

Agenda
We are excited to present the full agenda for the 2017 Hunger and Health Summit. Please click between Day 1 and Day 2 to see the schedule of events for each day. You can also sort by rooms to see how the sessions and tracks are organized.
May 09
May 10
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11:00 AM
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5:00 PMRegistration
Drop by the registration desk outside of the Grand Ballroom to pick up your name badge and conference materials.
- Main Atrium
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1:00 PM
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2:15 PMWelcome and Opening General Session: "Too Distressed to Learn: Hunger and Mental Health in Higher Education"
Recent research indicates that college students are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, with one- to two-thirds of students reporting limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods due to resource limitations. In this presentation, Broton will share the latest research from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab on college students who struggle to get enough to eat and discuss relationships with mental health challenges. As mental illness and food insecurity can impair academic success and quality of life, implications for policy and practice will be discussed.
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Katharine Broton, Doctoral Candidate & Researcher, Wisconsin HOPE Lab
Katharine BrotonDoctoral Candidate & Researcher
Wisconsin HOPE LabKatharine Broton is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a researcher in the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, the nation's first translational research lab focused on issues of college affordability and aimed at improving equitable outcomes in higher education. She studies educational inequalities and her current research focuses on experiences of poverty among college students. Broton's research has appeared in The New York Times and Inside Higher Ed and has been featured on Wisconsin Public Television and American Public Media. Prior to graduate school, she worked with low-income middle and high school students in pre-college programs and as a community-based program evaluator. This fall, she will join the University of Iowa as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education.- Grand Ballroom
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2:15 PM
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2:30 PMTransition Break
Please be sure to stop for some light refreshments in the Riverside foyer on your way to your first session of the conference.
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMHealthy Food Systems Convergence: A Community Conversation on Healthy Food Access
The Wisconsin Food System Convergence session at the 2017 Hunger & Health Summit will give attendees an opportunity to share their voice on how to create a sustainable, good food movement that makes healthy food accessible for all. This convergence will build on all the great work that has been done in the past, and through a modified process of Appreciative Inquiry, will seek to chart a coordinated path forward. This session will be a facilitated Community Conversation led by the Wisconsin Partnership to move stakeholders forward together toward a healthy food system. Join us to share your input on how to more effectively work together to build a food system that makes it easy to grow, sell, access, and eat healthy food for all people in Wisconsin.
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Robert Kellerman, Executive Director, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources
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Lisa Olson, MSW, Director of Policy and Programs, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
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Ruth Schmidt, Executive Director, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
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John Wedge, Executive Director, Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6
Robert KellermanExecutive Director
Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging ResourcesRobert Kellerman is the Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources which is the Area Agency on Aging that supports and funds aging programs in seventy Wisconsin counties and all of the eleven Tribes. Prior to working with Area Agencies on Aging, Mr. Kellerman was the Director of the Manitowoc County Aging Resource Center for seventeen years after serving as the Director of a multi-county Elderly Nutrition Program in Northern Wisconsin. He is the President of the WI Association of Area Agencies on Aging and is a member of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Board of Directors. Mr. Kellerman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point.Lisa Olson, MSWDirector of Policy and Programs
Wisconsin Primary Health Care AssociationLisa Olson serves as Director of Policy and Programs for the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, the member association of Community Health Centers in Wisconsin. Lisa supports the work of Community Health Centers by leading the strategic policy and regulatory work of the Association, with a focus on improving public benefits and health insurance access for low-income families. She also oversees the Wisconsin HealthCorps, an AmeriCorps program focused on building Community Health Center capacity. Lisa has been with the Association since 2009. She earned her Master in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Ruth SchmidtExecutive Director
Wisconsin Early Childhood AssociationAs Executive Director, Ruth Schmidt leads Wisconsin’s largest membership organization for early childhood educators and NAEYC state affiliate. Ruth is a registered lobbyist with extensive executive leadership experience that includes management consulting with organizations, associations, counties and municipalities. She’s actively involved with the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and the United Way of Dane County’s “Born Learning” delegation. On the national level she is active in the Alliance for Early Success and serves on Congressman Mark Pocan’s K-12 and Early Childhood Education Advisory Group and previously. She served on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee convened by former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Ms. Schmidt earned her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College.John WedgeExecutive Director
Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6John Wedge is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6. He works with educators, schools and communities in the South Central and Southwestern part of the state to support public education.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMHow to say "NO" and get to "YES!" Moving towards a healthier food pantry
This workshop will build upon last year’s Safe and Healthy Food Pantry Project presentation. We will delve more into the strategies that can be useful for your pantry as you move towards more healthy practices. As food pantries are often dependent on private food donors, it can be difficult to imagine how to say no to unhealthy, unsafe or undesirable foods in a way that doesn't jeopardize relationships. We will share strategies which will help your stakeholders and see how saying NO to unwanted foods can help you saying YES to move towards a healthier food pantry. Specifically, we will cover strategies on how to get the donations you want, policy development, and getting buy-in from your donors, staff, and volunteers.
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Sheila De Forest, FoodWise Nutrition Administrator, Rock County, UW-Extension
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Jennifer Park-Mroch, Special Projects Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist, FoodWIse, Family Living Programs, UW-Extension
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Kathy Splett, FoodWIse Coordinator, UW Extension-Barron County
Sheila De ForestFoodWise Nutrition Administrator, Rock County
UW-ExtensionJennifer Park-MrochSpecial Projects Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist, FoodWIse, Family Living Programs
UW-ExtensionKathy SplettFoodWIse Coordinator
UW Extension-Barron CountyKathy Splett is the FoodWIse Coordinator for Barron/Polk County(s) residing at the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Barron County office in Barron, Wisconsin. Kathy has been with UW-Extension since July 2012; serving 2 years as an Educator and the last 3 years as a Coordinator. Before working for UW-Extension, Kathy was the Food Service Director for the School District of Turtle Lake (WI) for 17 years and prior to that, partnered with her husband on their dairy farm in Almena, WI. Kathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in Business with a double minor in Business Administration and Speech from UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI. She is active in many aspects of her church and enjoys assisting in their dairy business and helping maintain the farmstead. Kathy’s family, besides her husband of 37 years, includes two children who both live and work in the Twin Cities.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMImproving school lunch through farm-to-school programs
In this session, learn about Wisconsin resources and current initiatives that support these goals at schools and other institutions. Like the USDA-funded Federal State Market Improvement Program Grant project at DATCP focused on overcoming supply chain barriers in both processing and distribution to create new, Wisconsin-identified yogurt, potato, applesauce, carrot and broccoli products appropriate and accessible to institutional markets. Or the inclusion of farm to school language in the policies that govern schools and early childhood sites. Come join the farm to school movement. Our communities depend on it.
