Episode 5: From Barely Getting By to Building a Movement: Paige Swanstein’s Fight for Student Needs

In this powerful episode of I Grabbed the Branch, host Heather Owens sits down with Paige Swanstein — co-founder of the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC) — to explore how one student’s struggle to survive became a national movement for change.Paige opens up about working three jobs in college, skipping meals, and facing the impossible choice between rent and education. Those experiences became the roots of her advocacy: helping students meet their most essential needs so they can focus on learning, not just surviving.Together, Heather and Paige talk about resilience, leadership, and the moment Paige realized that sharing her story could create systemic change. Listeners will hear how the SBNC grew from a student-led initiative into a nationwide network influencing policy, empowering campuses, and giving students a voice in shaping their futures.This conversation is a reminder that change often starts with one brave voice — and that even when you’re barely getting by, you can still build something extraordinary.🎙️ I Grabbed the Branch — real stories of resilience, purpose, and the people who turned pain into power.Learn more about SBNC at https://www.studentbasicneeds.com/Follow Paige and her journey on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigeswanstein/