By Naomi Lin & Brandon McKinley

As a child, Jessica spent long summer days playing under a mesquite tree. In the shade of its branches, she used to listen to the older women in her tight knit farming community talk about various food remedies and recipes while they made tortillas.  

That’s when she first learned how important food was to our lives.  

Now as a senior who lives far below the poverty line, Jessica says it’s a constant struggle to eat healthy.  

“Sadly, now many people are ill due to lack of nutritious and healthy foods,” she said. “Food grown solely for profit and commercial gain is not in the best interest of people’s health.”  

Jessica is among twelve storytellers that joined Metro Caring’s inaugural Voices at the Table program, an evolution of our former spokesperson certification program. We invited community members to develop their leadership skills and lived experience with food insecurity into a powerful narrative to change unjust systems. 

Throughout the fall, this group of passionate changemakers met weekly. Together, we explored how food insecurity isn’t simply a matter of scarcity. It’s a result of systemic issues—issues deeply tied to policy, access, and power. 

At the heart of this program lies a critical issue: the urgent need to address hunger and fight for food sovereignty, where everyone has the right to food. This isn’t just about making sure people have enough to eat—it’s about transforming the systems that perpetuate hunger and inequity. And, importantly, this movement needs to involve and be led by people with lived experience, who are most impacted by the policies and decisions made around issues like SNAP benefits and grocery store closures.  

Twelve participants learned community organizing tactics, how to practice self-care and mental wellness in this work, how the state legislative process works, how to testify on legislation, and about the root causes of hunger. We even had the opportunity to tour the people’s house—the State Capitol—with State Representative Javier Mabrey and State Legislative Aide Isabella Martinez to witness firsthand how change happens in the halls of power. 

In December, Voices at the Table gathered for a night of celebration and, of course, a shared meal. Each participant shared their story to invited guests and Metro Caring staff and volunteers, using their experiences to bring attention to the issues they care most about and to inspire others to take action.  

We’re proud to celebrate this inaugural cohort of storytellers, organizers, and community leaders: 

• Areli Garcia 
• Cassandria Faircloth-Carmouche 
• Cinthya Garcia 
• Elaine Pratt 
• Genoveva ‘Eva’ Rodriguez 
• Jessica Marsteller 
• Karina Sida 
• Keila Rodriguez 
• Kourtney Perales 
• Leticia ‘Lety’ Enriquez 
• Luz Macias 
• Reyna Gallegos 

These storytellers will continue to help Metro Caring determine policy and advocacy priorities and organize people in their own neighborhoods and communities to join our movement. Lawmakers will hear their stories at the State Capitol this legislative session as they testify on why certain policies would improve the lives of all Coloradans.   

“It was an enriching experience,” Karina said in Spanish. “All the topics that were discussed were very interesting. I felt very confident to share my story.”  

For Jessica, she learned how important it was to come together on these issues.  

“I learned I’m not alone,” Jessica said.  

Special thanks to Charlie Kestler from the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, Bre Holligan and Holly Capello from Commún, Isabella Martinez from Rep. Velasco’s office, and Rep. Javier Mabrey for your thoughtful collaboration.  

By Brandon McKinley

Eric remembers being rushed to the hospital in the summer of 2008.  

As the doctors and nurses began diagnosing the problem, Eric thought they seemed to be taking a lot of blood.  

A doctor finally asked him, “Mr. Morris, when was the last time you took your insulin?” 

He had never taken insulin.  

That’s when Eric found out he had type 2 diabetes, a disease he hadn’t ever thought he was at risk for. Over the past 16 years, he’s faced numerous challenges, trying to balance an ever-changing blood sugar to stay healthy while affording insulin among other bills.   

“Living with this disease is not easy,” he said. “Even when you have all the medication you need, even when you’re a healthy weight, even when you follow all the guidance, it’s still a crab shoot. I wish I had never gotten it.”  

