Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

Participants used the time from this Dialogue to focus on the importance of economic empowerment. Participants found that economic mobility is one of the first steps to ending the system of hunger, nutrition, and health disparities. Ultimately participants agreed that income is the essential component for people to access food conveniently and affordably.

Participants discussed innovative local programs to address problems they are noticing in their communities. Some of the topics that were discussed included: Increased employment and economic mobility, reducing the prices of healthier foods would make them more accessible for all people, and healthy foods need to be marketed just as heavily as processed foods.

The participants in this Dialogue focused on how the price of food and overall convenience of accessing food keeps them from shopping locally. Distance was a huge factor in this discussion, participants had voiced this as the main barrier to accessing healthy foods and they were interested in seeing local efforts and initiatives that make it easier and affordable for those who live far away to access the nearest grocery store or farmer's market.

We completed a survey during this Dialogue to further examine some of the experiences of our participants, below are the results from the survey. 65% of participants from this Dialogue live less than 5 miles from the nearest grocery store. 31% of participants from this Dialogue live approximately 5 miles from the nearest grocery store. 4% of participants from this Dialogue live more than 5 miles from the nearest grocery store. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 58% of participants from this Dialogue drive their own car to their neares... Read moret grocery store. 23% of participants from this Dialogue walk to their nearest grocery store. 12% of participants from this Dialogue use Uber/Lyft/Taxi to get to their nearest grocery store. 8% of participants from this Dialogue ride the public bus to get to their nearest grocery store. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 90% of participants from this Dialogue have shopped at their local farmer's market. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 73% of participants from this Dialogue find it more affordable to cook at home versus eating out. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 58% of participants from this Dialogue "Occasionally" have the time in their day to cook at home. Read less

The main findings that emerged in the Dialogue included: Innovative programs for school systems, locally meeting nutrition and education needs in young children, supporting and investing in those who produce healthy foods, and providing transportation to local grocery stores/farmers markets at little to no cost.

We discovered that in certain areas, "Farmers Markets" aren't selling fruits and vegetables anymore. But instead, the markets have turned into spaces for small businesses to sell art, products, etc. We also acknowledged that the grocery store and community gardens are spaces to gather and they provide a sense of community. When people live in food deserts or grocery deserts they not only have to deal with a lack of access to food but a lack of access to the community as well.

We found that a lot of communities do have programs in place to support those with limited access whether it be geographic, financial, or other. However, we did explore the limitations of these programs and how they could be improved. For example, small organizations and programs may receive funding to support their initiatives, but that increases the demand for work on an already limited staff. So while the funding is useful, there is also a need for personnel to handle the demands of increased reach that comes with increased funding.

The White House Conference is just the beginning of the work that must be done to ensure that all people have access to affordable, nutritious food in their communities. Panelists also questioned how we create new formats that provide people in underserved communities to purchase food in their communities. Ultimately, panelists settled on several recommendations: Investing in agribusinesses that have the capacity to serve these communities so that they have unlimited longevity and ability to scale their businesses, food access and affordability is not a Black or Brown issue, it's a poor people... Read more's issue, and there is insufficient quality data and information on these underserved communities which makes it difficult to respond accurately and adequately. Read less

We had a productive dialogue with stakeholders from various faith communities, government sectors and economic/racial backgrounds. The specific barriers identified are: 1. Certain communities continue to have limited food access to healthy foods and food in general. Black, Indigenous, and Latinx People Of Color (BILPOC) and poorer communities continue to have decreased food access to healthy foods compared to White and wealthier communities. This racial and socioeconomic divide perpetuates inequality in the food system. 2. Subsidies currently promote “commodity crops” that are not associat... Read moreed with healthy foods and are contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions. This is leading to a continuous influx of unhealthy, processed foods into the market and our local food systems that are not based on evidence-based nutrition guidelines and research in the medical and healthcare community. 3. Local farmers do not have adequate access to market opportunities to sell their produce, especially those from BILPOC communities. Due to historical and current systemic inequalities, these farmers are limited in land rights and then in scaling up their food production to perform in larger markets. Local communities then become dependent on these larger markets. This current model also leads to abuses against farmworkers. 4. Education programs, including school, higher education and community-level programs, do not have sufficient nutrition education where consumers are educated enough about healthy food options, particularly acknowledging cultural foods. Consumption behaviors are increasingly based on limited education and misinformation being disseminated which inherently limits the consumer’s ability to make informed decisions. Some innovative solutions suggested were: 1. Remove nutrition policy standards from the USDA given its competing interests as the regulators of subsidies to food producers and agricultural businesses. Working with healthcare professionals, including dietitians, and the CDC, we can update guidelines for healthy, nutritious foods. These guidelines should be unbiased, evidence-based and completely separate from corporate influences. 2. Future governmental policies should also encourage farm sharing programs, cooperatives and local economic models where farmers can provide food to local businesses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals within their communities to decrease reliance on larger food systems that lead to inequities in the food system and more greenhouse gas emissions. This can also ensure attention to cultural foods that are important to local communities. 3. Expand collaboration between food distributors and corner stores to purchase healthier foods at bulk prices as they serve a critical role in their local communities. 4. Create a comprehensive map of food sources in the world where we can identify other food sources to protect communities from economic and climate shocks (taking into account geopolitics) Read less

The National Urban League and organizations like it are in need of more funding that can be specifically allocated for more staff to do the work that systems of oppression create. A lot of the assistance that was given to families during COVID is no longer available, and this places more of a demand on organizations like HAUL. HAUL acknowledged that while the issue at hand is hunger, health, and nutrition, these issues converge with other issues such as poor housing, unaffordable healthcare, poor education, and more.

Often, participants of the market don’t have knowledge of the foods, fruits, and vegetables being offered at the Farmer’s Market. They are unaware of what the foods are and how to prepare them. This also puts farmers in a difficult position as they are federally prohibited from cutting into produce and offering samples to the market attendants.

■ Economic mobility ■ Accessibility and eligibility and upscaling folks so that they can earn more with no need for assistance. That happens faster than policy change ■ The boxes provided by food drives aren’t nutritious and they are running out of food ■ How are the black-owned businesses that supported the community during the pandemic being supported now? ■ You shouldn't have to prove that you’re poor to have access to food

1. Chronic hunger prevents children from receiving a proper formal education and will cripple them later in life. Increase education revolving around healthy meal choices; empower a healthy start from the very beginning. With a lack of stress on the importance of fresh produce in everyday meals, young people can be led astray. Chronic hunger could lead to lower GPAs and a higher rate of students failing to complete their 4 year degrees. This starts a vicious cycle leading to student debt and an inability to find stable jobs. Financial instability will then continue to push them towards unhealt... Read morehy, cheaper meal choices, further deepening the spiral perpetuated by food deserts. Students can learn to search for more affordable healthy options instead of relying so heavily on fast food only if they are aware of the importance of nutrition. 2. Recognize the underlying causes of systemic food discrimination. Communities that have been historically redlined in the past continue to be in terms of food insecurity as well. Food deserts are by design, meaning they are existing the way they were intended to. Zoning perpetuates the separation of neighborhoods. Grocery stores with healthy options are heavily concentrated in certain areas based on socioeconomic factors and race. Lower income neighborhoods have less access to these stores and less nutritious options, and therefore usually contain fast food restaurants which are cheaper to manage. 3. Make healthy food more accessible. There is a huge interconnectedness between healthier options and higher prices. From our viewpoint, it is important to regulate the ratio of food resources in a specific amount of space and make sure there are affordable options that are also healthy. From growing produce, to transporting it, to maintaining its quality in stores; these are the factors that must be taken into account while considering affordability. 4. Support local programs to allow them a wider field of outreach. Initiatives such as the Farmers to Family Food Box program only received a few years of funding which was not enough to sustain the program. Investing in more years of federal funding would open up avenues for grassroot organizations who do not have the expertise to write their own federal grants. 5. Fix healthcare insurance medical codes allowing veggie prescriptions. Integrating food into healthcare is a significant step in overcoming diet related issues such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. Medically supported food and nutrition refers to food-based interventions prescribed by a medical provider designed to manage certain health conditions. These prescriptions should be covered by healthcare, as food can be medicine. This can only be done when the government alters medical codes guiding these insurance coverages. Read less

Making green spaces and features more common and accessible creates opportunities for people to get active without the pressure of adhering to a strict schedule or paying for membership fees. A casual walk in the park can help improve wellness, and is accessible compared to a gym membership and a personal trainer. This also includes infrastructure. Making a community more bike friendly or commuter friendly by intentional incorporating green infrastructure and protections for bikers and pedestrians will increase the accessibility and the opportunity for physical activity. Youth can benefit from... Read more learning about the plants that make up green spaces, the soil from which the plants grow, and the cycles of life. There are benefits from becoming more familiarize with the natural environment in your neighborhood and/or community. Promoting knowledge and engagement with nature within a community can enhance ownership of shared spaces as well as provide physical activity opportunities. Historically Black people and other people of color have been removed from their natural environment, first through segregation and racist narratives, and more modernly through redlining and issues of affordability. By reconnecting youth to the environment through nature and outside play (such as gardening, hiking, bird watching) can shift historically harmful narratives and heal communities, while providing opportunity to outdoor activity. Income should not determine quality of life. To combat redlining, gerrymandering, and the like, we should create mandates and quotas for the inclusion of the homes and neighborhoods of people of color in better infrastructure. In addition to racist histories and policies which have disenfranchised Black and Brown communities, the impacts of climate change and extreme weather patterns are usually felt heaviest by those same communities. Not only do these communities have less access to green spaces and waterways, they are often the victim of environmental harms such as air pollution, noise pollution, poor water quality, and urban heat islands. These communities bear the brunt of environmental harm, while being underinvested in and lacking the access to basic rights such as healthy foods and clean water. While major water crisis like Flint and other cities with lead pipes were mentioned in the dialogue, we focused more on food deserts or food apartheids. The lack of access to healthy foods is a major issue in low income Black communities, in both urban and rural settings. While it is important to invest in green spaces and community gardens, these communities also need access to healthy food options via brick and mortar. It is hard to prioritize health and exercise if you don't have access to a healthy, affordable grocery store within your neighborhood. Read less

Our primary findings include using technology to provide more education to new mothers on how to get the most out of their program benefits. For example, we could create an app that helps participants navigate the programs available in their states. This app could push personalized notifications for key milestones and baby growth needs for new mothers, and also become more accessible for elderly caregivers. When we consider young mothers who may not have the support system they need in place to answer crucial questions about the nutrition their baby needs, they may be less likely to reach out ... Read moreto others – whether that’s to family, friends or professionals – due to fear of judgement. A safe space in a community-based social media channel could allow them to share experiences and advice with other mothers who may be experiencing similar thoughts or have recently overcome these challenges. Another key need around education is the importance of healthy eating and providing incentives for those who use their benefits to provide nutritious meals to their families. This solution could include an activity center where daily activities are logged for points and rewards. Smart scales could track weight loss, and this data could be shared with WIC clinics for monitoring improvements. This technology solution could also allow a partnership to overcome barriers to accessing food with existing structures like online platforms and meal delivery companies for recipes, nutrition tips and easy snacks. The idea of using technology to provide a nurturing environment for vulnerable populations extend to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in a similar way. Submitting questions, hopping on a video consultation and connecting with a local community can all contribute to ensuring new mothers are not facing their concerns alone. Read less

During our Dialogue, participants translated the problems they identified into specific, actionable policy solutions: 1. The White House Conference must truly be a conference, not a lecture-style presentation. It is essential that the feedback collected during these listening sessions meaningfully inform the agenda of the Conference and the resulting policy action. Insights and policy proposals which gain momentum during and after the conference should influence the Farm Bill. The Conference should not explore one issue at the expense of another, nor view issues as trade-offs: physical activit... Read morey vs. food security vs. nutrition vs. economic empowerment. It must consider these issues, and the boarder issues of poverty, income inequality, and health inequity as part inter-related systems of oppression. These connections should be explicitly acknowledged by the WH Conference by 1) the inclusion of a land acknowledgement, 2) inviting diverse, interdisciplinary speakers, 3) evaluating each proposal through the lens of justice (as a small example, transitioning from the word "food desert" to "food apartheid") and 4) engaging, without tokenizing, stakeholders with lived experience of hunger. 2. Dismantle structural racism in the food system. Remove barriers for BIPOC farmers. Ensure Native American food assistance programs such as FDPIR include traditional foods, and allow Tribes to administer their own programs through the 638 Authority. Invest in sustainable, regenerative agriculture that employs traditional ecological knowledge. End food apartheids by investing in public transportation, innovative grocery delivery and distribution pilots and SNAP online, supporting urban grocery cooperatives and nonprofit grocers, and urban farming. 3. Increase SNAP and WIC. Fund universal school meals. Invest in produce prescription programs and Double-Up incentives at farmers' markets. 4. Reduce liability for grocers, restaurants, and distributors who want to donate their food. Create competitive grants for innovative food recovery pilots such as California's SB1383. 5. Subsidize fruit and vegetable farming, invest in small farmers, and reduce subsidies for livestock feed monocrops. 6. Reduce the digital divide by investing in rural and Tribal free or low-cost device and Internet access programs, and digital literacy education at schools and libraries. 7. When devising the Farm Bill, prioritize constituent voices over corporate lobbying interests, be transparent about proposed policy developments and bill language drafts as they are debated over the coming months, and sponsor Farm Bill listening sessions and outreach events with diverse stakeholders. Read less