Applying Lived Experience to Public Service: Reflections on My Journey Working Within CSNS

Written By: Zurisaday Robbins Briz

The Coordinating SNAP and Nutrition Supports (CSNS) program strengthens access to human services by aligning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with other nutrition supports. CSNS also works to center individuals with lived experience by giving them a voice through the Community Impact Council (CIC), which guides the funding of innovative projects. The blog post below is part of a series from APHSA that will share insights and stories from each team involved, highlighting the program’s impact on service delivery and community engagement.

Read the first post in this series!

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As a first-generation Mexican immigrant, my personal journey has profoundly shaped my professional path. Over the past several years, I have navigated significant life changes—losing my job, sending my daughter off to college, and pursuing my own higher education. Amid these challenges, I found purpose and strength in my role as a Community Impact Council (CIC) Consultant with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

Turning Lived Experience into Lasting Change

My lived experience as an immigrant deeply informs my advocacy and commitment to fairness. Working with APHSA and fellow CIC colleagues, I collaborated with a group of dedicated leaders who brought lived experience to the forefront of government innovation projects. Together, we focused on improving access to public nutrition and economic services, ensuring that immigrant families and individuals with limited English proficiency are not left behind.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my work has been leading efforts around language justice in social services. I was honored to contribute to an initiative in Caroline County, Maryland that improved outreach and service delivery for Haitian-Creole and Spanish-speaking families, helping bridge language and cultural barriers. I helped shape Caroline County’s Family Resources Action Team by sharing my own experiences with food insecurity, not only within my family, but also the broader challenges faced by my community.

Centering Community Voice in Every Step

By bringing these realities to the table through the CIC, I helped ensure the initiative was grounded in the real needs of those it aimed to serve and made space for others with lived experience to be included. Through this work, I learned that authentic community voice, consistent engagement, and cross-sector collaboration are essential to building sustainable and just food systems.

Expanding the work in APHSA’s Coordinating SNAP and Nutrition Supports (CSNS) initiative, I was further entrusted me to design and lead the Language Justice Lab, a project aimed at improving language access within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) programs. Through facilitating workshops that combined research, data, and lived

From Advocacy to Action: Launching Gulf Coast Alianza

My work with APHSA has opened doors to pursue ventures within my own community. I have been building my Language Access Consulting business, Gulf Coast Alianza. This venture allows me to extend my mission of wide participation by offering:

One especially rewarding project involved collaborating with the hospitality industry to provide bilingual outreach materials for Hispanic hospitality workers at their work sites (hotels and restaurants) through pop up-style outreach events.

A Personal Journey of Growth and Leadership

Balancing these responsibilities during a time of personal growth has required resilience and adaptability. This journey has reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration, cultural humility, and the critical role of lived experience in driving meaningful social change.

Building on these meaningful experiences, I am currently pursuing a Master of Social Work, with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2026. I was also recently appointed Vice President of my school’s Phi Alpha Honor Society. This next chapter represents a vital step in my ongoing commitment to deepening my ability to create lasting, positive change within the communities I serve.

Why This Approach Matters

My time with APHSA has been more than a job—it’s been a platform to share my story and empower others. I’ve seen firsthand how the opportunity to talk about the first-generation immigrant experience can create change that leads to positive outcomes.

It has been both humbling and inspiring to help communities navigate complex systems and access the services they deserve. This journey reminds me every day that lasting change begins when we listen deeply, learn continuously, and act together.

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