The Capital Area Food Bank’s energetic and creative staff is working hard to cook up ways to support its partner agencies located throughout the Washington metro area. Like any good chef, we experiment with different recipes to discover what works. When we find a great recipe, we’re proud to share the results. This year, we’re pleased to present an exceptional recipe for the food bank’s Metropolitan Area Hunger Conference—”Unify, Testify, Fortify: Adding Value to your Nonprofit.”
Now in its 32nd year, the MAHC will take place on April 20 at The Catholic University of America’s Pryzbyla Center. The conference will bring together food bank staff, partner agencies, feeding programs, community leaders, experts, and advocates for a day of education, fellowship, and networking, as we seek to end hunger in our nation’s capital.
The conference will focus on ways that nonprofits and feeding programs can add value to their services. The unify theme will be demonstrated by an innovative two-part workshop on food cooperatives that encourages low-income communities to join nonprofit programs as members to ensure their own food security.
Two workshops will embody the testify theme, as participants learn about the state and federal legislative process. Finally, the conference will fortify our communities with information about incorporating healthy eating practices into feeding programs.
The conference will maintain its high quality and continue to focus on important issues that have been emphasized over the years. Participants will include:
- Nancy Yarnell of Food Security of America who will prepare participants starting their own food cooperatives;
- Alex Ashbrook of DC Hunger Solutions who will speak as a hunger advocate working in the legislative process;
- Brian Banks, the food bank’s director of Public Policy and Community Outreach, who will encourage partner agencies to become effective advocates;
- Caryn Long, senior policy council at Feeding America, who will discuss the Farm Bill and why it should matter to every feeding program,
- Dr. Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America, who will lend his expertise on politics as a moderator of the legislative panel;
- Amy Schultz, a senior policy advisor to Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), will discuss the legislative process from the perspective of Capitol Hill; and
- Members of the food bank’s newly-created Healthy Eating Department, who will present ways in which partner agencies can incorporate healthy eating best practices into their programs.
Directions to the conference and suggested transportation/parking:
The Catholic University of America’s Pryzbyla Center is located at 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064. There are two guest parking lots with shuttle service. Participants are encouraged to take Metro’s red line to Brookland-CUA station near the campus. For more information, see this map, the conference packet and online registration. Please direct questions to David Poms, at aaa@capitalareafoodbank.org, or (202) 526-5344 x294.