Empowering Change: Celebrating Stacia Hill Levenfeld’s Leadership in Hunger Relief for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, we at the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) wanted to highlight strong women’s leadership, we thought who better to highlight than our very own Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO of CAFB. Through her journey from housing security to food security, Stacia had a vast and varied career that led her to the helm of CAFB.

With roots in economic development and public policy, Stacia’s journey began at the Oakland Chamber of Commerce; working in that role was the first time she grappled with how to address food access from a policy perspective. Her career trajectory took her through pivotal roles, including the Vice President of Public Affairs at Albertsons, allowing her a unique perspective on the grocery sector’s role in food accessibility – which has been instrumental in shaping her approach to combating hunger, by focusing on policy changes along with operational strategies, and on fostering innovation within food bank networks.

Stacia joined CAFB just after the pandemic took hold and the team – and food bank network – was under incredible pressure to respond to the onslaught of demand for emergency food. Jumping into the fire, Stacia and the CAFB team achieved remarkable milestones. In 2020 alone, the organization was able to deliver more than 215 million pounds of food, provide the food bank network with significant financial support and resources, and enact new programs. While the pace was unsustainable, the efforts themselves reflect not just a commitment to immediate relief but a steadfast dedication to long-term solutions that combat food insecurity. Since then, the Association has continued to grow its advocacy, food distribution, and network support.

Stacia believes that the path to a hunger-free community is complex, marked by challenges like fluctuating funding and rising food insecurity. Yet, the resolve to understand and address these issues through comprehensive data, policy advocacy, and community engagement highlights a roadmap towards sustainable solutions.

Stacia advice for aspiring leaders who are passionate about making a difference in food security:

“The work of ending hunger is highly personal. We can’t let the scale of the problem stop what we can do as individuals every day. 

Anyone can make a difference in the fight against hunger. Nearly every professional discipline is represented in this work, so whatever your talent or passion, you can use it on this journey. Or it can be as simple as donating money, giving your time volunteering with friends and family at a food bank or food pantry, or lending your talent to support their work.”

As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities in this journey, the vision and work of CAFB stand as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collective action in the pursuit of a hunger-free California.