As federal food assistance programs face deep cuts and school meal rollbacks accelerate, food insecurity is surging to crisis levels across the United States. According to the latest USDA data, over 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, are living in food-insecure households. The burden falls disproportionately on communities of color, where systemic barriers continue to block access to fresh, nutritious food—fueling chronic health conditions, academic underperformance, and intergenerational poverty.

But amid these national setbacks, community leaders are rising to meet the challenge with bold, local solutions. At the forefront is Erica R. Williams, a dynamic advocate and the founder and executive director of A Red Circle, a Black-led nonprofit organization in North St. Louis County. With a mission rooted in food access, education, economic empowerment, and community wellness, Williams is proving that change doesn’t have to come from the top down—it can start right at the grassroots.

“Access to Healthy Food Is a Right—Not a Privilege”

With SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits being slashed and grocery prices soaring, Williams is doubling down on local empowerment. “Access to fresh, healthy food is not a privilege—it’s a right,” she asserts. “When national systems fall short, local communities must lead.”

And lead they have. Through A Red Circle, Williams has developed a blueprint for food justice that is both sustainable and scalable—offering real-world programs that could be replicated in underserved communities across Houston and the nation.

Local Solutions That Are Making a National Impact

1. Good Food Fridays
Weekly produce giveaways paired with nutrition education help families bridge gaps left by SNAP reductions and the rollback of universal school meals. It’s not just about filling plates—it’s about nourishing futures.

2. The People’s Harvest (Coming Soon)
An ambitious project currently in development, this Black-led grocery and food production kitchen will bring affordable, fresh produce to food deserts while supporting Black-owned food businesses and entrepreneurs.

3. The Farmhouse
A vibrant food justice hub and teaching farm, offering hands-on workshops, youth internships, and farm-to-table education that reconnects the community to land, culture, and health.

Food Policy for the People

Earlier this year, Williams co-authored a peer-reviewed policy brief, “Food Pricing and Consumer Choice: Recommendations for Improving Affordability for Fresh Produce in Missouri,” published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. The brief outlines five powerful policy recommendations that could shape the future of equitable food access:

Expand Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) for SNAP to reduce red tape and allow more families to qualify.

Boost Double Up Food Bucks to stretch SNAP dollars and promote healthy eating habits.

Invest in local food infrastructure, including cold storage, urban farms, and cooperatively owned grocery stores.

Fund community-based nutrition education to teach cooking, budgeting, and healthy shopping.

Ensure fair pay for small and minority farmers, making food equity an economic reality.

“It’s not just about the physical food,” Williams says. “It’s about creating a space where people feel they belong. Everyone deserves to be part of the good food system. Everyone belongs.”

Why It Matters for Houston

As one of the most diverse cities in America—and a city still grappling with its own food deserts and post-pandemic economic inequities—Houston can learn from and contribute to the movement sparked by A Red Circle. With Black-led, community-based food justice initiatives like these gaining momentum, the future of food access no longer depends solely on Washington—but on neighbors, advocates, and changemakers like Williams who are rewriting the rules from the ground up.

For more info, visit https://linktr.ee/aredcircle