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Vanessa Herald, Farm to Institution Outreach Specialist, UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
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Marlie Wilson, Farm to School Program Manager, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection
Vanessa HeraldFarm to Institution Outreach Specialist
UW Center for Integrated Agricultural SystemsVanessa Herald is a Farm to Institution Specialist at the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural System (CIAS). Current projects focus on providing resources and support for Wisconsin and Great Lakes Region institutions - like schools, early care centers, hospitals and universities - to purchase and serve Wisconsin and regionally grown food items in their cafeterias. Vanessa works with organizations including National Farm to School Network, School Food Focus and Wisconsin Farm to School to develop resources, provide direct training, and align local supply and demand for various audiences. This work is informed by experience in garden-based education, production agriculture, and an MS in Nutrition from the Friedman School at Tufts University, with the goal to improve institutional food environments and increase economic opportunities for agricultural producers.Marlie WilsonFarm to School Program Manager
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer ProtectionMarlie has been involved in the Wisconsin Farm to Institution Procurement Project since spring 2016 and has served as its Project Coordinator at the WI Dept of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection since January 2017. She has previously worked on farm to school efforts and local/regional food systems development in Iowa, Massachusetts, and New York. Her M.S. in Agroecology and Urban & Regional Planning at UW-Madison is expected in August 2017.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMSNAP Myths, Facts & Trends
Join Alan Shannon, Director of Public Affairs for the Midwest Region at USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, for an overview and discussion on the myths and facts regarding SNAP (FoodShare in Wisconsin), the connection between SNAP and the local agricultural economy and the Midwest Regional Office's work with healthcare partners.
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Alan Shannon, Director, Public Affairs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest Region
Alan ShannonDirector, Public Affairs
USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest RegionAlan Shannon is the USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service Public Affairs Director for the Midwest Region. In that role, he raises awareness of and makes connections to FNS’ 15 nutrition assistance programs—from school meals to SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program), as well as other USDA programs and grants. FNS does no direct program administration, so the agency relies on its many partners—Departments of Education, food banks and Departments of Human Services—to administer its programs. Alan also serves as facilitator for GoodGreens, a nearly 1200 network of individuals and organizations throughout the Midwest that seek to build and support local food systems. In that role, he facilitates the exchange of news and opportunities which cover every aspect of local food systems and serves as a connector and convener.- Centralia: FoodShare
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3:45 PM
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4:00 PMTransition Break
In between sessions, stop by the Riverside foyer for snack mix, trail mix, fruit, coffee and tea for a boost of afternoon energy.
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMMore than a Food Drive
Healthy Shelves is an initiative to provide healthier foods on the shelves of local food pantries. A collaborative effort to assess and improve the quality of foods distributed to clients of two large food pantries evolved into a website that provides resources to anyone who shares that objective. Primary partners include Mount Mary University Dietetics Programs, the Waukesha UW-Extension FoodWIse Program, and the National Kidney Foundation of WI. During this session, participants will: Learn how Healthy Shelves partner organizations have aligned along a common thread of interest, launching an initiative that weaves into each organization’s work; Recognize the value of seizing opportunities to collaborate with community partners and the benefits of pooling of limited resources (e.g. time, human, monetary) to accomplish common goals; and Explore complexities of collaborative work and brainstorm solutions to overcome hurdles in the process of creating healthier food environments for food pantry clients.
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Lisa Stark, Director, Dietetic Internship, Mount Mary University
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Cindy Huber, Chief Executive Officer, National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin
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Jill Herz, FoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator, UW-Extension
Lisa StarkDirector, Dietetic Internship
Mount Mary UniversityLisa Stark is a registered dietitian, Associate Professor in the Dietetics Department, and Director of the Dietetic Internship program at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. She holds degrees in food and nutrition and international studies from IA State University, in dietetics from Mount Mary University, and in public health from the University of MN-Twin Cities. After working primarily in hospital settings, she changed her focus to prevention of chronic diseases and health promotion efforts. Lisa has a strong interest in promoting an environment that supports healthy eating, activity and living, and often involves dietetic students in those efforts. She has worked on a variety of initiatives with businesses, coalitions, community centers, schools, restaurants, and other organizations. On the Healthy Shelves team, she enjoys collaborating with organizations that conduct Healthy Shelves food drives.Cindy HuberChief Executive Officer
National Kidney Foundation of WisconsinCindy Huber is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin (NKFW). The NKFW is committed to improving public health, reducing the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and promoting kidney health in Wisconsin. Ms. Huber has strategic planning and primary leadership responsibilities for the public health, prevention, patient engagement and healthcare continuing education offerings of the organization.Jill HerzFoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator
UW-ExtensionJill Herz is a Registered Dietitian and FoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator for Waukesha County UW-Extension. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from UW-Madison in 2009 and Dietetic Internship at Mount Mary University in 2010, Jill began working for UW-Extension as a Nutrition Educator, teaching limited-income kids, teens, parents, and seniors skills to choose and prepare healthy foods on a budget. Jill received her Master’s Degree in Dietetics from Mount Mary University in 2014. In 2016, Jill became Coordinator of Waukesha County’s team of six FoodWIse educators, who provide evidence-based nutrition education programs to youth and adults at schools, food pantries, meal programs, and other Waukesha County sites. As a member of the Healthy Shelves team, Jill has enjoyed training Mount Mary interns on food pantry education techniques and helping to develop and revise Healthy Shelves materials and edit website content.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMSimplifying Access to Free School Meals for Eligible Children: Wisconsin’s Direct Certification Program
Direct Certification is the federally‐mandated process by which children who are already participating in certain public programs like FoodShare can be deemed eligible for free meals under the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. It is a wholly administrative process relying on linking already available data, thereby alleviating paperwork on the part of both parents and school staff. Join this session to learn about Direct Certification and which children are impacted, the challenges schools and state agencies face in carrying out the process, the numerous methods we have implemented to address those challenges, and the impact of our efforts on both school staff and overall certification rates. We will also touch on what changes are in store for the year ahead including more involvement with tribal populations and other public programs.
