Just Because It Feels Good Doesn’t Mean It Works:

Discussing Toxic Charity Models, with McKenzie Jackson.

Image credit: Access of West Michigan

In this episode, we chat with McKenzie Jackson, Program Manager for the Good Food Systems Initiative at Access of West Michigan, a poverty-focused nonprofit based in Grand Rapids, MI. She teaches us about toxic charity models, the difference between perceived and actual need, and how social good projects that feel good aren’t necessarily the ones that have the most impact.

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In the United States, we are currently facing a crisis trifecta: economic, racial, and pandemic. Systemic, root cause issues have been brought into a sharper light. Living in an emergency response is not sustainable. We need to “phase out the band-aid era, and shift [away] from toxic charity” to become proactive change makers in creating sustainable and inclusive community health. “We need to look beyond the hungry and starving and ask the ‘why?’”

McKenzie Jackson

Program Manager, Good Food Systems, Access of West Michigan

McKenzie has been with Access since 2017 and works with Access’ Good Food Systems initiative. She finds energy in collaborating with the many different community partners/community members who are a part of her work. She also enjoys the personal growth she continues to experience while working at Access. She is very passionate about working towards interrupting the systems where she can. She wants to be an advocate, change agent, and leader in addressing the inequities in our systems and coming up with long term solutions. She is committed to doing this work so upcoming generations can see and experience examples of equity and justice for all. Image credit: Access of West Michigan

Access of West Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Access began in 1981 as a faith-based organization to bring congregations in Kent County together to address basic human needs. In 1990, they were asked to organize and coordinate the food pantry network in Kent County. In the 1990s, they began facilitating poverty simulation workshops to help our community understand the complex issues of poverty. Their three main focuses remain but have evolved in many ways over the years.

Today, the values that Access upholds throughout our three main initiatives include community development, food justice, economic development, and equity. Their work ranges from housing collaborative food systems programs including a food prescription program and a farm to pantry program, to facilitating workshops that simulate an experience in poverty and employing individuals with barriers to work, to assisting congregations in developing best practices in engaging issues of poverty in their neighborhoods. Throughout their programs, Access’ vision is to cultivate a community rooted in equitable systems.

Image credit: Access of West Michigan

Further reading

• Learn from Access of West Michigan about what happens when crisis mode becomes the norm.
• Bloomberg reports on how food inequality in the US deepens during the pandemic.
• Feeding America discusses how the root causes of food insecurity in the US are disparities and discrimination.
• Johns Hopkins research shows that food deserts are more pronounced in minority neighborhoods.

Episode Transcript

[coming soon]