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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250429T110000
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SUMMARY:Policy Briefing: Threats to Food and Nutrition Programs in Budget Reconciliation
DESCRIPTION:This session is open to members of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and Grantmakers In Health only. Please register below. \n\n\n\nThe House and Senate continue to work on a budget reconciliation. On April 10\, the House narrowly passed the Senate’s version of a budget blueprint\, calling on Congressional committees to slash billions of dollars from programs within their jurisdictions including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)\, school meal supports like the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)\, and Medicaid in exchange for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. The House and Senate will determine the final tax and spending levels by agency and program in committee debates in coming months.In this session\, experts from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) will provide an up to the moment analysis of how federal budget reconciliation impacts food and nutrition programs\, the tie into Farm Bill negotiations\, and ultimately\, what these policy decisions mean for the health and well-being of children\, families\, and communities across the country. Experts will also highlight how advocates are organizing in support of these crucial programs\, FRAC’s advocacy resources\, and how funders can support this work. \n\n\n\nPlease note this session will not be recorded. Notes and key takeaways will be shared with registrants. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSummary of Notes & Resources\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nColleen Barton\, Communications Director\, FRAC\n\n\n\nColleen joined FRAC in October 2014\, as communications director. In this role\, she spearheads the development and implementation of a multi-faceted strategic communications framework to help advance the organization’s mission to end hunger in America \n\n\n\nPrior to FRAC\, Colleen was the founder and principal of Red Jacket Communications\, LLC\, a boutique public relations and event firm. Colleen designed and executed strategic communications plans for global and national policy and program initiatives\, research reports\, brand development\, fundraising promotions\, product launches\, and major events. Her clients included government contractors\, small businesses\, and international and national nonprofits. In her previous work with nonprofits\, including Catholic Charities USA\, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and Save the Children\, Colleen created and implemented communications efforts that increased awareness\, advocacy and greater investment in programs and services aimed at underserved populations. At Save the Children\, she built a media program in a newly created public affairs department\, and led the U.S. agency’s media response to major humanitarian crises\, including post-9/11\, the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Haiti Earthquake as well as the agency’s first advocacy-awareness campaign\, Every Mother\, Every Child and its signature research report\, The State of the World’s Mothers. \n\n\n\nShe currently serves on the Board of Directors for Homestretch\, a nonprofit in Northern Virginia that helps transition families out of homelessness. \n\n\n\nColleen received her B.A. in English\, with a public relations concentration\, from the State University of New York at Fredonia. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSalaam Bhatti\, SNAP Director\, FRAC\n\n\n\nSalaam joined FRAC in November 2023 as the SNAP Director. In this role\, he works to strengthen SNAP access and benefit adequacy. Salaam works closely with the Interim President to develop\, lead\, and track annual work plans; set and meet unit goals; collaborate with other unit Directors to assist in achieving FRAC’s strategic plan goals; and expand the unit’s innovation and work. \n\n\n\nSalaam joins FRAC after working at the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC). While at VPLC\, he successfully lobbied to fully repeal the drug felon ban for SNAP and TANF\, twice achieved record increases to TANF cash benefits\, subsidized reduced-priced school meals\, repealed the TANF family cap\, ended lunch shaming policies in schools\, and received a unanimous vote to expand SNAP for over 20\,000 families. Salaam also helped develop a mobile-friendly\, SNAP screening tool which is used by tens of thousands of people & multiple non-profits and has been rolled out to be available for all states and D.C. He received the Young Alumni Achievement Award from Albright College for his work in alleviating poverty and promoting Muslim-Jewish relations. Salaam also received the inaugural Stuart A. Freudberg Award for Regional Partnership for his work with Maryland and DC Hunger Solutions to address food insecurity across the metropolitan Washington area from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. \n\n\n\nSalaam has a J.D. from Touro Law School\, is barred in New York and Virginia\, and received his Bachelors in Political Science and International Relations from Albright College (with a year abroad in the University of Aberdeen). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCrystal FitzSimons\, Interim President\, FRAC\n\n\n\nCrystal FitzSimons is the Interim President for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)\, leading the organization to achieve its vision: A nation in which all people have the nutritious food they need to lead healthy and productive lives; and mission: To improve the nutrition\, health\, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy\, partnerships\, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions.  \n\n\n\nPrior to taking on the Interim President role\, Crystal oversaw FRAC’s work to improve and strengthen the school\, summer\, and afterschool nutrition programs. She analyzed policy to advocate for legislative and regulatory improvements to increase children’s access to the child nutrition programs. She helped develop strategy and direct national partnerships and field efforts to achieve program improvements through legislative and administrative changes. Recent successful efforts include the Pandemic and Summer EBT Programs; the child nutrition waivers during the pandemic that allowed schools to offer school meals to all their students at no charge\, the nationwide expansion of the Afterschool Meal Program; and the Community Eligibility Provision.  \n\n\n\nShe led FRAC’s efforts to provide technical assistance on the school\, summer\, and afterschool nutrition programs to national\, state\, and local partners. Crystal also has helped develop successful partnerships to support increased access to the child nutrition programs including the National Healthy School Meals for All Coalition; Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom\, a project with the National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation\, the National Education Association Healthy Futures\, and the School Nutrition Foundation; and CHAMPS (Cities Combating Hunger through the Afterschool Meal Program and Summer) with the National League of Cities.   \n\n\n\nCrystal is a sought-out policy expert for briefings\, webinars\, conferences\, and state legislative hearings. She also is regularly quoted in the media\, such as The New York Times\, NPR\, PBS NewsHour\, Politico\, the Washington Post\, USA Today\, and local media.  \n\n\n\nCrystal is the author or co-author of numerous reports. Recent publications include: The Reach of School Breakfast and Lunch During the 2022-2023 School Year; The Case for Healthy School Meals for All; Community Eligibility: the Key to Hunger-Free Schools\, School Year 2022-2023; Large School District Report Operating School Nutrition Programs as the Nation Recovers From the Pandemic; and Hunger Doesn’t Take A Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report.   \n\n\n\nHer previous work experience includes the Center for Community Change and Housing Comes First. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Sociology from Carroll College in Wisconsin and an MSW from Washington University in Missouri. 
URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/policy-briefing-threats-to-food-and-nutrition-programs-in-budget-reconciliation/
CATEGORIES:Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Kentucky/Louisville:20250429T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Kentucky/Louisville:20250429T210000
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SUMMARY:SAFSF On the Road: Atlanta
DESCRIPTION:Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) hosts regional community building events for members and partners through our popular series “SAFSF On The Road.” Our next gathering will be a special dinner in Atlanta\, Georgia to explore funding strategies in food justice throughout the state of Georgia. Join us for an intimate dinner in community with diverse capital partners and local leaders.  \n\n\n\nSince early 2024\, SAFSF has convened a cohort of funders and leaders at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to explore ways to unlock more investment for historically underserved producers and communities in the South. Our guest speakers Dr. Veronica Womack and Amber Bell will highlight the challenges and opportunities for public-private investment in food system infrastructure that supports Black farmers\, their supply chain partners\, and the communities they serve across the state. SAFSF will also share insights from our listening sessions with community-based organizations throughout Georgia\, and future plans for regional funder collaboration.  \n\n\n\nTickets for the dinner are $75 for funders and $25 for current SAFSF members. \n\n\n\nThis dinner will follow the opening day reception of Women Transforming Food & Finance\, hosted by Regenerative Food Systems Investment. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSAVE YOUR SEAT\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmber M. Bell is the Director of the Southwest Georgia Project and the President and CEO of Bell and Co. Consulting\, LLC. With over ten years of experience in the food and agriculture sector\, she has dedicated her efforts to addressing systemic inequalities and promoting social justice. Amber holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and is nearing the completion of her doctorate in Public Health from the Jian Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University.  \n\n\n\nShe is passionate about developing sustainable\, self-reliant local food systems aimed at improving the overall quality of life for Black and Brown communities in the rural South. By fostering collaboration among local farmers\, stakeholders\, and community organizations\, Amber works to create resilient food networks that support economic development and enhance the well-being of communities in Southwest Georgia and beyond. Her work embodies a holistic approach to food access\, equity and community empowerment. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Veronica L. Womack serves as the inaugural Executive Director of the Rural Studies Institute at Georgia College and Professor of Political Science and Public Administration. She hails from the Alabama Black Belt region and currently works in the Georgia Black Belt. She received her BA of Communications\, MPA and Ph.D.\, in Political Science from the University of Alabama. \n\n\n\nAn advocate and researcher of the Southern Black Belt region\, Dr. Womack’s work highlights the rich history\, foodways\, socioeconomic and political culture and traditions of rural people in the American South. She is a noted author\, practitioner and researcher of the region. She is the founder of the Blackfarmersnetwork.com\, a website that highlights the legacy of African American farmers\, within the Black Belt region. \n\n\n\nShe has been featured on various media outlets including The New York Times\, The WashingtonPost\, NPR\, GPB\, The Nation\, and Georgia Trend for her work in the region. Funders of her research include USDA\, the Robert W. Johnson Foundation\, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP).
URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/safsf-on-the-road-atlanta/
CATEGORIES:In Person Gathering,Meetings
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