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Helena Gilbertson, Direct Certification Outreach Specialist, Covering Wisconsin, UW-Madison
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Allison Espeseth, Operations and Development Manager, Covering Wisconsin, UW-Madison
Helena GilbertsonDirect Certification Outreach Specialist
Covering Wisconsin, UW-MadisonMs Gilbertson is the Direct Certification Specialist as well Program Support for Covering Wisconsin (CWI), where she focuses on training and supporting Wisconsin school districts as they use computer programs to certify eligible school children for free lunch through the federal School Nutrition Program. She also manages CWI events and meetings. Helena earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Allison EspesethOperations and Development Manager
Covering Wisconsin, UW-MadisonMs Espeseth is the Development and Operations Manager for Covering Wisconsin, where she has worked for nearly 13 years. Covering Wisconsin (CWI), whose mission is to connect residents with - and promote effective use of - insurance coverage and other programs that support health, has worked closely with the state's schools and Department of Public Instruction on health insurance and nutrition issues since 2007. Ms. Espeseth conducted the initial assessments of Wisconsin's implementation of direct certification in 2011 and has since overseen outreach and communication to improve school understanding of and compliance with the program.She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Oberlin College and her Master’s degree in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison.- Centralia: FoodShare
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMLeveraging Food System Change for Community Health Outcomes
For the past year, Feeding America Eastern WI and the Medical College of Wisconsin have partnered to identify how developing localized food systems can lead to positive health outcomes. By defragmenting the food system and increasing local food options, we are striving to impact community health and the health of those facing hunger. Increasing community food security and improving offerings for disparate groups requires increased food access through market-based solutions, fostering an equitable food system, and a focus on economic development. Food Banks work with underserved populations and have existing food-related infrastructure and may represent an ideal setting to support community Food Hubs that can repair the fragmented food system.
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David Nelson, Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
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Alex Tyink, Director of Programs, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
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Leslie Ruffalo, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
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Melissa DeNomie, Program Coordinator III, Medical College of Wisconsin
David NelsonFamily and Community Medicine
Medical College of WisconsinDr. Nelson has a PhD in Adult Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an MA in Agency Counseling from the University of Colorado and an MS in Epidemiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Nelson's research interests involve working with community partners to increase physical activity; improve food access; increase social support; and the process of community engagement. He has an interest in health care including behavioral health. Dr. Nelson teaches Community Health Improvement I for the PhD in Public and Community Health Program. Dr. Nelson also teaches in the MPH Program. He has led projects in communities in Tennessee, Maine and Wisconsin. Dr. Nelson has been supported by federal, state, and local grants as well as national and local foundations.Alex TyinkDirector of Programs
Feeding America Eastern WisconsinAlex Tyink is the Director of Programs for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. There, he is launching an indoor agriculture program to serve schools and food pantries with an educational indoor farming system that can grow over 800 pounds of food per year in 9 square feet of space. He manages organizational innovation and continuous improvement projects, while overseeing the grants, mobile pantry, school pantry, backpack and health outcome/nutrition programming. He is proud to serve on the Farm Link team, which works to connect local farmers with local buyers and hunger relief agencies as a critical next step in Feeding America Eastern Wisconin’s mission to Solve Hunger. He is passionate about fresh foods and what they can do for community health and resiliency. Alex was previously the Program Director of Goodwill Grows, a farm-to-school, farm-to-business and community garden program of Goodwill Industries of North Central WI. He began his career operating socially-focused urban farms in New York, NY.Leslie RuffaloAssistant Professor
Medical College of WisconsinMelissa DeNomieProgram Coordinator III
Medical College of Wisconsin- Timberland: Policy & Research
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMEngaging Patients to Address Food Insecurity: Partnerships between Food Banks and Health Clinics
Food banks and health clinics across the region are working together to screen for food insecurity and provide appropriate resources to help address the immediate and long-term needs of patients. Learn about the successes and challenges that these partnerships have faced, the results of the projects, and most importantly, how your community might also be able to work with health clinics to help patients gain access to community resources.
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Kristen Williamson, Registered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Manuel Ravelo, Project Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Anne Gargano Ahmed, HungerCare Coalition Coordinator, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
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Nancy Coffey, FoodWise Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Alison Craig, MD, Chief of Staff and General Pediatrician, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
Kristen WilliamsonRegistered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandAs a Registered Dietitian and Program Coordinator, Kristen provides nutrition council for Second Harvest Heartland’s FOODRx healthcare work and Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) project. Her most recent work includes developing patient centered approaches to food insecurity and chronic disease management, fostering collaboration with health professionals and directing operations related to the chronic disease pilot. Kristen has also been working to address the need to quantify the healthfulness of food through the work of the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST).Manuel RaveloProject Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandManuel Ravelo Jr. is the program coordinator for the Health Resource Center located in the CentraCare Family Health Center. His work includes assessing patients for basic social needs that may have an impact on overall health, and providing resources that help meet those needs. Other recent work includes: facilitating meetings for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients and how to manage their health with the condition, and working on a state-wide initiative with the New Mexico Council on Asthma in developing a comprehensive online source of Centennial Care coverage information for Pediatric Asthma Medications and Spacers.Anne Gargano AhmedHungerCare Coalition Coordinator
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WisconsinAnne Gargano Ahmed, MPH, MPA graduated from UW-Madison in 2014 with Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Affairs. As a student, Anne worked as the Project Assistant for the Evidence-Based Health Policy Project – a partnership between the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the UW Population Health Institute, and the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Prior to returning to school, Anne was the Coalition Manager of the Wisconsin Identity Theft Coalition and Consumer Advocate for the Elder Financial Empowerment Project at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. Previously, Anne worked at the Champaign County Health Care Consumers in Champaign, IL as a Community Organizer on a wide range of health care issues, including Medicare Part D, Access to Care, and Environmental Justice. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007. Originally from Chicago, IL, Anne now lives in Madison, WI with her husband.Nancy CoffeyFoodWise Coordinator
UW-ExtensionNancy Coffey has been the coordinator of the Eau Claire County UW-Extension, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), called FoodWIse in Wisconsin, for over twenty years. FoodWIse advances healthy eating habits, active lifestyles and healthy community environments for WI residents with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, community and systems level. Nancy collaborates with community partners to help implement comprehensive nutrition and food security strategies that focus on policy, system, and environmental community change. Community projects have included development of community resource directories; the FNV fruit and vegetable healthy retail initiative; Market Match, an incentive program at Eau Claire’s largest farmers’ market; editor of Hidden Hunger quarterly e-newsletter and part of the Food as Medicine Partnership leadership team. Nancy is also an advisor to seven SNAP-Ed coordinators in the state. Nancy is a graduate of UW-Stout.Alison Craig, MDChief of Staff and General Pediatrician
Group Health Cooperative of South Central WisconsinDr. Alison Craig is a general pediatrician and the Chief of Staff at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, which is a locally managed, primary care focused, non-profit, health cooperative. GHC-SCW provides health care and insurance for 70,000 members in Dane and Sauk counties. With deep Wisconsin roots, Dr. Craig is a fourth generation Badger alumna and began her Madison pediatric practice in 2002. She was named as a Top Doc in Madison Magazine between 2004-2012. Dr. Craig has professional interests and expertise on a wide-range of health care topics including injury prevention, child development, adolescent medicine and health equity.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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5:30 PM
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7:30 PMWelcome Reception
Join us in the Main Atrium to reflect on the first day of the conference, unwind and network with your colleagues from around the state. Cash bar and light hors d'oeuvres.
