The Network Advisory Council is a way for members who have completed the program to advise and stay involved with the Network. Advisors who wish to help improve the program, as well as maintain the peer support they gained during Network classes, join the council and meet on a quarterly basis.

The Council has three initiatives:

1. Maintain social engagement between members
2. Advise Network staff and other advisors on programming and initiatives
3. Advocate for changes within public assistance and other systems that impact them

Advocacy

NAC members actively engage in ongoing advocacy on a number of important issues. Recently, they have participated in formal campaigns to raise the TANF cash grant allotment through the Meet the Need Campaign and participated in listening sessions with the USDA to push forward efforts to update the Thrifty Food Plan to increase SNAP amounts for families. Members have also spoken out in local and national media, testified locally and nationally to political leaders, and written opinion articles on a variety of topics.

A selection of recent NAC advocacy:

• Policy Brief for White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health: Changing the Narrative to Change the Policy (July 2022)
• New legislation would increase Pennsylvania welfare benefits (October 2021)
• I’m forced to live off $205 a month under Pa.’s outdated welfare system (August 2021)
• 25 years after welfare reform, the system is pared down as intended. But critics say the program is failing. (August 2021)
• Reducing Child Poverty by Expanding Child Tax Credits (July 2021)
• SNAP Participants Author Policy Brief Highlighting Necessary Program Changes (May 2021)
• Calling on Philadelphia to Reinvest in its Community, Not the Police (June 2020)

Leadership Team

The NAC Leadership Team is tasked with taking on general oversight and leading the vision of the NAC. Responsibilities for Leadership Team members include:

• Speaking at conferences, local and beyond 
• Co-leading workshops and presentations with members and Network staff
• Meeting with policy and decision makers to influence state policy and action around important issues
• Leading training for new Network staff members on trauma basics, program history, TANF, and poverty in Philadelphia
• Facilitating at least one Network class with Network coaches
• Creating monthly NAC meeting agendas with Network staff

The 2023 NAC Leadership Team included the following members:

• Leona Brown (returning from 2022)
• Alisha Gillespie (returning from 2021 and 2022)
• Toni Glover (returning from 2021 and 2022)
• Joe Jackson
• Ashley LaJuett
• Luis Lugo (returning from 2022)
• Kia McCray (returning from 2022)
• Enyh Riley
• Veronica Taylor (returning from 2021 and 2022)
• Davia Woodyard