Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined by Jennifer Lemmerman, Chief Policy Officer at Project Bread, to discuss the impact the lapse in SNAP funding is having on individuals and families.
For the first time in its 60-year history, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — often referred to as food stamps — ceased to distribute funds on November 1st due to the ongoing government shutdown. This lapse in funding leaves over 40 million Americans without the money they regularly receive to purchase food.
This week on Terms of Engagement, co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined by Jennifer Lemmerman, Chief Policy Officer at Project Bread, to discuss the impact the lapse in SNAP funding is having on individuals and families.
Jen Lemmerman serves as the Chief Policy Officer at Project Bread, where she leads state, local, and federal policy and advocacy efforts to tackle the root causes of hunger and ensure equitable access to nutrition for all Massachusetts residents. With a background in social work, community organizing, and policy, Jen has been instrumental in shaping initiatives that drive systemic change, such as the successful passage of universal free school meals and the development of the Make Hunger History campaign—a first-of-its-kind collective impact effort aimed at ending hunger across the state.
At Project Bread, Jen has overseen the growth of grassroots advocacy, expanded the organization’s impact at the State House, and built partnerships across sectors, including healthcare and education, to create sustainable solutions to food insecurity.
Jen’s leadership extends beyond her organization; she serves as an advisor at Boston University’s Graduate School of Social Work, where she mentors future leaders in the field. Prior to joining Project Bread, she held key roles at Community Catalyst and the National Brain Tumor Society, where she developed advocacy programs that mobilized thousands of individuals to influence federal and state policies.
Jen holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College, where she specialized in macro social work—a focus that drives her passion for systemic change and large-scale impact.