Faith Communities Are the Frontlines in Fighting Hunger
Originally published by Zócalo Public Square, this essay explores how faith communities help address food insecurity through compassion and community support.
St. Joseph Center President and CEO Dr. Ryan J. Smith recently contributed an essay to Zócalo Public Square exploring the role faith communities play in addressing hunger.
Drawing from his own experience with homelessness and food insecurity, Dr. Smith reflects on how local congregations become trusted sources of stability, compassion, and practical support for families experiencing hardship. Through both personal reflection and broader perspective, he highlights the unique role faith communities play in responding to hunger with dignity, trust, and care.
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Dr. Ryan J. Smith Advocates for Radical Care with Dignity as Frederick Douglass Lecturer
St. Joseph Center President and CEO Dr. Ryan J. Smith recently joined the prestigious Frederick Douglass Human Rights Lecture series at the University of La Verne to discuss a roadmap for housing justice.
During the keynote, Dr. Smith explored the harsh realities of homelessness and shared his own personal journey. He reminded the audience that meeting this crisis head-on is not just about policy, but also about approach: “It’s not just what you do, but it’s how you do it. We believe in the power of radical care.”
Read More:
https://laverne.edu/news/2026/02/20/human-rights-lecture-explores-harsh-realities-of-homelessness/
Watch Full Presentation:
https://youtu.be/K7Qm8_dkQxU?si=vgfYvosLfxaiiwOZ
