According to the USDA, in the U.S. more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, are food insecure. The COVID-19 pandemic increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic. The impact of food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related diseases carry significant individual and societal costs including, but not limited to, poor overall health, decreased academic achievement, reduced workforce productivity, and increased healthcare costs.

In partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement, NACDD hosted a Thought Leader Discussion on September 8 in Washington, DC to discuss how public health organizations, their partners, and other organizations can participate in The White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. 

The Biden-Harris Administration launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities in September 2022. Through this Challenge, the Administration is encouraging partners and collaborators across all sectors of society to make bold and impactful commitments that will allow us to collectively achieve the goal set by President Biden and Vice President Harris: end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases – all while reducing health disparities.

The challenge supports the implementation of the five pillars of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health:

• Improve Food Access and Affordability
• Promote Healthier Eating Patterns
• Increase Physical Activity
• Support Healthy Eating Throughout Life
• Support Breastfeeding

Leaders representing multiple sectors attended the meeting to discuss their role in the Challenge and generated ideas for how they and partner organizations could support the National Strategy through their platforms and programs.

NACDD is dedicated to supporting our Members and strategic partners with the tools, resources, and training and technical assistance (T/TA) needed to impact change in alignment with the National Strategy. Learn more about upcoming T/TA opportunities.

NACDD leadership and supporting consultants co-hosted the Thought Leader Discussion with the White House Office of Engagement. From left to right: Catherine McCann, Consultant; Alice Jaglowski, Consultant; Liz Ruth, Vice President, Center for Health Policy; John Patton, Vice President, Center for Partnerships and Innovation; Jennie Hefelfinger, Vice President, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities; Marti Macchi, Chief Program Strategy Officer; John Robitscher, Chief Executive Officer; and Kristi Pier, NACDD Board President.