Access cultivates wholistic solutions to poverty through three main programs: Congregation Connections, Good Food Systems, and Poverty Education. Each of these programs offers specialized training opportunities.
Training opportunities include Church Benevolence Best Practices, Food Justice Training, Good Food Challenge, Poverty Education Workshop, and more. Contact us to learn how we can partner with your organization, business, or church to provide training.
Speaking Engagements
Presentations & Speaking Engagements
Presentations and speaking engagements can be tailored to your organization and may include topics such as:
- Food Systems & Food Justice
- Understanding the Charity Food System and the Need for Change
- Understanding Systems of Poverty
- Benevolence Best Practices for Congregations
Community Pricing
Churches & Nonprofits: $125–$175/hour, based on a sliding scale
Workshop Opportunities
Access workshops give you and your team an opportunity to explore important issues more deeply, learn together, and identify practical next steps. Each workshop is facilitated by an Access team member and designed to encourage conversation, reflection, and action.
Workshop opportunities include:
- Benevolence 101
- Understanding Systems of Poverty 101
- Food Systems 101
Benevolence 101
Recommended group size: 3–8 participants
Length: 1.5–2 hours
Designed for congregations and benevolence teams, this workshop examines your current benevolence practices, including intake, decision-making, financial processes, interactions with neighbors, resource connections, and follow-up.
Together, we also explore the “why” behind your benevolence practices and how your values shape the way your congregation responds to people seeking assistance.
Participants leave with:
- An updated purpose statement and values for their benevolence ministry
- Clearer documentation of practices and policies
- Practical next steps for strengthening processes
- Tools to help onboard new deacons and team members
Understanding Systems of Poverty 101
Group size: Flexible
Length: 1.5–2 hours
This interactive workshop helps participants examine the systems that contribute to and perpetuate poverty in our communities.
Participants explore different perspectives on poverty and take part in three hands-on group activities designed to connect the concepts to real-world experiences.
The goal is to move beyond individual explanations of poverty toward a deeper understanding of the policies, systems, and community conditions that shape people’s lives.
Food Systems 101
Group size: Flexible
Length: 1.5–2 hours
This interactive workshop explores the history of the U.S. food system alongside the development of the charitable food system.
Together, we examine how our current systems can contribute to health and wealth disparities, explore the principles of food justice, and consider how food access efforts can support thriving, local, and equitable food systems.
Participants are encouraged to think beyond simply providing food and consider how communities can build systems that increase access, dignity, choice, and long-term food security.
Community Pricing
Churches & Nonprofits: $250–$350 per workshop, based on a sliding scale.
Your workshop fee includes:
- Access staff facilitation
- Up to two hours of training
- Travel within 50 miles of central Grand Rapids
- Training materials and content development
For-Profit Pricing
Businesses & For-Profit Organizations: $350–$550 per workshop, based on a sliding scale.
Your workshop fee includes:
- Access staff facilitation
- Up to two hours of training
- Travel within 50 miles of central Grand Rapids
- Training materials and content development
Schedule a Workshop
Interested in bringing an Access workshop or speaking engagement to your organization, congregation, or community?
Contact us at info@accessofwestmichigan.org to discuss your group, goals, and training needs.