White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health

Advocates working to end hunger were excited to learn that the Biden-Harris Administration will host a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in September. This is the first such conference related to hunger in over 50 years; the last was in 1969. The hope is that progress will be accelerated to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, reduce diet-related disease and close disparities around these issues.

The Administration has set a goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity in the U.S. by 2030 so that there will be fewer of us Americans living with diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Hearing from advocates, food companies, the health care community, local/state/tribal governments, people with lived experience and all of us in America will help launch a plan to achieve that ambitious goal.

The COVID-19 pandemic only served to make these hunger and health-related issues not only more visible but also more urgent. The impact on millions of Americans is obvious; a better future can be ahead if all segments of our country work together.

Be watching for updates in newspapers, the media and from organizations such as Bread for the World. Listening Sessions are already happening; Bread for the World held one for advocates from all regions in the U.S. with information forwarded to meetings with the Administration. And pray for the conference, the leaders, and success in the effort—2030 is not far away.

Vernita Kennen

Incarnation, Shoreview