That’s why he is so passionate about the proposed Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act becoming Colorado state law. The bill would require private insurance companies in Colorado to cover pre-diabetes and obesity treatment, education and prevention programs, medical nutrition services, certain surgeries, and anti-obesity medications.  

Advocating for a healthier future 

Eric knows this bill is unlikely to offer him any direct benefits, but he wants future generations to have the resources they need to avoid getting diabetes.  

He joined two other community leaders, Jocelyn Miller and Roberta Molock, to testify in support of the bill to the Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee.  

Jocelyn and Roberta both live with diabetes and are leaders of Metro Caring’s Diabetes Among Friends classes to help people eat well, monitor blood glucose, be active, and manage stress. 

When Roberta was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the doctors told her that her diabetes is genetic.

“This was one of the scariest parts of it because I have three kids and five grandkids,” she said to the Senators during testimony.  

She supports the bill because she wants her children to be able to get quality care if they are ever diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Guaranteeing that all insurance companies cover pre-diabetes care would make for a significantly less financial burden on families.  

“I really believe that we need this,” Roberta said. “This could help us from being sick. If we could keep our lives healthier, we would work more, play more, pray more, sing more, and laugh more. I want to play, sing, pray, and laugh more with my kids and grandchildren.” 

Jocelyn has been an advocate and mentor for teens living with diabetes for 49 years, ever since she was diagnosed with type 1.  

“This disease affects all races, demographics and generations,” Jocelyn said. “An early diagnosis can be helpful only if an individual is given the tools to manage their new condition.” 

Metro Caring’s Community Organizing and Nutrition teams helped prepare and practice with Eric, Jocelyn, and Roberta for their testimony. The trio of advocates was joined by several other Diabetes Among Friends participants and class facilitators who visited the Capitol to show support for the bill.  

On the path to becoming law 

After dozens of people shared testimonies, the group witnessed the bill successfully pass the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in a 5-3 vote.  

“I am so proud that my certified peer-leaders who facilitate the diabetes self-management program at Metro Caring had an integral part in this victory,” said Khadijatu Fofanah-Stevens, wellness program coordinator at Metro Caring. “It’s times like this that I am so honored to work with staff members and community leaders who are so committed in using their talents to empower others to take charge of their health. Collectively, we all want and try to make our state a healthier place for all.” 

The bill still has a way to go to become law. It will be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee next before hopefully making its way to the full Senate and then through the House of Representatives.  

You can expect to see our community’s leaders engaged in the process the whole time, showing up to the Capitol and speaking with their elected officials to get it passed.  

“This lit a fire in me,” Eric said about his experience testifying.   

He referred to a quote from the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora! that says, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”  

“I want to be that giant,” Eric said.  

The diabetes prevention bill is one of several that Metro Caring’s community and Board of Directors voted to endorse this legislative session. Follow us on Bluesky  for updates or subscribe to our Action Alert emails.  

En español a continuación. 

At Metro Caring, our mission is to end hunger at its root, which includes advancing policies in the Colorado State Legislature.

The legislature is in session now until May to propose and discuss new bills to become laws. Several bills this season would improve the lives of everyone living in Colorado. 

Our Community Organizing team worked with community leaders to create this legislative agenda for the 2025 season. We discussed 10 bills that directly impact hunger and its five root causes identified by community, which are the corporate food system, unaffordable housing, inadequate public benefits, unaffordable healthcare, and the racial wealth gap. 

Community leaders voted to determine four bills that were most important for Metro Caring to endorse, and the Board of Directors approved. The following agenda will be used to communicate our work throughout the Metro Caring community, inform our organizing around legislation in 2025, and identify opportunities for community engagement. 

Want to get involved? Help take action! Follow us on Bluesky for updates or subscribe to our Action Alert emails. 

SUPPORT: SB25-169 The Restaurant Meals Program

Let’s bring the Restaurant Meals Program to Colorado! By doing so, we can expand food access while boosting local businesses and driving economic growth in our communities.

