Rhode Island Voices: A Podcast for the RI Life Index
RI Voices is a new podcast series designed to amplify the lived experiences and insights of Rhode Islanders on critical community health issues. As an extension of the RI Life Index initiative, this podcast takes a deeper dive beyond survey data to hear directly from residents and local leaders about the social factors affecting their well-being. Each episode centers on a key topic that the RI Life Index has identified as essential to quality of life. The vision is to bridge data with personal stories, turning statistics into compelling narratives that inspire understanding and action. In doing so, RI Voices seeks to inform stakeholders and motivate collaborative solutions for a healthier Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Voices: A Podcast for the RI Life Index
Household Food Access in Rhode Island
This inaugural episode tackles the challenge of food security, examining why so many Rhode Islanders struggle to put food on the table and what can be done about it. Recent data illustrate the urgency – hunger is widely perceived as a serious problem statewide, and nearly half of Rhode Island households experienced some level of food insecurity in the last year. Melissa Cherney, the newly appointed CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, joins host Dr. Melissa Clark to share insights from the front lines of this issue. Cherney brings nearly two decades of hunger relief experience (having led North Dakota’s largest food bank) and a passion for advocacy in policy and partnerships. Together, they will explore how Rhode Island can address food insecurity with urgency, compassion, and innovation.