Alliance to End Hunger Prepares for 2nd Annual Hunger Free Communities Summit

February 1, 2012
Written byJ.K. Granberg-Michaelson

Last year, the Alliance hosted the first ever Hunger Free Communities Summit, bringing together diverse individuals who shared the common goal of ending hunger in their communities. This year, they’re at it again. With less than one month to go before the 2^nd Annual Hunger Free Communities Summit, the Alliance is certainly being kept busy with preparations.

As was the case last year, The National Hunger Free Communities Summit is being held in conjunction with FRAC and Feeding America’s National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, which begins on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Like last year, need-based scholarships are once again being offered for travel to the Summit. Applications can be found at http://www.hungerfreecommunities.org/summit/scholarships/.  This year, a few additions have been made to the program.

For the first time, Innovation Awards are being offered to our Hunger Free Communities. These Innovation Awards are open to any Hunger Free Community. With a particular practice of which they are proud and a complete application (found at http://www.hungerfreecommunities.org/summit/innovation-awards/), any organization can win. These entries will be judged by the staff of the Alliance to End Hunger. The awards will go to those communities that have the most creative solutions to addressing hunger. Awardees are given the opportunity to present their ideas to the Summit during a special luncheon panel, allowing other important anti-hunger advocates to see what exciting things their organizations are doing.

On top of the Innovation Awards, the Alliance is especially excited about the speakers for the conference. One of the goals of the conference is to present diverse, pertinent information to each attendee. This year’s speakers, including Former Congresswoman Eva Clayton, Ambassador Tony Hall of the Alliance to End Hunger, Rosemary Johnston of Maryland Governor’s Office on Children, Jeremy Everett of the Texas Hunger Initiative, Dave Miner of Indianapolis Food Resource Network, and many more, will do just that.

In continuing with their goal to end domestic hunger, the Alliance is bringing together individuals from across the United States. Attendees will represent anti-hunger coalitions located nationwide, including: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and more! The Alliance hopes that the Summit will continue building the political will to end hunger in each of the United States. With over 20 states currently represented, many coalitions will benefit from this networking opportunity.

Just a few weeks remain until the National Hunger Free Communities Summit on February 25, 2012. Registration is filling up rapidly and closes on February 13. To register, click here. Please visit the Hunger Free Communities website at hungerfreecommnities.org/summit to register, view the latest agenda, get travel information, and more. If you have any questions about registration for the Summit, please contact Nicole Washington.