The Restaurant Meals Program is a USDA initiative that lets certain SNAP recipients—older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability—use their benefits to buy prepared meals from restaurants. This would help people who face challenges around cooking and preparing meals. (SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.) Learn more.

SUPPORT: HB25-1274 Healthy School Meals for All Program

This bill would ask voters to approve new funding for Healthy School Meals for All. In 2022, Colorado voters approved a ballot proposal to make breakfast and lunch free for all students regardless of family income. The program now provides more than 60,000 free meals to students each day, which reduces stigma, ensures students’ nutritional needs are met, and eases the financial burden on families and school budgets. This bill would allow voters a chance to approve fully funding and implementing this successful program. We need additional funding to keep kids fed and implement all the elements voters approved, including training and increased wages for cafeteria workers and partnerships with local farmers. Learn more.

SUPPORT: HB25-1002 Medical Necessity Determination Insurance Coverage

This bill would require every healthcare plan to cover preventative care, screenings, and treatments for behavioral and mental health and substance use disorders. This would include admission to and stays in treatment facilities. Learn more.

SUPPORT: SB25-048 Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act

This bill would make it easier for Coloradans to get treatment for obesity and diabetes. It would require private health insurance companies to cover treatment, education and prevention programs, medical nutrition services, certain surgeries, and anti-obesity medications. Learn more.

SUPPORT: HB25-1032 Improving Infrastructure to Reduce Homelessness

This bill aims to reduce homelessness by improving statewide coordination. It re-establishes a homelessness council in the governor’s office, allows regional authorities to address homelessness, and directs fees from real estate filings to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives. Learn more.

Subscribe to our Action Alerts to stay informed of policies and get involved! 

Prioridades Legislativas de Metro Caring para 2025

En Metro Caring, nuestra misión es acabar con el hambre de raíz, lo que incluye promover políticas en la Legislatura del Estado de Colorado.

La Asamblea Legislativa está en sesión ahora hasta mayo para proponer y debatir nuevos proyectos que se convertirán en leyes. Varios proyectos de ley de esta temporada mejorarían la vida de todos los que viven en Colorado.

Nuestro Equipo de Organización Comunitaria trabajó con líderes comunitarios para crear esta agenda legislativa para la temporada 2025. Discutimos 10 proyectos de ley que afectan directamente al hambre y sus cinco causas fundamentales identificadas por la comunidad, que son el sistema alimenticio corporativo, la vivienda inasequible, las prestaciones públicas inadecuadas, la asistencia de salud inaccesible y la brecha de riqueza racial.

Los líderes comunitarios votaron para determinar los cuatro proyectos de ley más importantes que Metro Caring debía respaldar, y el Consejo de Administración los aprobó. La siguiente agenda será utilizada para comunicar nuestro trabajo a toda la comunidad de Metro Caring, informar sobre nuestra organización en torno a la legislación de 2025 e identificar oportunidades de participación comunitaria.

¿Quieres participar? ¡Ayúdanos a pasar a la acción! Síguenos en Bluesky para estar al día o suscríbete a nuestros correos electrónicos de alerta.

Agenda Legislativa 2025

APOYO: Programa de comidas en restaurantes

¡Traigamos el Programa de Comidas de Restaurantes a Colorado! Al hacerlo, podemos ampliar el acceso a los alimentos y al mismo tiempo impulsar los negocios locales y el crecimiento económico en nuestras comunidades.

El Programa de Comidas en Restaurantes es una iniciativa del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) que permite a ciertos beneficiarios de SNAP -adultos mayores, personas con discapacidades y aquellos que experimentan inestabilidad en la vivienda- utilizar sus beneficios para comprar comidas preparadas en restaurantes. Esto ayudaría a las personas que tienen dificultades para cocinar y preparar comidas. (SNAP significa el Programa de Asistencia de Nutrición Suplementaria.) Aprenda más.

