On September 1st we were thrilled to welcome Karla Gonzales Garcia as our Director of Organizing and Community Partnerships. Karla will lead our efforts to work with the larger community as we continue our work to end hunger in Colorado. We sat down for a question-and-answer session with Karla to learn more about both her and her plans going forward.
Q: What made you want to join the Hunger Free Colorado Team?
Karla: Food justice and sovereignty is a basic human right issue. For too long we haven’t questioned the systems that pushed into the margins the communities we are serving. Charity doesn’t equal justice. I joined the team in hopes to continue the hard work of liberation for our communities, and that requires constant inquiry about the systems that had created extreme poverty for systemically vulnerable communities within the richest country in the world. As Lila Watson said, “If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up to mine, then let us work together.”
Q: What is your vision for the Organizing and Community Partnerships Department?
Karla: My vision is simple:, to develop a thoughtful, intentional infrastructure within HFC that brings to the center of the conversation the lived experiences of community members whose voices were not part of the solutions to end hunger.
Q: Why is community-driven work so important?
Karla: The knowledge, wisdom, experiences, and the realities that our communities face have been constantly excluded from the conversations of potential solutions to drive change. Grasstop solutions have mostly replicated the same systems of oppression that have created the economic gaps and inequities that had brought our communities food insecurity. A first step in the conversation of food justice is to value the expertise, knowledge, and experiences that our communities have. Long standing solutions happen when the voices of impacted communities are centered in the conversations, not the voices of those who have no way to relate to the experiences of community members affected by the inequities and injustices brought by the very systems that have left our communities behind.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
Karla: Prior to a recent life changing accident, I enjoyed hiking, backpacking, camping, and just being outside in nature. As I recover from the accident, I have found ways to keep myself centered and grounded through meditation, breathing, and journaling. Now that my puppy is at home with me during my recovery, she is bringing an incredible amount of joy during these times and I am occupying a lot of my free time by cuddling with her.
Welcome Karla, we look forward to the changes your new position will bring to Hunger Free Colorado! If you would like to learn more about Karla and our Organizing and Community Partnerships Department, please don’t hesitate to reach out at karla@hungerfreecolorado.org!