February 12, 2019


There is still time left to register while hundreds of advocates from across the country have already saved their spot at the anti-hunger event of the year — the 2019 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. If you have not registered yet, there are many reasons to plan to come.

Taking place February 24–26, 2019, in Washington, D.C., the conference will offer attendees two days full of networking opportunities, content-rich sessions, and interactive trainings (followed by a Lobby Day with Members of Congress). Also, conference guests will have the opportunity to hear and learn from policymakers and policy experts during a series of can’t-miss plenaries.

From policy wonks to health professionals to grassroots advocates to anti-hunger program service providers, the conference will have something for everyone, ensuring that every attendee will return home with new skills, resources, and tools to use in the fight to end hunger. See below for just a few examples of what’s in store (and be sure to view the full conference agenda).

For the Early Childhood Advocate:

  • Food Insecurity & Nutrition During the Critical 0-3 Period: The early childhood period sets the foundation for physical, social, and emotional health. Come learn about critical programmatic, policy, and advocacy strategies to improve the health and well-being of infants and toddlers. The session will focus on the latest research and resources on early childhood nutrition and food insecurity, and discuss the important role of SNAP, CACFP, and WIC in improving the food security, dietary intake, health, and development of infants and toddlers.

For the Intersectional Hunger Leader:

  • Framing Hunger as an Intersectional Issue Area: Writer and activist Audre Lorde reminds us that there is “no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Lorde’s words are critical for advocates, as hunger is an issue that impacts individuals and communities in different, often overlapping, ways, and hunger is in conversation with myriad other pressing social problems. In this session, advocates will develop a practical understanding of “intersectionality” that can be applied to the issue of hunger, and learn frameworks and strategies from presenters for framing hunger as cross-cutting and multifaceted within their communications and operational strategies.

For the Health Professional:

  • Screen & Intervene: Effective and Innovative Models for Addressing Food Insecurity: Anti-hunger groups from across the nation are partnering with the health care community to address food insecurity, and this work has expanded substantially over the past several years. Session participants will join on-the-ground experts who are actively engaged in policy changes, innovative technologies, and food and nutrition interventions for a dialogue about using these approaches to improve the health and well-being of those struggling with food insecurity.

For the Grassroots Movement-Builder:

  • 2020 is Just Around the Corner: Effective Strategies to Help Low-Income Citizens Vote: Tens of millions of eligible voters did not exercise their right to vote in the last election — with non-voting rates especially high among low-income communities. Nonprofits that serve low-income residents can play an important role in helping citizens struggling with hunger engage in the democratic process. Yet, many nonprofits are unaware of the many permissible ways to engage, or it is unclear what the best ways are to begin. First, hear from voting experts on how voter suppression tactics can create challenges for low-income voters and communities of color. We’ll have some of the best-in-class case studies of how anti-hunger nonprofits can register voters and get out the vote. Finally, we’ll dive into discussions about strategies your organization can use to get started, such as by registering voters, and how to take your get-out-the-vote work to the next level.

For the Educator:

  • Hunger on College Campuses: Policy + Practice: Attendees will discuss food insecurity among college students, first hearing a brief panel presentation by experts and practitioners, and then participating in break-out conversations on specific topics pertaining to college hunger. Topics will include understanding the need on specific campuses and communities; evaluating outcomes of campus food insecurity programs; reducing barriers to access to food for students; partnerships; SNAP and college students 101; policy and advocacy; reducing stigma; college pantry best practices; federal, state, and local legislation to support student success; and EBT redemptions on campus.

For the Policy Wonk:

  • Campaign Against the Proposed Rule That Would Make SNAP Time Limits Harsher: After Congress rejected such proposals, USDA has proposed a rule to apply the time limits on SNAP eligibility for nearly a million additional unemployed and underemployed adults who don’t document sufficient weekly work hours. This Spotlight session will explain the rule, how to comment against the proposed rule, and the campaign to generate comments against the proposed rule that is being coordinated by FRAC, Feeding America, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Center for American Progress. In addition to Q & A, attendees will have an opportunity for to engage in a group action.

For the Media Maven:

  • Developing Messages That Resonate in Red States and With Conservative Media: What’s the best way to pitch a conservative media outlet about food insecurity and the role that the federal nutrition programs play in ending hunger? How can you place an opinion piece or article so that it best impacts conservative thinking? What kind of messages are effective in influencing conservative policymakers, particularly in red states? A public affairs expert, a journalist, and an anti-hunger advocate, all who connect with conservative audiences every day, provide best practices on effectively influencing this critical crowd in the fight to end hunger.

Register now for #hungerpc19!