- Main Atrium
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMHow to say "NO" and get to "YES!" Moving towards a healthier food pantry
This workshop will build upon last year’s Safe and Healthy Food Pantry Project presentation. We will delve more into the strategies that can be useful for your pantry as you move towards more healthy practices. As food pantries are often dependent on private food donors, it can be difficult to imagine how to say no to unhealthy, unsafe or undesirable foods in a way that doesn't jeopardize relationships. We will share strategies which will help your stakeholders and see how saying NO to unwanted foods can help you saying YES to move towards a healthier food pantry. Specifically, we will cover strategies on how to get the donations you want, policy development, and getting buy-in from your donors, staff, and volunteers.
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Sheila De Forest, FoodWise Nutrition Administrator, Rock County, UW-Extension
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Jennifer Park-Mroch, Special Projects Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist, FoodWIse, Family Living Programs, UW-Extension
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Kathy Splett, FoodWIse Coordinator, UW Extension-Barron County
Sheila De ForestFoodWise Nutrition Administrator, Rock County
UW-ExtensionJennifer Park-MrochSpecial Projects Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist, FoodWIse, Family Living Programs
UW-ExtensionKathy SplettFoodWIse Coordinator
UW Extension-Barron CountyKathy Splett is the FoodWIse Coordinator for Barron/Polk County(s) residing at the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Barron County office in Barron, Wisconsin. Kathy has been with UW-Extension since July 2012; serving 2 years as an Educator and the last 3 years as a Coordinator. Before working for UW-Extension, Kathy was the Food Service Director for the School District of Turtle Lake (WI) for 17 years and prior to that, partnered with her husband on their dairy farm in Almena, WI. Kathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in Business with a double minor in Business Administration and Speech from UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI. She is active in many aspects of her church and enjoys assisting in their dairy business and helping maintain the farmstead. Kathy’s family, besides her husband of 37 years, includes two children who both live and work in the Twin Cities.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMMore than a Food Drive
Healthy Shelves is an initiative to provide healthier foods on the shelves of local food pantries. A collaborative effort to assess and improve the quality of foods distributed to clients of two large food pantries evolved into a website that provides resources to anyone who shares that objective. Primary partners include Mount Mary University Dietetics Programs, the Waukesha UW-Extension FoodWIse Program, and the National Kidney Foundation of WI. During this session, participants will: Learn how Healthy Shelves partner organizations have aligned along a common thread of interest, launching an initiative that weaves into each organization’s work; Recognize the value of seizing opportunities to collaborate with community partners and the benefits of pooling of limited resources (e.g. time, human, monetary) to accomplish common goals; and Explore complexities of collaborative work and brainstorm solutions to overcome hurdles in the process of creating healthier food environments for food pantry clients.
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Lisa Stark, Director, Dietetic Internship, Mount Mary University
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Cindy Huber, Chief Executive Officer, National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin
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Jill Herz, FoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator, UW-Extension
Lisa StarkDirector, Dietetic Internship
Mount Mary UniversityLisa Stark is a registered dietitian, Associate Professor in the Dietetics Department, and Director of the Dietetic Internship program at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. She holds degrees in food and nutrition and international studies from IA State University, in dietetics from Mount Mary University, and in public health from the University of MN-Twin Cities. After working primarily in hospital settings, she changed her focus to prevention of chronic diseases and health promotion efforts. Lisa has a strong interest in promoting an environment that supports healthy eating, activity and living, and often involves dietetic students in those efforts. She has worked on a variety of initiatives with businesses, coalitions, community centers, schools, restaurants, and other organizations. On the Healthy Shelves team, she enjoys collaborating with organizations that conduct Healthy Shelves food drives.Cindy HuberChief Executive Officer
National Kidney Foundation of WisconsinCindy Huber is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin (NKFW). The NKFW is committed to improving public health, reducing the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and promoting kidney health in Wisconsin. Ms. Huber has strategic planning and primary leadership responsibilities for the public health, prevention, patient engagement and healthcare continuing education offerings of the organization.Jill HerzFoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator
UW-ExtensionJill Herz is a Registered Dietitian and FoodWIse Nutrition Education Coordinator for Waukesha County UW-Extension. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from UW-Madison in 2009 and Dietetic Internship at Mount Mary University in 2010, Jill began working for UW-Extension as a Nutrition Educator, teaching limited-income kids, teens, parents, and seniors skills to choose and prepare healthy foods on a budget. Jill received her Master’s Degree in Dietetics from Mount Mary University in 2014. In 2016, Jill became Coordinator of Waukesha County’s team of six FoodWIse educators, who provide evidence-based nutrition education programs to youth and adults at schools, food pantries, meal programs, and other Waukesha County sites. As a member of the Healthy Shelves team, Jill has enjoyed training Mount Mary interns on food pantry education techniques and helping to develop and revise Healthy Shelves materials and edit website content.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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11:00 AM
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5:00 PMRegistration
Drop by the registration desk outside of the Grand Ballroom to pick up your name badge and conference materials.
- Main Atrium
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5:30 PM
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7:30 PMWelcome Reception
Join us in the Main Atrium to reflect on the first day of the conference, unwind and network with your colleagues from around the state. Cash bar and light hors d'oeuvres.
