing Houston Food Bank partners.

Neighbors meeting with Houston Food Bank Community Engagement team to talk about changes.

Within Houston Food Bank

Houston Food Bank embarked on a mission to disrupt the way in which day-to-day business decisions are made. We are expanding seats at internal decision-making tables to include neighbors, organizational leaders, and Houston Food Bank team members.

Aligning with other organizations

In addition to direct neighbor engagement, the Community Engagement team also participates in established coalitions and workgroups to build upon Houston Food Bank’s collaborative presence with the community.

Thematically, existing coalitions and workgroups have a lens on health, civic engagement, maternal health, and food insecurity but envision bridging beyond these areas to help cultivate new ways of partnering and leveraging resources in a mindful and strategic way.

Community Voice: Making a Difference

Our neighbors’ voices are driving the changes that are making a difference in their communities and at Houston Food Bank. Through sharing neighbor experiences Houston Food Bank learns how we can enact improvements through our programs that will help better the lives of the people around us.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM

Meet the people who are helping to lead the change.

Here is your Community Engagement Team. We are meeting with neighbors and communities to listen and learn about the most beloved traits of each area and also where there are opportunities. What happens next is up to the community members as we join alongside to help co-create ideas and plans to help move things along for long-term change.

Toral Shah, Director of Community Engagement

Toral
Director of Community Engagement

“I firmly believe that true growth and progress emerge by pushing beyond perceived limits and embarking fearlessly on a collective journey of possibilities – a journey that I am honored to be part of alongside community.”

Bruce
Community Engagement Supervisor

“I believe community engagement works best when people feel seen, supported and invited to shape solutions together, building strategic partnerships and meaningful engagement that is measurable leading to lasting impact.”

Claudia
Community Engagement Coordinator

“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to dive deeper into the mosaic of Houston communities–to see & learn about our collective strengths & beauty from different points of view; and to gather & elevate the insights from lived experiences of neighbors that can steer us towards lasting transformations. It’s a privilege to be a part of making Houston the best it can be for everyone who calls it home.”

Pam
Community Engagement Liaison

“I see strengthening communities by listening first to build trust and connection across diverse stakeholders, turning local voices into actionable insights that inform meaningful long-term solutions developed collaboratively with those most impacted.”