In this episode we discuss the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic on a personal level. LEVL participants Avis and Aminna have experienced this crisis within their own families and have chosen to share their stories with us.

This is the first episode of "season 2" of LEVL With Us, which features our 2025-2026 cohort.

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At Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, we believe that lived experience is vital in shaping the policies, programs, and practices that drive meaningful change. By sharing these stories, we hope to offer new perspectives, provide validation, and remind listeners that they are not alone.

We also hope that by connecting with each other and our listeners through storytelling, we can help break down the stigma surrounding the use of social safety net programs—like your local food bank.

If you'd like to learn a little more about the resources available at Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, please check out the end of the episode. And always remember: you are welcome here.

"As someone who works at a food bank, I think a LOT about food and have conversations every day about access to food, the nutritional quality of food, and working to ensure bellies are full. Personally, as a mom and someone who loves to cook and eat, I am constantly thinking about what to feed my family, myself, and those around me that I love." - Ashlee

In this episode Ashlee, Jordyn and Kristina explore the topic of food and our relationship with it...something that impacts our lives in so many ways.

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At Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, we believe that lived experience is vital in shaping the policies, programs, and practices that drive meaningful change. By sharing these stories, we hope to offer new perspectives, provide validation, and remind listeners that they are not alone.

We also hope that by connecting with each other and our listeners through storytelling, we can help break down the stigma surrounding the use of social safety net programs—like your local food bank.

If you'd like to learn a little more about the resources available at Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, please check out the end of the episode. And always remember: you are welcome here.

In this episode Avis, Nina, and Amber discuss what it means to live with invisible needs—those often hidden experiences that quietly shape people’s lives. Whether it’s chronic pain, mental health challenges, neurodivergence, or caregiving for someone with unique needs, these stories don’t always show on the outside—but they’re real, and they matter. When we take the time to really listen, we begin to understand just how much people are carrying beneath the surface. This episode is about making space for those voices, challenging assumptions, and practicing a little more empathy in how we see each other. ..

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At Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, we believe that lived experience is vital in shaping the policies, programs, and practices that drive meaningful change. By sharing these stories, we hope to offer new perspectives, provide validation, and remind listeners that they are not alone.

We also hope that by connecting with each other and our listeners through storytelling, we can help break down the stigma surrounding the use of social safety net programs—like your local food bank.

If you'd like to learn a little more about the resources available at Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, please check out the end of the episode or visit our website missoulafoodbank.org. And always remember: you are welcome here.