- Main Atrium
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1:00 PM
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2:15 PMWelcome and Opening General Session: "Too Distressed to Learn: Hunger and Mental Health in Higher Education"
Recent research indicates that college students are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, with one- to two-thirds of students reporting limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods due to resource limitations. In this presentation, Broton will share the latest research from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab on college students who struggle to get enough to eat and discuss relationships with mental health challenges. As mental illness and food insecurity can impair academic success and quality of life, implications for policy and practice will be discussed.
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Katharine Broton, Doctoral Candidate & Researcher, Wisconsin HOPE Lab
Katharine BrotonDoctoral Candidate & Researcher
Wisconsin HOPE LabKatharine Broton is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a researcher in the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, the nation's first translational research lab focused on issues of college affordability and aimed at improving equitable outcomes in higher education. She studies educational inequalities and her current research focuses on experiences of poverty among college students. Broton's research has appeared in The New York Times and Inside Higher Ed and has been featured on Wisconsin Public Television and American Public Media. Prior to graduate school, she worked with low-income middle and high school students in pre-college programs and as a community-based program evaluator. This fall, she will join the University of Iowa as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education.- Grand Ballroom
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMHealthy Food Systems Convergence: A Community Conversation on Healthy Food Access
The Wisconsin Food System Convergence session at the 2017 Hunger & Health Summit will give attendees an opportunity to share their voice on how to create a sustainable, good food movement that makes healthy food accessible for all. This convergence will build on all the great work that has been done in the past, and through a modified process of Appreciative Inquiry, will seek to chart a coordinated path forward. This session will be a facilitated Community Conversation led by the Wisconsin Partnership to move stakeholders forward together toward a healthy food system. Join us to share your input on how to more effectively work together to build a food system that makes it easy to grow, sell, access, and eat healthy food for all people in Wisconsin.
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Robert Kellerman, Executive Director, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources
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Lisa Olson, MSW, Director of Policy and Programs, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
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Ruth Schmidt, Executive Director, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
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John Wedge, Executive Director, Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6
Robert KellermanExecutive Director
Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging ResourcesRobert Kellerman is the Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources which is the Area Agency on Aging that supports and funds aging programs in seventy Wisconsin counties and all of the eleven Tribes. Prior to working with Area Agencies on Aging, Mr. Kellerman was the Director of the Manitowoc County Aging Resource Center for seventeen years after serving as the Director of a multi-county Elderly Nutrition Program in Northern Wisconsin. He is the President of the WI Association of Area Agencies on Aging and is a member of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Board of Directors. Mr. Kellerman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point.Lisa Olson, MSWDirector of Policy and Programs
Wisconsin Primary Health Care AssociationLisa Olson serves as Director of Policy and Programs for the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, the member association of Community Health Centers in Wisconsin. Lisa supports the work of Community Health Centers by leading the strategic policy and regulatory work of the Association, with a focus on improving public benefits and health insurance access for low-income families. She also oversees the Wisconsin HealthCorps, an AmeriCorps program focused on building Community Health Center capacity. Lisa has been with the Association since 2009. She earned her Master in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Ruth SchmidtExecutive Director
Wisconsin Early Childhood AssociationAs Executive Director, Ruth Schmidt leads Wisconsin’s largest membership organization for early childhood educators and NAEYC state affiliate. Ruth is a registered lobbyist with extensive executive leadership experience that includes management consulting with organizations, associations, counties and municipalities. She’s actively involved with the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and the United Way of Dane County’s “Born Learning” delegation. On the national level she is active in the Alliance for Early Success and serves on Congressman Mark Pocan’s K-12 and Early Childhood Education Advisory Group and previously. She served on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee convened by former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Ms. Schmidt earned her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College.John WedgeExecutive Director
Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6John Wedge is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Education Association Council Region 6. He works with educators, schools and communities in the South Central and Southwestern part of the state to support public education.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMLeveraging Food System Change for Community Health Outcomes
For the past year, Feeding America Eastern WI and the Medical College of Wisconsin have partnered to identify how developing localized food systems can lead to positive health outcomes. By defragmenting the food system and increasing local food options, we are striving to impact community health and the health of those facing hunger. Increasing community food security and improving offerings for disparate groups requires increased food access through market-based solutions, fostering an equitable food system, and a focus on economic development. Food Banks work with underserved populations and have existing food-related infrastructure and may represent an ideal setting to support community Food Hubs that can repair the fragmented food system.
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David Nelson, Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
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Alex Tyink, Director of Programs, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
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Leslie Ruffalo, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
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Melissa DeNomie, Program Coordinator III, Medical College of Wisconsin
David NelsonFamily and Community Medicine
Medical College of WisconsinDr. Nelson has a PhD in Adult Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an MA in Agency Counseling from the University of Colorado and an MS in Epidemiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Nelson's research interests involve working with community partners to increase physical activity; improve food access; increase social support; and the process of community engagement. He has an interest in health care including behavioral health. Dr. Nelson teaches Community Health Improvement I for the PhD in Public and Community Health Program. Dr. Nelson also teaches in the MPH Program. He has led projects in communities in Tennessee, Maine and Wisconsin. Dr. Nelson has been supported by federal, state, and local grants as well as national and local foundations.Alex TyinkDirector of Programs
Feeding America Eastern WisconsinAlex Tyink is the Director of Programs for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. There, he is launching an indoor agriculture program to serve schools and food pantries with an educational indoor farming system that can grow over 800 pounds of food per year in 9 square feet of space. He manages organizational innovation and continuous improvement projects, while overseeing the grants, mobile pantry, school pantry, backpack and health outcome/nutrition programming. He is proud to serve on the Farm Link team, which works to connect local farmers with local buyers and hunger relief agencies as a critical next step in Feeding America Eastern Wisconin’s mission to Solve Hunger. He is passionate about fresh foods and what they can do for community health and resiliency. Alex was previously the Program Director of Goodwill Grows, a farm-to-school, farm-to-business and community garden program of Goodwill Industries of North Central WI. He began his career operating socially-focused urban farms in New York, NY.Leslie RuffaloAssistant Professor
Medical College of WisconsinMelissa DeNomieProgram Coordinator III
Medical College of Wisconsin- Timberland: Policy & Research
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMSNAP Myths, Facts & Trends
Join Alan Shannon, Director of Public Affairs for the Midwest Region at USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, for an overview and discussion on the myths and facts regarding SNAP (FoodShare in Wisconsin), the connection between SNAP and the local agricultural economy and the Midwest Regional Office's work with healthcare partners.
