The Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on Wednesday, September 28. According to health.gov, the Administration has released a National Strategy with actions the federal government will take to drive solutions to these challenges.

DC Green’s Produce Rx team watched the conference virtually. Read responses from Produce Rx Manager Luisa Furstenberg-Beckman, Produce Rx Coordinator Takyera Robinson, Produce Rx consultant Kristin Sukys below.

Question: What do you feel was the overall purpose of the conference? 

Furstenberg-Beckman: To get the conversation started on a national level about food and nutrition access, social determinants of health, and programs supporting this work

Robinson: Galvanize state, local, federal agencies, institutions, CBOs, and organizations to make steps to improve nutrition access and security in the US. Lay a foundation for action in hunger and nutrition issues in the US by understanding the current landscape. 

Sukys: The conference was incredibly important. Advocates have been asking for this commitment from the White House for years at this point. The conference not only illustrated that addressing the connection between food insecurity, nutrition, and health is a priority of the administration, it was a rallying call for advocates working across the spectrum of the issue to come together and collaborate. The process of making the report broke down silos, made people assess the bipartisanship of opportunities, and strengthened cohesion to drive a practical and effective nutrition agenda.

Question: What are key takeaways from the conference that you feel will affect DC residents, particularly those who qualify for DC Greens programs? 

Furstenberg-Beckman: I think that the mention of food as medicine in the conference (and on a national platform) is so important as a means to start to move the needle on these issues

Robinson: Puts positive pressure on DC Greens to fulfill and improve upon its promises to the community through its program offerings, Produce Rx, The Well, etc. The conference empowers residents to hold organizations, institutions, agencies, and governments accountable.

Sukys: The White House Conference Report laid out a ‘whole government approach’ strategy to improve our food system. The administration has made many commitments within that strategy that are relevant to DC residents who qualify for our organization’s programs. Residents should know that the feds have officially supported expanding healthy school meals, summer EBT, and SNAP access and eligibility in addition to more funding for meals for older adults, improving transportation, increasing access to affordable and healthy foods in historically underserved communities. The report also outlined actions that will help increase access to produce prescription programs, a key priority and program of DC Greens.

Is there a sense of hope in regards to DC Greens fulfilling our mission towards advancing health equity and a just food system? 

Furstenberg-Beckman: I think the conversations around Food as Medicine and social determinants of health on a national level is important to bring awareness to these issues and to support the work that needs to happen to make the changes. This helps our cause for sure, but with just talk, I’m not super inspired.

Robinson: Yes, putting food and nutrition agenda back in the forefront of the public sphere can act as a catalyst for work that DC Greens is doing and plans to do.

Sukys: Yes! The conference and the report have elevated many of the initiatives that DC Greens has supported over the years. Importantly, this federal report gives state and local advocates something to leverage in conversations with policymakers. At the moment though, the report is symbolic, it may help us achieve our mission, but only if it is implemented and if it is leveraged for more poignant change at the local level as well.

Question: What do you feel are the next steps? From White House/Fed Government? DC Greens? Folks in the food space? 

Furstenberg-Beckman: Keep the conversations and momentum going around Food as Medicine. And then doing the work, building coalitions and advocacy for changes in policies both local and eventually nationally. Locally: pushing for changes on the city/ state level, whether in MCOs/ reimbursement models, etc. Federal level: what comes next, more funding for programs that exist? We don’t really need more/ new programs.

Robinson: Create resource sharing channels between different community organizations; not be siloed. Improvement of national nutrition assistance programs. I think the nation needs to realize the intersection of nutrition and other social issues. These issues need to be tackled in tandem- housing, employment, education. DC Greens need to continue to develop a more reliable Produce Rx program and utilize the Well Space to accomplish DC Greens goals and collaborate with other organizations.

Sukys: I think it is important to stay involved. The White House is hosting webinars on their progress. Join them and continue to hold the White House accountable for the strategy they presented.

Question: What would you change about the conference? 

Furstenberg-Beckman: It was a lot of talk, but less action items, next steps, etc. I worry that everyone will just pat themselves on the back for having the conference, without the follow through of actually doing the work on these issues.

Robinson: Invite DC Greens. Otherwise, not sure.

Sukys: I am happy with the focus on hunger, nutrition, and health, but I do think that climate change was missing from the conversation– both the impact of climate change on hunger, nutrition, and health as well as how our solutions consider climate impacts.

Question: How can DC Community members support the advancement of this agenda? How can they advocate? 

Robinson: Reach out to organizations and institutions for opportunities to get involved or provide feedback. Look for opportunities and spaces to show up and voice their opinions. Continue to be critical of nutrition legislation, initiatives, and assistance programs and advocate for better services.

Sukys: Get involved locally. Join the DC Food Policy Council, check out what bills are being introduced by DC council members and tune into legislative hearings. Call your council member and ask them how they are going to advance the values of the White House Conference report locally. You could even send the report to them and highlight actions that you would like them to particularly support.