Community Solidarity & Hunger Relief | Jon Stepanian | TEDxNYU

2,733 views · Published 4 December 2018 · 17:26 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Jon Stepanian explains the concept of community solidarity and it's potential to end hunger across the US. Join him as he shares stories from his own community and outlines revolutionary plans for waste reform. Jon Stepanian is the President & CEO of
Community Solidarity the largest vegetarian
hunger relief program in the United States.
Sharing millions of pounds of vegetarian
groceries, hot vegan meals and clothing
with tens of thousands each month is only
part of Jon’s job description. The other
part is creating long-term solutions to end
poverty; namely by developing community
inter-dependence, promoting a balanced
nutritious diet and fighting for social justice.
Jon is also the Co-founder of Long Island
Food Not Bombs, the community that gave
birth to Community Solidarity and notably
the largest Food Not Bombs chapter in the world! 

He has worked in advisory positions at the United Nations and the New York Civil Liberties Union. His commentary on issues of US Poverty can be found in publications like the Times Tribune, Change.org , CNN.com and the Huffington Post. It can also be heard at symposiums and forums across the tristate area where he advocates for grassroots problem solving over the mainstream nonprofit hierarchical models.

Recently, The Long Island Press has ranked Jon as one
of the 50 most influential people on Long Island. He was named one of News 12’s “12 Making a Difference” for 2015, he received the “Deed Before Creed” award by the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island and was awarded the 2013 Kairos Award by The Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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