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Alan Shannon, Director, Public Affairs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest Region
Alan ShannonDirector, Public Affairs
USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest RegionAlan Shannon is the USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service Public Affairs Director for the Midwest Region. In that role, he raises awareness of and makes connections to FNS’ 15 nutrition assistance programs—from school meals to SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program), as well as other USDA programs and grants. FNS does no direct program administration, so the agency relies on its many partners—Departments of Education, food banks and Departments of Human Services—to administer its programs. Alan also serves as facilitator for GoodGreens, a nearly 1200 network of individuals and organizations throughout the Midwest that seek to build and support local food systems. In that role, he facilitates the exchange of news and opportunities which cover every aspect of local food systems and serves as a connector and convener.- Centralia: FoodShare
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMSimplifying Access to Free School Meals for Eligible Children: Wisconsin’s Direct Certification Program
Direct Certification is the federally‐mandated process by which children who are already participating in certain public programs like FoodShare can be deemed eligible for free meals under the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. It is a wholly administrative process relying on linking already available data, thereby alleviating paperwork on the part of both parents and school staff. Join this session to learn about Direct Certification and which children are impacted, the challenges schools and state agencies face in carrying out the process, the numerous methods we have implemented to address those challenges, and the impact of our efforts on both school staff and overall certification rates. We will also touch on what changes are in store for the year ahead including more involvement with tribal populations and other public programs.
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Helena Gilbertson, Direct Certification Outreach Specialist, Covering Wisconsin, UW-Madison
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Allison Espeseth, Operations and Development Manager, Covering Wisconsin, UW-Madison
Helena GilbertsonDirect Certification Outreach Specialist
Covering Wisconsin, UW-MadisonMs Gilbertson is the Direct Certification Specialist as well Program Support for Covering Wisconsin (CWI), where she focuses on training and supporting Wisconsin school districts as they use computer programs to certify eligible school children for free lunch through the federal School Nutrition Program. She also manages CWI events and meetings. Helena earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Allison EspesethOperations and Development Manager
Covering Wisconsin, UW-MadisonMs Espeseth is the Development and Operations Manager for Covering Wisconsin, where she has worked for nearly 13 years. Covering Wisconsin (CWI), whose mission is to connect residents with - and promote effective use of - insurance coverage and other programs that support health, has worked closely with the state's schools and Department of Public Instruction on health insurance and nutrition issues since 2007. Ms. Espeseth conducted the initial assessments of Wisconsin's implementation of direct certification in 2011 and has since overseen outreach and communication to improve school understanding of and compliance with the program.She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Oberlin College and her Master’s degree in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison.- Centralia: FoodShare
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMImproving school lunch through farm-to-school programs
In this session, learn about Wisconsin resources and current initiatives that support these goals at schools and other institutions. Like the USDA-funded Federal State Market Improvement Program Grant project at DATCP focused on overcoming supply chain barriers in both processing and distribution to create new, Wisconsin-identified yogurt, potato, applesauce, carrot and broccoli products appropriate and accessible to institutional markets. Or the inclusion of farm to school language in the policies that govern schools and early childhood sites. Come join the farm to school movement. Our communities depend on it.
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Vanessa Herald, Farm to Institution Outreach Specialist, UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
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Marlie Wilson, Farm to School Program Manager, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection
Vanessa HeraldFarm to Institution Outreach Specialist
UW Center for Integrated Agricultural SystemsVanessa Herald is a Farm to Institution Specialist at the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural System (CIAS). Current projects focus on providing resources and support for Wisconsin and Great Lakes Region institutions - like schools, early care centers, hospitals and universities - to purchase and serve Wisconsin and regionally grown food items in their cafeterias. Vanessa works with organizations including National Farm to School Network, School Food Focus and Wisconsin Farm to School to develop resources, provide direct training, and align local supply and demand for various audiences. This work is informed by experience in garden-based education, production agriculture, and an MS in Nutrition from the Friedman School at Tufts University, with the goal to improve institutional food environments and increase economic opportunities for agricultural producers.Marlie WilsonFarm to School Program Manager
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer ProtectionMarlie has been involved in the Wisconsin Farm to Institution Procurement Project since spring 2016 and has served as its Project Coordinator at the WI Dept of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection since January 2017. She has previously worked on farm to school efforts and local/regional food systems development in Iowa, Massachusetts, and New York. Her M.S. in Agroecology and Urban & Regional Planning at UW-Madison is expected in August 2017.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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4:00 PM
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5:15 PMEngaging Patients to Address Food Insecurity: Partnerships between Food Banks and Health Clinics
Food banks and health clinics across the region are working together to screen for food insecurity and provide appropriate resources to help address the immediate and long-term needs of patients. Learn about the successes and challenges that these partnerships have faced, the results of the projects, and most importantly, how your community might also be able to work with health clinics to help patients gain access to community resources.