APOYO: HB25-1002 Determinación de Necesidad Médica Cobertura de Seguro

Este proyecto de ley requeriría que cada plan de salud cubra la atención preventiva, exámenes y tratamientos para la salud mental y del comportamiento y trastornos por uso de sustancias. Esto incluiría la admisión y estancia en centros de tratamiento. Aprenda más.

APOYO: SB25-048 Ley de Prevención de la Diabetes y Tratamiento de la Obesidad

Este proyecto de ley facilitaría a los habitantes de Colorado el tratamiento de la obesidad y la diabetes. Requeriría que las compañías privadas de seguros de salud cubran el tratamiento, los programas de educación y prevención, los servicios médicos de nutrición, ciertas cirugías y los medicamentos contra la obesidad. Obtenga más información.

APOYO: HB25-1032 Mejora de la infraestructura para reducir la falta de vivienda

Este proyecto de ley tiene como objetivo reducir la falta de vivienda mediante la mejora de la coordinación en todo el estado. Vuelve a establecer un consejo para personas sin hogar en la oficina del gobernador, permite que las autoridades regionales se ocupen de las personas sin hogar, y dirige las tarifas de las presentaciones de bienes raíces para apoyar la vivienda asequible y las iniciativas de personas sin hogar.  Aprenda más.

Suscríbase a nuestras alertas de acción para mantenerse informado de las políticas e Involúcrese. Escriba su nombre (Name) y correo electrónico (Email) a continuación. 

Updated November 19, 2024, to reflect bill statuses. Four out of the five community-endorsed ballot measures were voted in favor of protecting and uplifting our community’s interests!

At Metro Caring, we work to end hunger at its root, which includes addressing local and state policies that impact all of our lives. Voting is a powerful way to make change in your community. For the 2024 election, Metro Caring is taking positions on five ballot initiatives for Colorado and Denver.

Members of our community met to prioritize the initiatives that Metro Caring should endorse. Together, we chose these five measures because of the connection they have to the root causes of hunger and issues primarily affecting our community’s lives.

These initiatives are only a select few of the ballot initiatives that will appear on Colorado and Denver voters’ ballots. To learn more about the full ballot, join us on Monday, October 21 in our Fresh Foods Market (9:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 – 3 p.m.) to talk with our community organizers and voter engagement team. And remember, go vote! 

YES on Proposition KK: Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax – PASSED

If passed, this will create an excise tax on gun sellers and manufacturers for all sales of firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts. The revenue will fund behavioral health programs for veterans and youth and programs to support victims of crime, school safety, and gun violence prevention.

NO on Amendment 80: Constitutional Right to School Choice – FAILED

If passed, this would make School Choice a right in the State Constitution, including public, private, homeschool, and future innovations in education. This opens a pathway to take significant funding away from public school education and give it to private and charter schools. Other states that have passed a similar measure have seen significant budget cuts to public schools.

YES on Ballot Issue 2R: Affordable Housing – FAILED

If passed, this initiative will increase sales tax by 0.5% to fund affordable housing projects. The lack of affordable housing is a leading cause of hunger in our community. Additional funding for affordable housing is crucial for our community to thrive.

YES on Referred Question 2T: Removing Citizenship Requirement for Police and Firefighters – PASSED

If passed, this will remove the requirement that police and firefighters have to be citizens of the United States. It would still require legal work authorization. This will increase job opportunities and bring Denver into compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.

YES on Ballot Issue 7A: RTD – PASSED

If passed by multiple counties, including Denver, this measure will permanently exempt the Regional Transportation District (RTD) from a cap on revenue raised caused by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). RTD has been exempt for decades, but that is set to expire in 2025. Passing this measure allows RTD to keep more revenue to improve and maintain public transportation, which is an important resource for many in our community to get to work, school, and medical appointments.

Read on to learn about our legislative priorities for the year and the impact each could make if passed.