KFC Foundation’s Post

World leaders, development partners, and academics from around the world are meeting in Paris this week to demonstrate the power of school meal programs to address global challenges. The School Meals Coalition will position school meal programs as a single investment that empowers children, transforms food systems, and strengthens communities. EDC’s Liesbet Steer is participating in this important conversation, addressing the critical role that innovative finance has to play in school meals. As highlighted in the 2023 Commonwealth Education Report, “School meal programs could—and should—be a part of building adaptable and resilient education systems for future generations,” Steer writes. #GlobalSchoolMealsSummit #SchoolMeals #SDGs

📣 Calling all business-owning families! The Family Business Consulting Group in partnership with the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management invite enterprising families to take a brief survey on their experiences and priorities around family education. Everyone who participates can opt-in to receive the report results after the data is analyzed. The survey takes less than 10 minutes. Details and link below: https://lnkd.in/gf7Cn62z We look forward to your participation in this important research! #familybusiness #familyeducation #familylegacy #familyowned #familyenterprise

🎙️ I was joined by Curt Ellis and Rob Harvey, Co-CEOs of FoodCorps an AmeriCorps program that partners with schools and policymakers to build access to 🍲 #healthyschoolmeals and 🧑🍳 #foodeducation for students, on The Future Of Education 💡 🗣️ We discussed why food is central to the work of schools, how food education and meal choice builds agency in #students, and the debate between universal and targeted #schoolmealassistanceprograms. 👇 Find a link to the full discussion in the comments.

Read a new interview with Peggy Wilmoth to find out about her experience in the RWJF #HealthPolicyFellows program, how it shaped her career, and her advice for prospective fellows: https://bit.ly/45IKOfn #healthpolicy #healthcareleaders

I applaud these students who bravely shared personal stories of food insecurity. Your stories help advance the cause of ending basic needs insecurities across the nation. To the legislator who failed to show humanity on the issue. I share… 1. Food pantries are not just for folks who have no access to food. Campus pantries should be a consistent resource for those with limited access to healthy foods. Healthy foods lead to healthy minds and bodies. A healthy student is more likely to graduate. 2. Let us all refrain from glamorizing food insecurity. Just because many of us lived through it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do better with the generations after us. Being hungry should not be used as a tool to “build character”. I guarantee you there are better more evidence based ways to do this on a college campus.

We know from decades of research that the first thousand days of life are pivotal in defining an individual’s future health and success—and their ability to contribute to our communities’ civic and economic vitality. Our latest Early Education and Care Report, Strengthening the Foundation: A Profile of Early Childhood Educators in Boston and Beyond, produced by the Boston Opportunity Agenda and Birth to Eight Collaborative, offers us a chance to more deeply understand the lives and work of those who care for our youngest children, sharing results from an extensive survey taken among members of that workforce. The numbers reveal that early education and care professionals are compensated too little for demanding roles in a system that is already considered unaffordable for most families. It’s clear that the system is in desperate need of change. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/ex_S5rFU

We were thrilled to take part in the Strategic School Staffing Summit hosted by Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce initiative earlier this month. The summit brought together over 600 education leaders from school districts, higher ed, nonprofits, philanthropy, and government to celebrate innovative and practical approaches to team-based education. We learned how new approaches to teacher preparation and staffing can: + improve working conditions for teachers + reduce their isolation and overload + accelerate their growth What had us excited? Emerging research on the differentiated roles and distributed expertise of team-based teaching. We’re considering how skilled mentors and coaches can support team effectiveness and teacher development. Learn more: https://ow.ly/urYq50QFFWI

In a revealing study, it has come to light that students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, with reports indicating that nearly half of the students at these institutions faced challenges related to food access in 2020. This situation starkly contrasts with the national average of 23% for college students, underscoring a significant disparity. Furthermore, food insecurity is linked with a myriad of negative outcomes, including a detrimental impact on students' physical and mental health, academic performance, and significantly lower odds of graduation. The root of this issue stems from broader socioeconomic barriers that Black students face in accessing higher education, compounded by housing insecurity and changes in affirmative action policies. In the face of these challenges, nutrition equity advocate and registered dietitian, Maya Feller, provides practical advice for HBCU students on how to access affordable, nutritious food options that are both culturally relevant and beneficial for long-term health. Feller emphasizes the importance of embracing a wide range of food sources including fresh, frozen, and canned goods, while advocating for informed choices free from excessive sugars, fats, and salts. She also underscores the critical role of dairy products as a protein source. The article also highlights the availability of resources such as local food banks, HBCU food pantries, and the importance of seeking guidance from credentialed practitioners who prioritize culturally relevant food options. Read the full story by Anissa Durham from Word In Black at Dallas weekly.com #Iamdw #blackpress #foodinsecurity #HBCUstudents #affordablefood #nourishingoptions #collegehurdles

Meet our fifth and final highlight for the #StudentSpotlight profile for the MPA-SJ Program for this edition. Name: Taylor Allgood Program: Master of Public Administration Year in Graduate School: 2nd Research Interest Area & Capstone Project Idea: In the MPA program, my primary research interest has been in studying how the theory and practice of Collaborative Governance can be used in the City of Cincinnati to improve local food systems. Last semester, I conducted a pilot study to better understand the perceptions of and approaches to different models of food access. For my capstone project this semester, I am assisting my faculty advisor in her joint work with a local community organization and other faculty members at UC. Although the project has several components and will span throughout the course of the year, the ultimate goals of this project are to improve Black maternal health outcomes for expectant mothers in certain Cincinnati neighborhoods, strengthen the integrity of Community-University Partnerships, and improve local trust in research. Future Goals: What do you intend to achieve with your degree and how (Industry of work, Organization): I intend to use my MPA degree to work as a consultant for the government and other public organizations. I'm interested in using my education to help these entities solve their staffing and organizational challenges. However, I'm still very passionate about food security and plan to stay very active in my local food system wherever I end up relocating. Prospective students interested can apply to the MPA SJ (Social Justice) program until June 15th 2024 for fall admission through the application link: https://lnkd.in/gqHvu4Q4 #MPASJ #PublicManagement #SocialAndUrbanPolicy #CyberPolicy

This was an amazing article! As I am learning more about policy in the food space, I’m wanting to be part of the solutions and creating opportunities for our voices to be heard on food insecurity issues! Please read,share, and think about how you can be part of the solution.