This guide helps people use respectful language when talking about hunger and food access. It shows better ways to talk about community members who need food support. The guide focuses on treating everyone with dignity and respect.
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Use 'people experiencing hunger' instead of 'hungry people' or 'the hungry'
Say 'neighbors' or 'community members' instead of 'clients' or 'those in need'
Choose positive words like 'provide' and 'partner' instead of combative language like 'fight' or 'strike'
Put people first by describing what someone 'has' rather than what they 'are'
Use inclusive language that doesn't exclude people with disabilities
Focus on community members rather than organizations or programs
People First - Equitable Language Guide 2022 - + Explanation Feeding Provide food for Feed Provide access to meals Feed is often a word used for animals/livestock; HFB is helping provide food that people use for meals. Hungry people Neighbors facing hunger Struggling kids People experiencing hunger The hungry People-first language puts a person before a diagnosis, describing what a person "has" rather than asserting what a person "is" Houstonians across southeast Texas In Houston southeast Texans across 18 counties HFB serves 18 counties, not just the city of Houston. Leading the fight to end hunger Provide food for better lives This refers to HFB's previous mission, HFB updated the mission in 2019. Fight hunger When challenges happen When hardship strikes When hardship happens When the pandemic hit Fight, strike, and hit are examples of combative language is negative and aggressive. Stand up Join us to provide food Step up against hunger Partner with us Standing and stepping excludes people with disabilities. lifesaving [program] Program life-changing [impact] Impact While HFB programs are beneficial for neighbors, the neighbors should be at the center not the organization, program, gift or donor. Clients Neighbors or Community Members Using the word client can perpetuate ideas about power dynamics between those who access HFB services and those who provide donations, we want to remind readers that we are all community members. Those we serve Neighbors or Community Members Those in need Using those can be seen as othering and using serve or need creates a power dynamic. We want to remind readers that we are all community members.
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