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Kristen Williamson, Registered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Manuel Ravelo, Project Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Anne Gargano Ahmed, HungerCare Coalition Coordinator, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
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Nancy Coffey, FoodWise Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Alison Craig, MD, Chief of Staff and General Pediatrician, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
Kristen WilliamsonRegistered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandAs a Registered Dietitian and Program Coordinator, Kristen provides nutrition council for Second Harvest Heartland’s FOODRx healthcare work and Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) project. Her most recent work includes developing patient centered approaches to food insecurity and chronic disease management, fostering collaboration with health professionals and directing operations related to the chronic disease pilot. Kristen has also been working to address the need to quantify the healthfulness of food through the work of the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST).Manuel RaveloProject Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandManuel Ravelo Jr. is the program coordinator for the Health Resource Center located in the CentraCare Family Health Center. His work includes assessing patients for basic social needs that may have an impact on overall health, and providing resources that help meet those needs. Other recent work includes: facilitating meetings for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients and how to manage their health with the condition, and working on a state-wide initiative with the New Mexico Council on Asthma in developing a comprehensive online source of Centennial Care coverage information for Pediatric Asthma Medications and Spacers.Anne Gargano AhmedHungerCare Coalition Coordinator
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WisconsinAnne Gargano Ahmed, MPH, MPA graduated from UW-Madison in 2014 with Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Affairs. As a student, Anne worked as the Project Assistant for the Evidence-Based Health Policy Project – a partnership between the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the UW Population Health Institute, and the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Prior to returning to school, Anne was the Coalition Manager of the Wisconsin Identity Theft Coalition and Consumer Advocate for the Elder Financial Empowerment Project at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. Previously, Anne worked at the Champaign County Health Care Consumers in Champaign, IL as a Community Organizer on a wide range of health care issues, including Medicare Part D, Access to Care, and Environmental Justice. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007. Originally from Chicago, IL, Anne now lives in Madison, WI with her husband.Nancy CoffeyFoodWise Coordinator
UW-ExtensionNancy Coffey has been the coordinator of the Eau Claire County UW-Extension, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), called FoodWIse in Wisconsin, for over twenty years. FoodWIse advances healthy eating habits, active lifestyles and healthy community environments for WI residents with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, community and systems level. Nancy collaborates with community partners to help implement comprehensive nutrition and food security strategies that focus on policy, system, and environmental community change. Community projects have included development of community resource directories; the FNV fruit and vegetable healthy retail initiative; Market Match, an incentive program at Eau Claire’s largest farmers’ market; editor of Hidden Hunger quarterly e-newsletter and part of the Food as Medicine Partnership leadership team. Nancy is also an advisor to seven SNAP-Ed coordinators in the state. Nancy is a graduate of UW-Stout.Alison Craig, MDChief of Staff and General Pediatrician
Group Health Cooperative of South Central WisconsinDr. Alison Craig is a general pediatrician and the Chief of Staff at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, which is a locally managed, primary care focused, non-profit, health cooperative. GHC-SCW provides health care and insurance for 70,000 members in Dane and Sauk counties. With deep Wisconsin roots, Dr. Craig is a fourth generation Badger alumna and began her Madison pediatric practice in 2002. She was named as a Top Doc in Madison Magazine between 2004-2012. Dr. Craig has professional interests and expertise on a wide-range of health care topics including injury prevention, child development, adolescent medicine and health equity.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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7:00 AM
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9:00 AMBreakfast
A light breakfast buffet, including breakfast sandwiches, cereal, yogurt, fruit, bagels, and muffins will be available in the Grand Ballroom. Coffee and tea will also be available to help kickstart your day.
- Grand Ballroom
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7:00 AM
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1:00 PMRegistration
Drop by the registration desk outside of the Grand Ballroom to pick up your name badge and conference materials.
- Main Atrium
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8:00 AM
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9:00 AMGeneral Session and Morning Discussion Panel
Our second conference day will kick off with a panel discussion focused on deepening our understanding of "health and nutrition," in its broadest sense, as it relates to people, communities, and policy. Our panelists - a bioethicist, the leader of one of the nation's largest food banks, and the executive director of one of the largest farmers markets in Wisconsin - will share perspectives from their diverse professional backgrounds to help us work through how we move forward together improving our efforts to improve health and fight hunger.
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Jennifer Casey, Executive Director, Fondy Food Center
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Paul Kelleher, Associate Professor, Bioethics & Philosophy, UW Madison
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Rob Zeake, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Heartland
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David Lee, Executive Director, Feeding Wisconsin
Jennifer CaseyExecutive Director
Fondy Food CenterJennifer Casey is the Executive Director of the Fondy Food Center, a local non-profit that connects neighborhoods to fresh, local food through its farmers markets, farm project, and city-wide healthy food access initiative. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and professional cook whose work focuses on building a more resilient, diverse, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. Before coming to Fondy, she ran the Diabetes and Community Health programs at Milwaukee’s only American Indian Health Center – where she had the opportunity to experience the power of renewing cultural food traditions to improve public health. Jennifer is a long-time volunteer with Slow Food locally and nationally.Paul KelleherAssociate Professor, Bioethics & Philosophy
UW MadisonPaul Kelleher is Associate Professor of Bioethics and Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his bachelor's degree from Colgate University and his Ph.D from Cornell University, both in Philosophy. Prior to coming to UW-Madison, he was a post-doctoral fellow in the Program in Ethics and Health at Harvard University. Professor Kelleher works in areas of applied ethics and political philosophy that address the health of populations. He has published widely on topics including the foundations of social justice and its implications for health policy; issues in public health ethics concerning government paternalism and the restriction of free choice; the ethics of climate change; and clinical ethics issues such as conscientious refusal to serve certain patients and ethical issues at the end of life. He is currently writing a book about what it means to properly value the health and well-being of future generations.Rob ZeakeChief Executive Officer
Second Harvest HeartlandAs Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since 2008, Rob has overall responsibility for leadership, planning and management of Second Harvest Heartland. Under Rob’s direction, Second Harvest Heartland has not only grown in size and scale, but also has earned a reputation as an innovator and national thought leader in hunger relief. Rob is helping change the conversation about hunger relief by bringing together partners from private and public organizations that have a stake in closing the missing meal gap. Prior to joining Second Harvest Heartland, Rob led fundraising and government relations for Boston-based Jumpstart, which is nationally recognized for preparing schoolchildren for success, and served as a Harvard Business School Service Leadership Fellow for Mercy Corps. Rob holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University.David LeeExecutive Director
Feeding WisconsinDavid Lee brings 15 years of non-profit experience, specializing in community relations, public affairs, hunger relief and food systems programming, and advocacy to Feeding Wisconsin. Previously at Feeding America, the nation’s largest anti-hunger charity, David managed partnership and program development and led its state policy and grassroots advocacy. He has served as an adviser to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Hunger Partnership and the Farm Foundation’s Dialogue Project for a 21st Century Agriculture. David is an alum of the American Express/Independent Sector NGen Fellows program and the American Express/Aspen Institute Academy 2.0 Non-Profit Leaders program. He attended Vassar College, where he holds an A.B. in film and drama. He lives in Bay View with his wife where they stress out over their backyard garden and whether their dog Molly is living a rich and fulfilling inner life.- Grand Ballroom
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9:30 AM
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9:45 AMTransition Break
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMWisconsin Budget For All
A year of deep messaging work in Wisconsin revealed that a paradigm shift was needed to overcome public attitudes about spending, taxation, and the core functions of government. The research suggested that such a paradigm shift was possible through disciplined and focused communication that highlighted revenue attained by addressing flaws in the tax code that benefit special interests and reinvesting that recovered revenue into projects that promote the common good, which results in thriving communities. The key insight was to inspire people by keeping the focus on building thriving communities -- an idea that is broadly resonant -- rather than focusing on the specifics of policy. We hope you will join us in incorporating this work into your organization’s communications to amplify this message and help us shift the conversation surrounding our public institutions.
