See below for the full details on speakers and sessions at the 2021 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference. Links below each session title will take you to that session’s recording.
In-between sessions, this year’s conference also included cooking demonstrations, “Pivot Talk” stories from across the state, musical and student performances, and more!
Wednesday, February 17
10:00am – 10:45am
Opening Session: Successes from Pivoting in a Crisis
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Since schools closed in March because of the pandemic, North Carolinians have come together to provide tens of millions of meals for children who need them. Let’s start the conference by celebrating this success and all the hard work that went into pivoting during a crisis to make it happen!
- Welcome: Lou Anne Crumpler, Director, Carolina Hunger Initiative, UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Hosted by Gerald Owens, News Anchor, WRAL-TV
- A Message from Governor Roy Cooper and First Lady of NC Kristin Cooper
- Lynn Harvey, Director of School Nutrition and District Operations, NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
- Eric Davis, Chairman, North Carolina State Board of Education
- A Message from Mandy Cohen, Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services
- Thank You: Chuck Scofield, Executive Vice President, No Kid Hungry / Share Our Strength
11:00am – 11:45am
“Telling the Story” — Perspectives on Supporting and Feeding Kids During a Pandemic
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From the cafeteria to the classroom to the administrative offices, everyone has a role to play in making sure students are well-fed and supported. North Carolina’s 2020 Teacher of the Year leads a discussion with school nutrition professionals and educators on how they fill those roles in era of social distancing and remote learning.
- Hosted by Gerald Owens, News Anchor, WRAL-TV
- Maureen Stover, 2020 NC Teacher of the Year, Cumberland International Early College, Cumberland County Schools
- Kisha Clemons, 2020 NC Principal of the Year, Shuford Elementary School, Newton-Conover City Schools
- Jada Brown, School Nutrition Director, Cleveland County Schools
- Melody Howell, School Nutrition Manager, Bethel Elementary School, Watauga County Schools
- Amy Stanley, Director of School Nutrition, Bladen County Schools
- Additional speaker to be announced
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Cooking Demonstrations and Lunch Break
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2021 COOKING DEMOS
Grab your lunch and come on back to check out cooking demonstrations and recipe videos from our partners across the state.
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Meals on the Move 1: “It Takes A Village” — Best Practices for Communities Working Together
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Community organizations, restaurants, volunteers, and many others have stepped up to make sure kids have the food they need during the pandemic. A deep dive into the most innovative work being done to work together as a community to feed children.
- Moderated by Tamara Baker, Project and Communications Director, Carolina Hunger Initiative
- Nicole Caudill, Community Meals Manager, Providence, a program of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
- Rebecca Collins, School Nutrition Director, Onslow County Schools
- Dana Ellis, Director of Programs, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
- Amanda Hege, Nutrition Educator, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
- Hannah Randall, Chief Executive Officer, MANNA FoodBank
2:00pm – 2:45pm
“The Big Picture” — How Hunger, Equity, and Health Are Interrelated
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A close look at hunger through the lenses of food insecurity, food equity, and public health.
- Moderated by Alice Ammerman, Director, UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Shorlette Ammons, Equity in Food Systems Coordinator, Extension Associate, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State University
- Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University
- Rebecca Planchard, Senior Early Childhood Advisor, NC Department of Health and Human Services
- Rev. Bill Kearney, Community Outreach Manager, UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Thursday, February 18
10:00am – 10:45am
Meals on the Move 2: “The Last Mile” — Best Practices for Getting Meals to Children
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Spread-out rural communities, remote learning, and other challenges can make it difficult to cover “the last mile” of food service and get meals into the hands of children. A deep dive into the most innovative work being done to use buses, direct shipping, volunteer fleets, and other methods to feed children.
- Welcome
- Lou Anne Crumpler, Director, Carolina Hunger Initiative
- Cheryl Parquet, Director — Community Engagement and Marketing Activation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Panel
- Moderated by Tamara Baker, Project and Communications Director, Carolina Hunger Initiative
- Carolyn Barton, Director of Child Nutrition, Transylvania County Schools
- Brad Johnson, Director of Transportation, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Liz Lord, Senior Engagement Director, Harrison Family YMCA (Rocky Mount, NC)
- Angela Rodriguez, School Nutrition Director, Currituck County Schools
- Mercedes Sanders, SFSP/CACFP Supervisor, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
11:00am – 11:45am
“The New Normal” — What’s on the Horizon
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NC Department of Public Instruction leaders look ahead to what meal service will be like in Summer 2021 and how school districts and community organizations can form stronger partnerships for the benefit of all children and continue to grow beyond COVID-19.
- School Nutrition: A Year-Round Effort
- Reggie Ross, President, School Nutrition Association; School Nutrition Consultant, DPI
- Kristen Bealler, President, School Nutrition Association-NC; School Nutrition Director, Hickory Public Schools
- Child Nutrition in the Summer Months
- Cynthia Ervin, Summer and Special Nutrition Program Assistant Chief, DPI
- Matt Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Youth United / The SPOT
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Cooking Demonstrations and Lunch Break
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2021 COOKING DEMOS
Grab your lunch and come on back to check out cooking demonstrations and recipe videos from our partners across the state.
1:00pm – 1:45pm
The Future of School Nutrition Policy
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Meet North Carolina’s new state superintendent and members of her team, and learn what their priorities are when it comes to the future of school nutrition. Also, hear what’s on the horizon for child nutrition at the federal level with a new administration incoming.
- Remarks
- U.S. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., NC’s 12th Congressional District; Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee
- Panel
- Moderated by Lynn Harvey, Director of School Nutrition and District Operations, DPI
- Catherine Truitt, Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction
- Robert Taylor, Deputy Superintendent of Student and School Advancement, DPI; Former Superintendent, Bladen County Schools
- Julie Pittman, Special Advisor to the Superintendent: Educator Engagement, DPI; Former Educator Outreach Manager, No Kid Hungry NC
- Freebird McKinney, Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Outreach, NC State Board of Education
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Closing Session: Lessons Learned for Pivoting to the Future
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Let’s end the conference with the most important lessons we can use to continue to be best prepared for supporting children in any situation the future has in store for us!
- Graphic Recording Boards: Final Reveal
Caryn Sterling, DrawingInsight.com - Takeaways and Action Steps
The Carolina Hunger Initiative team - Thank You
Tabari Wallace, 2018 NC Principal of the Year, West Craven High School, Craven County Schools - Closing
Lou Anne Crumpler, Director, Carolina Hunger Initiative