The Community Engagement Team attended a kickoff event at the Food Bank on May 6, 2026.

This spring, the Food Bank launched the second cohort of our Community Engagement Team (CET), a program designed to strengthen engagement with people who have experienced food insecurity and ensure their perspectives help inform our work. 

The eight-month compensated experience brings together community members from across Western Massachusetts to develop leadership and advocacy skills while providing direct feedback on Food Bank programs, services, and priorities. Participants will learn about various areas of the Food Bank’s work, including food distribution, nutrition education, advocacy, and community partnerships. In turn, they will offer insight into the challenges, opportunities, and realities facing households experiencing food insecurity across the region. 

A key part of the experience is leadership development. CET members will participate in a four-part Public Narrative Workshop led by Alexandra Mellos, a member of the 2025 CET cohort who now serves as a peer mentor. Through the workshop, participants will develop skills in storytelling, communication, and advocacy, helping them share their values and experiences with confidence, and advocate for issues that matter to them and their communities. 

The second cohort incorporates several lessons learned from the program’s inaugural year. “We learned that people wanted both a clearer framework and deeper connection with one another,” said Community Engagement Coordinator Mark Olivares. The Food Bank has introduced a more structured recruitment and selection process, a hybrid meeting model that includes both virtual and in-person gatherings, and clearly defined goals and activities.  

For the Food Bank, CET is an important source of community insight and accountability. Participants help identify emerging needs and provide valuable perspectives that data alone cannot capture. By intentionally creating space for people with lived experience to inform our work, we strengthen our commitment to community-driven solutions.