2021 Forum
The 2021 Virtual Hunger and Health Forum: Impact Through Courageous Collaboration was held over the course four days--October 14-20th, 2021.
Over 180 ending hunger advocates, health promoters, food and farming advocates, and community builders attended our virtual forum.
2021 Hunger and Health Forum Highlights
Day 1 - Thursday, October 14th
11-12:30pm Virtual Keynote by Dr. Monica White
Food Justice and Emergency Food: Building Bridges and Strategies Toward Community Wellness
While emergency food providers are engaged in meeting the daily/weekly food needs of families in the short term, food justice seeks to eradicate the need for emergency food in the long term. This divergence can hamper coordination in spite of their shared concerns. This lecture will describe how these groups can come together to support and build toward strong community-based food systems that will create community health and wellness in both the short term and the long term.
12:30-1:30pm Virtual Networking Rooms
Day 2 - Monday, October 18th
11-12:30pm Virtual Panel Discussion: Strong Federal and State Nutrition Assistance Programs
Strong and accessible federal nutrition programs are an incredibly important tool in the fight against hunger. Join us for a Child Nutrition Program and Policy conversation, highlighting the important role that programs like Pandemic-EBT, SNAP, WIC, School Meals, play during and beyond the pandemic to ensure that all Wisconsin children have access to the food and benefits they need to learn, play and live healthy lives.
Facilitator: Maureen Fitzgerald, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Vice President Government Relations
Panelists:
Corey Malone-Smolla, Feeding America, Policy Manager
Kari Malone, WIC and Nutrition Section Manager/State WIC Director
Mary Augustine, State of WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team, Nutrition Program Consultant
Jess Rutstein, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, FoodShare Program and Policy Analyst Advanced
2-3:30pm Virtual Panel Discussion: Economic Security for Families and Individuals
When families and individuals are economically secure, they are food secure. Join us as experts discuss efforts, policies and programs that advance economic security through workforce tax credits (EITC, CTC), housing, and access to affordable healthcare.
Facilitator: Brad Paul, WISCAP, Executive Director
Panelists:
Tim Smeeding, UW-Madison, Professor
Doua Vang, SE Asian Healing Center, Inc.
Sara Finger, Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, Executive Director
Day 3 - Tuesday, October 19th
11-12:30pm Virtual Panel Discussion: 21st Century Emergency Food Programs
The emergency food system is an important actor to improve the nutrition security and health of Wisconsinites. Join us for a conversation highlighting how food pantries and meal programs throughout the state have been meeting the challenge of increasing their supply of nutritious food to the communities they serve. Explore the role of emergency food plays to work in partnership to improve nutrition equity across the state.
Facilitator: Patti Habeck, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, President & CEO
Panelists:
Heidi Gould, Jewish Community Pantry (Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC), Director
Jules Lee, Middleton Outreach Ministry, Food Security Manager
Dale Davis, SWEPS Food Pantry, Operations Manager
Katie Walker, Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf (Duluth Vineyard Church), Food Shelf Director
Kris Knott, Hudson Area Backpack Program, Volunteer--Program Coordinator
2-3:30pm Virtual Panel Discussion: Community Partnerships to End Hunger and Improve Health
This panel will highlight and explore projects and collaborations that bring together ending-hunger programs, anti-poverty organizations, the business community and healthcare providers to effectively address the social determinants of health.
Facilitator: David Nelson, Medical College of Wisconsin, Associate Professor Family and Community Medicine
Panelists:
Geeta Wadhwani, Children’s Health Alliance of WI, Program Leader WI Medical Home Initiative
Dadit Hidayat, Kids Forward, Policy and Engagement Specialist
Jackie Brickson, UW Health, Clinical Nutrition Administrative Assistant
JoAnna Bernklau, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Community Benefits Coordinator
Anna Stichert, Security Health Plan, Health Educator
Day 4 - Wednesday, October 20th
12-1:30pm Virtual Panel Discussion: A Connected and Empowered Food System
The Wisconsin food system can provide the components of healthy, affordable meals to all. However, many of the pieces of the system are not optimally aligned for access. Join us for a discussion highlighting the work being done in local communities to align the links in the Wisconsin food system from growers to distributors to markets to people to ensure that all Wisconsinites have access to healthy, desirable, and delicious food.
Facilitator: Amy Meinen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Human Ecology, Center for Community and Non-Profit Studies and healthTIDE, hosted at the Center for Community Stewardship
Panelists:
Jeff Joslyn, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Director of Food Resources
Gary Besaw, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Director
Shawn Bartholomew, Chippewa Valley Produce LLC, Farmer
Amy Greil, Kenosha County Food Bank, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Resource Development with the University Wisconsin-Madison's Division of Extension
Sponsorship Opportunities
To sponsor the 2022 Hunger and Health Summit, please review our sponsorship proposal and contact us.