Bay Area

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Address Food Insecurity’s Impact on Chronic Health Conditions

Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the National Food as Medicine Act on Wednesday. Food as Medicine affirms the connection between food and health and recognizes that access to high-quality nourishment is essential for well-being. This legislation would reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity and improve health and racial equity in the United States, and would increase Americans’ access to healthy, nutritious, organic, and affordable foods, as well as behavioral services such as health coaching and nutrition counseling, especially in low-income communities.

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Nico Ballón

Special to The Post

This legislation would reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity and improve health and racial equity in the United States, and would increase Americans’ access to healthy, nutritious, organic, and affordable foods, as well as behavioral services such as health coaching and nutrition counseling, especially in low-income communities.

“Good, nutritious foods are the cornerstone of good health,” said Lee. “Yet far too many Americans, especially in low-income communities and communities of color, lack access to affordable, nutritious food. A national Food as Medicine program will reduce health care costs, improve health outcomes, and improve the quality of life for generations to come, especially for patients with diet-related chronic diseases. It our responsibility to end hunger and begin to transform our “disease care system” to a true health care system. Food as Medicine is the path to do just that.”

In 2023, over 18 million U.S. households were food insecure. A landmark 2018 study demonstrated that an unhealthy diet is the leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing tobacco use, high blood pressure, and obesity, and causing more than half a million deaths per year in the United States. A growing body of research demonstrates that using healthy food, termed “medically supportive food,” in a clinical setting helps the healthcare system address food and nutrition insecurity, chronic disease, racial and health equity, and the intersections between them. This is further evidenced by work being spearheaded in Alameda County and their Recipe4Health “Food as Medicine” model.

The National Food as Medicine Act would:

Establish a Food as Medicine Waiver Grant program to establish, implement, and expand Food as Medicine interventions to reduce nutrition-related chronic conditions and improve health
Establish a USDA Food as Medicine Technical Assistant Program to support producers to connect with local health care systems to provide for FAM interventions
Direct the HHS Secretary to develop and issue Food as Medicine guidance to states and counties to aid in the implementation, planning, and expansion of Food as Medicine programs
Require a report to Congress from the HHS Secretary regarding the impact of Food as Medicine programs

Steven Chen, chief medical officer for Alameda County Recipe4Health, said: “Alameda County Recipe4Health applauds Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s leadership to amplify the benefits of Food as Medicine through equitable sourcing, which will ensure multiple benefits such as healthy soil, nutritious food, a healthy economy, healthy people, and a healthy planet for all.

“The National Food as Medicine Program Act will prioritize food grown regeneratively and organically by a diverse group of local and regional farmers. Patients with limited financial resources will be prescribed high quality nutrient-dense food by their health care teams to treat and prevent chronic conditions and food insecurity.

“Local farmers, farmworkers, food hubs, and community-based organizations in rural and urban America will have new economic incentives to grow and provide nutritious vegetables, fruit, and meals to benefit their communities,” Chen said.

“At Alameda Health System, we commend and stand with Congresswoman Barbara Lee in her efforts to champion the vital role of Food as Medicine and promote equitable access to healthy and nutritious food,” said James Jackson, CEO of Alameda Health System. “Food insecurity disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color. In Alameda County, we have partnered with the Alameda County Health and community farmers to address those health disparities by offering patients a prescription for healthy, nutritious, locally grown foods. communities.”

Alameda County Health Director Colleen Chawla said she was incredibly grateful to Lee for her unwavering support of their Food as Medicine Program, Recipe4Health. Alameda County has been a leader in the Food as Medicine space for years, and Recipe4Health is a prime example of how innovative programs can reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes.

Nico Ballón is a member of the staff of Rep. Barbara Lee’s media relations office.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

2 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

1 week ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.