The recent conference, now in the rearview mirror, was historic considering the last one of its kind was in 1969. Below are some online reflections, actions/commitments and a webinar that gives you insight into the work of different agencies/organizations going forward. Apologies if I missed any online individual or organizational reflections!
Reflections on the conference…
Attendee Marion Nestle (https://www.foodpolitics.com/2022/09/the-white-house-conference-they-pulled-it-off/). Congressional Hunger Center (https://www.hungercenter.org/blog/reflections-on-the-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/); American Society for Nutrition attendee (https://nutrition.org/inside-the-2022-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/); The progressive farmer (https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2022/09/29/white-house-conference-hunger-big); a food policy graduate assistant perspective (https://wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/news/reflections-2022-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/);
The Access to Nutrition Initiative (https://www.fooddive.com/news/why-the-food-industry-is-the-cause-and-the-cure-of-unhealthy-diets/633325/); Retail Dietitians Business Alliance takeaways (https://www.retaildietitians.com/articles/key-retail-takeaways-on-the-white-house-summit-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/); what it means for schools: partnerships with corporations and non-profits, executive action yet no federal funding to expand free meals (https://www.edweek.org/leadership/bidens-national-strategy-on-hunger-what-it-means-for-schools/2022/09); takeaways (https://www.npr.org/2022/09/28/1125575122/biden-hunger-america-conference); Beth Olson, UW-Madison, interview, 22 minutes (https://www.wpr.org/listen/2012836) (22 min). SNEB was represented at the conference and will share the next steps (https://www.sneb.org/white-house-conference-2022/).
From the White House…
A fact sheet of commitments includes retailers, non-profits, health departments and other partners. Some planned efforts: free food delivery in selected locations, investment in increased nutrition education, investment in at least 6 local projects to provide safe spaces for physical activity in marginalized communities, establishment of mobile food banks for fruits and veggies, free telehealth nutrition counseling for uninsured, prioritized development of no/reduced/low added sugar options, a database of restaurant healthy children’s meals and more (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/28/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-announces-more-than-8-billion-in-new-commitments-as-part-of-call-to-action-for-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/).
Missed the livestream?…
It’s on YouTube (https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health/conference-streaming).
Webinar…
The Path Forward, American University, Dept. Of Health Studies 10/6 webinar (56 min) is online and includes a review of the national strategy goals, 5 pillars as well as ‘What’s Next?’ and what we learned from the pandemic (https://bit.ly/AU-WHWebinar). Look for the beginning of the process to update the WIC package, last updated in 2009.