City Cast Chicago logo
Advertisement image
September 13, 2021

Meet Chicago's First Food Equity Chief

City Cast Chicago

Meet Chicago's First Food Equity Chief

00:00:00
View all City Cast Chicago episodes

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last month, "The pandemic has laid bare the many inequities that exist within our city, with food insecurity and historic disinvestment being among the most pressing.” That statement was part of the announcement of the city’s first ever Food Equity Policy Lead, Ruby Ferguson. Ferguson works at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so she understands that food insecurity in Chicago existed long before the pandemic, with residents in some neighborhoods having to travel miles to find grocery stores or access to fresh produce. Ferguson tells host Jacoby Cochran that addressing these shortages is about more than just plopping a Whole Foods on the block. 


Guest: Ruby Ferguson – Food Equity Policy Lead, City of Chicago


Read more about Chicago's Food Equity Council, including a report outlining the scope of the problem.


Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Chicago

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
October 6

What You Need to Know For School Board Elections

Over the next month, Chicagoans will vote in a historic school board election. For the first time, the now 20-seat board and the at-large...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
October 5

Is Chicago's New Parking Deal Better? Plus, 2020 Time

Last week, the City Council voted to approve the sale of Chicago’s Parking meters to a New York-based investment firm. After months of ba...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
October 2

Why Did Wieners Circle Shade the Mayor? Plus, Soxtober Returns

Today we’re joined by Jessica Mordacq from Austin Weekly News/Forest Park Review and Block Club Chicago’s Patrick Filbin. We’re reacting...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
October 1

Your Guide to October 2026 in Chicago

As we enter the home stretch of 2026, we’ve got your guide for October. We’re talking Sox hats, budget battles, early voting, apple orcha...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 30

Deadly Month For Cyclists. Plus, Best of the South Side

Chicago has over 70% more cycling accidents through September than this same period in 2021, including multiple fatal crashes involving s...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 29

Why Block Club Sued ICE

It took Block Club Chicago’s investigative reporter Mick Dumke 11 months to get one page of records from ICE about the clash between its...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 28

Can Mayoral Candidates Double Dip? Plus, Ford City’s Future

Mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan’s lawsuit aims to block Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, and Cook Co...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 25

How Chicago Latinos Are Changing Neighborhoods

Little Village was once known as the city's largest Latino neighborhood, but a new report found Belmont Cragin now has the largest Latino...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 24

Art Institute Returns Nazi-Looted Painting. Plus, Fourth Shedd Beluga Dies

The Art Institute of Chicago is returning a 113-year-old painting to the family of its original owner after an investigation revealed it...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
September 23

Why Are There Sukkahs in North Lawndale? Plus, Chicago’s Queer-Affirming Churches

Contributors Anna DeShawn and Adora Namigadde join us with picks from the Chicago Underground and International Film Festivals. Plus, we...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art