Lived and Living Experience Advisory Group
The Lived and Living Experience Advisory Group (LLEAG) is a team of twelve people across Newfoundland and Labrador. LLEAG Members come from different backgrounds and have different life experiences. However, they all share one thing in common: they are experts on food insecurity and poverty. This expert knowledge comes from having personal experience with poverty and food insecurity.
LLEAG Members came together because they believe their experience and knowledge can make a difference. They know that effective programs and policies to end food insecurity need input from the people they're trying to support. LLEAG Members will use their expertise to give some of that input. Together, they want to tackle our province's food insecurity and poverty crisis.
About the Members
LLEAG Members live across Newfoundland and Labrador, and some have experiences from outside the province. They care about their communities. Many Members are volunteers and dedicate their time to supporting causes that are important to them. They are passionate about changing systems and helping others.
LLEAG Members serve for two years. During these two years, they get three months of training, meet in person, and have monthly online meetings. In return for their time and expertise, Members receive honoraria and have opportunities to develop their skills. Food First NL provides Members with any equipment they need and stipends to cover travel, childcare, and any other costs related to their involvement.
LLEAG’s Mission, Pathways, and Vision
Mission
To use our Lived Experiences as expert guidance for ending both the stigma and conditions of poverty and food insecurity across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Pathways
LLEAG will achieve its mission through the following Pathways:
Challenge the Stigmatization of Food Insecurity and Poverty
Advocate Income Interventions for more Equitable Wealth Distribution
Hold Corporations Accountable
Support Local Food
Explore Opportunities for bettering Institutional Food
Pursue Climate Justice
Vision
People: All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians may access foods, with dignity and respect, that are affordable, wild, local, culturally appropriate, and nourishing.
Communities: Food is shared and valued as a source of connection to each other, our cultures, and the lands on which we reside.
Province: Lived experience is valued as essential, expert knowledge, and no longer marginalized from decision-making processes.
Food Systems: Food is a right for all, not a source of profit for some. It is produced and shared with care for the land and one another.
Why Lived Experience is Important
People with Lived and Living Experience of poverty and food insecurity are experts. They have in-depth knowledge about their communities and the systemic challenges they face. They also know ways to solve these challenges.
Studies have found that programs and policies work better when People with Lived Experience help create them. However, barriers often prevent them from sharing their knowledge and being part of the creation process. These barriers include discrimination and a lack of resources, like time or money. These barriers affect certain people more, including Indigenous People, racialized communities, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
People with Lived and Living Experience need to be involved in creating programs that affect them. It is the only way to make programs more successful and the decision-making process more equitable.
Learn more in this book on Engaging People with Lived/Living Experience and this report on developing a Lived Experience Advisory Group (PDF).
Contact
Laurel Huget (she/her)
Program Coordinator
laurel@foodfirstnl.ca
(709) 200-3131
