Published May 27, 2025
Over 900 advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference (AHPC). The conference began with workshops covering the basics of federal nutrition programs, hunger in higher education, and preparations for the conference’s Lobby Day visits with congressional Members on Capitol Hill.
Attendees chose between 39 sessions over the course of the conference, with panel topics that had primarily been submitted by members of FRAC’s network organizations, making them especially relevant to the anti-hunger community in attendance. Session proposals were selected from over 100 submissions by a review panel of advocates, including advocates with lived expertise, and FRAC’s staff nutrition programs experts. Sessions focused on SNAP, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), special populations, school meals, advocacy strategies, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), from implementation best practices to administrative and legislative advocacy.
Between sessions, attendees networked in affinity groups, such as advocates of color, individuals with lived expertise, new advocates, “red” states, college hunger, and nutritionists against hunger. With additional networking time built into the conference agenda this year, attendees had more opportunities to connect with fellow advocates from around the country and across federal nutrition program areas.
Conference Highlights
Sunday Plenary: Mobilize and Manifest a Nation Free From Hunger
AHPC officially kicked off Sunday, May 4, with the lunch plenary, Mobilize and Manifest a Nation Free From Hunger. Panelists included pediatrician Megan Prior, M.D., at Children’s National Hospital; Mike Lavender, policy director at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; and Heidi Goldberg, director of Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment at the National League of Cities. Moderator LaMonika Jones, director of State Initiatives at FRAC, led a conversation about how SNAP improves health and supports agriculture and local economies, and the potential spending cuts that could have terrible cross-sector consequences. The panel concluded that by working in collaboration advocates can help to push back against the cuts.
Monday Plenary: A View From Capitol Hill: A Conversation With House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN)
At breakfast on Monday morning, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) was introduced by Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of The Food Group, and Caliegh Gumbiner, public affairs advocacy manager at Second Harvest Heartland. Ranking Member Craig spoke about the challenging political and economic climate and the importance of federal nutrition programs, especially as the federal budget is being drafted, and energized advocates in preparation for their Tuesday Hill visits. A sit-down conversation followed with Ranking Member Craig, Lenarz-Coy, and Gumbiner, and moderated by Ellen Teller, chief government affairs officer at FRAC, on the crucial need to protect federal nutrition programs at this moment in time.
SNAP Matters Rally on Capitol Hill
On Tuesday, after making rally signs throughout the conference, over 250 advocates gathered on Capitol Hill for the SNAP Matters Rally. Speakers included Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), and Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI). Advocates in attendance included Salaam Bhatti, SNAP director at FRAC, Eric Savaiano, Food and Nutrition Access program manager at Nebraska Appleseed, Signe Anderson, senior director of Nutrition Advocacy at Tennessee Justice Center, LaQuita Honeysucker, FRAC Board of Directors member, and Chad Bolt, chief strategist at Families Over Billionaires. FRAC Interim President Crystal FitzSimons closed out the rally and encouraged attendees to take the momentum in support of federal nutrition programs to their Hill visits and beyond.
