Jon Stepanian is the President & CEO of Community Solidarity the largest vegetarian hunger relief program in the United States. Sharing 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-dependance, 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, Inc. 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.
Jon has been reconized by the Long Islander's "Power List" as one of the 50 most influencial Long Islanders, he's been 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.
To learn more about Jon we recommend chacking out his TEDx Talk about Communty Solidarity's hunger relief mission.