As we celebrate Women’s History Month at Food For Free, we’re lifting up some of the remarkable contributions women have made in shaping our community. Today, we shine a light on Tina Alu, the Executive Director of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC), and her impactful journey of service, partnership, and empowerment.

Tina’s story reflects her deep commitment to community upliftment. Though she now calls Cambridge home, her roots trace back to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. It was 37 years ago when Tina made the pivotal decision to move to Cambridge to immerse herself in the work at CEOC. Her career journey began with a background in psychology, fueled by a desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

During our conversation, Tina reminisced about her childhood love for the outdoors, sports, and mathematics. Initially envisioning herself as a math teacher, her path eventually led her to LSU, where she majored in Psychology. It was during her time there, volunteering at a crisis intervention hotline, where Tina honed her skills in active listening and meeting people where they are—a transformative experience that would shape her career profoundly.

Tina’s first encounter with food insecurity was in New Orleans, where the stark contrast between wealth and poverty was inescapable. This awareness helped inform her decision to move to New England, where she hoped that a progressive political environment would result in a more equitable community into which she could immerse herself. Upon her arrival to join the team at CEOC, Tina was surprised to witness food insecurity even in a city as affluent as Cambridge, and eventually became instrumental in addressing this issue head-on.

Tina’s career at CEOC began with teaching health and sex education to fifth and eighth graders at Cambridge Public Schools and providing family counseling at a teen center. As she ascended to leadership roles in family planning, she began to see the intersectionality of how issues of food insecurity affected families. Her partnership with Food For Free, which shared a space with CEOC for over four decades, further deepened Tina’s understanding of the extent of hunger in the local community.

The close, long standing partnership between CEOC and Food For Free has been instrumental in addressing community needs. Tina recalled the collaborative atmosphere at both nonprofits in the shared building, where everyone rolled up their sleeves to pitch in where it was needed. She shared the memory of seeing the then Food For Free Executive Director, Janet Murphy, a woman in her 60’s at the time, wearing a weightlifting belt to help unload the trucks. The question everyone seemed to ask was, “How do we involve the whole community?”

Together, the two organizations have tackled the challenges of food insecurity with innovation, nimbleness, compassion, and a shared vision for community well-being. From jointly providing 1,400 grocery store gift cards per week for community members in need during the pandemic to integrating community feedback into program development, their collaboration exemplifies the power of collective action.

One of the most inspiring aspects of Tina’s leadership is her belief in the importance of community voices. Her philosophy is simple: ask people what they think, and they will tell you. CEOC programs such as free tax prep assistance, college and FAFSA assistance, and food pantries where patrons can choose their food are shaped by direct feedback from those they serve, ensuring that the needs of the community are not just heard but prioritized. 

Tina firmly believes in the principle of dignity through choice, and that involving people from the beginning and trusting our neighbors to make decisions about their own lives can lead to impactful changes. She laughingly shared an example where the CEOC food pantry wasn’t providing broccoli until they asked patrons what they could do differently, and they requested broccoli specifically. It was such an accessible food to provide, but until they heard from the community CEOC wasn’t aware that it was desired. 

In a city like Cambridge, where poverty can often go unnoticed amidst its affluence, Tina urges us to open our eyes and hearts to our neighbors’ struggles. She reminds us that every person has something valuable to contribute, and by working together as a community, we can build a stronger, more resilient future for all.

Tina wrapped up our conversation with an inspiring quote by Margaret Mead that she keeps on a button at her desk: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Each one of us has the power to make a difference, to uplift those in need, and to create positive change in our communities.

This Women’s History Month, let’s honor the countless women like Tina Alu who have dedicated their lives to service by working together to build a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can make history, one act of kindness, one partnership, and one empowered community at a time. 

To support CEOC’s mission to empower people and mobilize resources to fight poverty’s causes and impacts through education and organizing, visit https://ceoccambridge.org/donate/. To promote food and nutrition security across eastern Massachusetts, register to volunteer with Food For Free at https://foodforfree.org/volunteer/.