Meet the Houston Food Bank Advocacy Council
Do Ngân hàng Thực phẩm Houston
Tháng Mười 2, 2026
The Houston Food Bank Advocacy Council is made up of partners and neighbors who serve as ambassadors for their communities. They bring their lived experiences, knowledge, and passion to raise awareness, share solutions, and advocate for policies that address the root causes of food insecurity.
Get to know our Advocacy Council members and learn what inspires them to advocate for their communities.
Richard Andrews
Richard was born and raised in Louisiana but now calls Houston home. As the founder of the Foundation for Black Heritage & Culture, he works to uplift his community through culture, food distributions, and community engagement. Richard is especially passionate about voter engagement and helping neighbors have the information and resources to participate in the electoral process.
Ivy Okoro
Ivy was raised in Houston and is proud of her Nigerian heritage. Growing up, she watched her parents help neighbors facing economic hardship through their African food store, and she later experienced periods of economic and food insecurity herself. These experiences inspire her continued involvement in serving families in the Alief community.
Shirley Paley
Ms. Shirley is a mother of two, grandmother of six, and a long-term resident of Kashmere Gardens. Through the Advocacy Council, she has opportunities to share her neighbors’ experiences with elected officials and connect her community with resources. She believes advocacy is a learning process and recognizes that she may not have all the answers, but neighbors often turn to her for resources and guidance on getting involved.
John Locke
John began developing his community organizing skills while completing his undergraduate degree. He now volunteers with a local organization that rescues food and provides free vegan and vegetarian meals to individuals experiencing homelessness. John is especially passionate about ensuring children have reliable access to food so they can focus on school and their future.
Sue Kristynik
Sue is the Director of Sealy Christian Pantry and has called Sealy, Texas, home for 25 years. Her advocacy focuses on ensuring children have access to meals during the summer, including non-congregate summer feeding. Sue believes advocacy gives her a seat at the table to represent the needs of her community.
Camille Chappell
Camille is the Vice President of Programs and Partnerships at Bread of Life and strongly believes in the power of lived experience. Her own experience with food insecurity inspired her to join the Advocacy Council and help create pathways and policy solutions for families experiencing hardship.
Tre Lemons
Tre is the owner and operator of Electric Eats, a service that delivers food from pantries to people with mobility challenges in his community. He joined the Advocacy Council to be the voice for his community and advocate for solutions to food insecurity throughout Houston.
Alejandro Perez
Alejandro heard about the Advocacy Council through a listening session at his church and was inspired by conversations about civic engagement. He is passionate about affordable housing and hopes to see more young people involved in decision-making spaces.
Join the Advocacy Movement
Each Advocacy Council member brings a different story, experience, and perspective. From food access and affordable housing to civic engagement and summer meals, their advocacy is rooted in the experiences of the communities they serve.
Join the Houston Food Bank Action Center today to stay informed, take meaningful action, and help shape policies that address hunger at its root.
