Missoula Food Bank & Community Center (MFB&CC) envisions a community that works together in building a hunger-free Missoula where those most impacted are a leading voice in the solutions to poverty and hunger.

We hope to empower caregivers who are the true experts on food insecurity and the challenges that families face. We hope that LEVL participants will feel supported in sharing their stories, using their voices and power to influence decision makers, and to build community within the group.

Rates of food insecurity in 2021 averaged at 10.2%. This increased for households with children (12.5%), households with children under age 6 (12.9%) and households with children headed by a single woman (24.3%). While LEVL is open to anyone, we will center those most impacted by racism, sexism and income inequality in caregiver roles (women and non-binary folks, BIPOC individuals, single parents, etc.).

If selected, LEVL participants must commit to four hours per month of program activities. Regular weekly meetings will take place every other Wednesday (starting 9/18) from 11am-1pm. Additional programs and activities will have varied times throughout the month.

Biweekly monthly group meetings

• September 18th, October 2nd, October 16th, November 6th, November 20th, December 4th, December 18th, January 8th, January 22nd, February 5th, February 19th, March 5th, March 19th, April 2nd, April 16th, May 7th, May 21st

• In January, we are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month due to New Year’s Day.

• In March, we might switch our March 19th meeting due to spring break.

• EmPower Place is open during all meetings at MFB&CC for free childcare.

• Free meals are provided (or prepared) at every meeting at MFB&CC for families.

Participants graduate after nine months of full participation. Upon completion, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion, have a graduation party for families, and receive invitations to future LEVL group meetings and future speaking opportunities and trainings.

MFB&CC provides volunteer participants a nominal reimbursement for time spent implementing this important program, $50 per month for nine months and $100 as a bonus upon full participation (for a total of $550). Incentives are provided in the form of VISA Gift Cards, and are the sole responsibility of the participant.  MFB&CC is not responsible for lost or stolen cards, and cannot replace incentive reimbursements. Participants are neither employees nor contractors of MFB&CC, and therefore, MFB&CC holds no responsibility in reporting incentive compensation the IRS or others.

While supported by MFB&CC staff, this program is designed to be led from within. The program will be steered by the collective interests of participants. Some examples could include: storytelling, cooking classes, financial literacy, public speaking, photography classes, civic and democratic process engagement, self-care and mindfulness.

The group is facilitated by Ashlee Schleicher (she/her) and Amber Stewart (she/her). Ashlee is a member of MFB&CC’s leadership team and has personally experienced food insecurity and unstable housing in the last decade. Ashlee is a mom to a nine year old boy and is motivated by her own experiences to facilitate this group. This will be Ashlee’s second year co-facilitating LEVL and brings a passion for learning, personal growth, storytelling, and community engagement.

Amber has three children who are now entering their tween/teen years. She experienced food insecurity as a child growing up with a single mom, and during the early years of parenting her own children. She earned her degree in communication studies and nonprofit administration and has spent all her adult years working with children and families through local nonprofit organizations and schools. Amber has worked in public schools, private schools, and in the homeschool community. She is passionate about education, experiential learning, growth mindset, equity, and the power of story. They both see LEVL as a radical opportunity to build strong relationships with others and within themselves to transform the state of our current world for the better.

LEVL applications open August 20th, 2024 and will be accepted until September 13th, 2024.

Paper applications must be returned to MFB&CC to the attention of Ashlee Schleicher.

To be emailed an application, request one from ashlee@missoulafoodbank.org