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Ken Taylor, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
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Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Robert KraigExecutive Director
Citizen Action of WisconsinOver the past 16 years, Robert has played a significant role in the Wisconsin public policy arena. Robert is a leading strategist in the Wisconsin progressive movement, and is especially known for developing innovative approaches to strategic communication and issue campaign design and implementation. Robert is leading in the development of new progressive communications models which are more effective and fully integrate traditional organizing with earned, social, and new media strategies. Robert frequently appears in Wisconsin media on health care and economic issues. He has also appeared on major national and international media outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, Democracy Now, and many syndicated radio programs, and has been quoted in national newspapers and magazines such as the New York Times, Washington Post, The American Prospect, The Atlantic, and Mother Jones.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMThe Future of FoodShare and BadgerCare
FoodShare is the largest hunger fighting program in Wisconsin and BadgerCare is the largest healthcare program in Wisconsin. With the tough choices that many Wisconsin families face every day, these important programs provide some assistance to ensure that everybody has access to the food and healthcare they need to work toward a better future. Yet, the future of these programs is uncertain and unclear. With a Farm Bill on the horizon in 2018 and Healthcare Reform seemingly around the corner, what does the future hold for these vital programs. Join this session with two experts on the issue to find out!
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Nick Levendofsky, Government Relations Associate, Wisconsin Farmers Union
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Jon Peacock, Research Director, Wisconsin Council on Children & Families
Nick LevendofskyGovernment Relations Associate
Wisconsin Farmers UnionNick Levendofsky is the Government Relations Associate at Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. Prior to joining WFU in August 2016, Nick worked in a number of roles for Kansas Farmers Union, namely in government relations, special projects, and communications. A graduate of Kansas State University, Nick resides in Madison, WI, but finds time to get back to north central Kansas where his parents still farm and reside.Jon PeacockResearch Director
Wisconsin Council on Children & FamiliesJon Peacock has nearly 40 years of experience working on public policy issues in Wisconsin. Since 1999 Jon has been the research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), where he has been actively involved in issues relating to BadgerCare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. In addition, Jon directs the work of the Wisconsin Budget Project, which is an initiative of the Council that analyzes the impacts of state fiscal policy decisions, particularly as they relate to low- and moderate-income families in Wisconsin.- Centralia: FoodShare
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMCommunity Linkages: Wood County's Approach to Solving Hunger
Learn about how our Summit's host county is bringing together their community to create local hunger solutions - from first identifying the community needs through the Wood County Health Assessment to developing and implementing solutions with local WIC clinics, public health, and other community stakeholders.
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Kristie Rauter-Egge, Community Healthy Planner, Wood County Health Department
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Amber France, MS, MPH, IBCLC, WIC Director and Lactation Supervisor, Wood County Health Department
Kristie Rauter-EggeCommunity Healthy Planner
Wood County Health DepartmentKristie Rauter Egge is the Community Health Planner and Health Promotion Supervisor for the Wood County Health Department. She oversees the Healthy People Wood County Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan focusing on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Mental Health & Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, and Healthy Growth and Development. Kristie’s work focuses on policy, system, and environmental changes at the local level and she has experience working with diverse populations and numerous community organizations including non-profits, school districts, worksites, city/county planning, and the health care industry to name a few. She received her undergraduate degree from UW-Eau Claire in Biology and earned her Masters in Public Health through Concordia University. Kristie and her husband are proud to call Wisconsin Rapids home and have a 18 month old daughter named Avery and a 4 legged-furry-5-year old named Lucy.Amber France, MS, MPH, IBCLCWIC Director and Lactation Supervisor
Wood County Health DepartmentAmber France is the Nutrition and Lactation Program Supervisor at the Wood County Health Department. She has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, a Masters in Nutrition Education from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and a Masters in Public Health from Concordia University. She also has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since November 2011. She is the chair of the Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition and the Wood County Breastfeeding Coalition, past-chair of the Wisconsin WIC Association, and a serves on the Statewide Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Workgroup. She focuses on policy, systems, and environmental changes related to breastfeeding (breastfeeding friendly childcare and worksites), community health, and chronic disease prevention.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMBest Practices for a Best in Class Food Pantry
It takes a lot to run an effective food pantry. This session focuses the three core components of a food pantry: Volunteers & Mission, Operations & Maximizing Distribution, and Nutritional Education Programming. The session will provide a unique and tangible best practices to help elevate your hunger-relief organization and improve overall organization efficiencies. Learn from industry experts how to clarify your mission statement, empower your volunteers to increase efficiency, seek out opportunities within local organizations to increase program capacity and impact and how to increase nutritional programming to customers to address food insecurity from multiple perspectives. You will walk away with greater confidence, inspiration, and tools to become a best-in-class food pantry.
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Erin Waldhart, Executive Director, WAFER Food Pantry
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Jim McPhetridge, Food Shelf Manager, The BRICK Ministries, Inc.
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Dan Wilson, Program Director, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
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Catherine Draeger-Pederson, Executive Director, Friedens Community Ministries, Inc.
Erin WaldhartExecutive Director
WAFER Food PantryErin Waldhart has worked in the non-profit sector for 20 years. She currently serves as Executive Director at WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse, WI, which provides 1500 families with food monthly and distributes 1.6 million pounds of food annually. During the past four years, Erin’s leadership has resulted in a more than 100 percent increase in food package delivery for seniors and rural families, a transition to “client choice,” a backpack program in the Bangor School District and implementation of a “Nutrition Education and Tools Project”. Currently, Erin is leading a team charged with designing a “food pantry on wheels” program to decrease the transportation barriers associated with food insecurity. Erin enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, photography, music and outdoor activities such as hiking, running and paddle boarding. Erin and her husband, Ryan, have three children - Connor, Isaac, and Grace.Jim McPhetridgeFood Shelf Manager
The BRICK Ministries, Inc.With his beautiful, loving wife and two wonderful children, Jim moved to the northland in 1995 in hopes of raising their family in a smaller more closely knit community. They owned and operated two floral shops, affording him experience with perishable products and dealing directly with the community. Previous jobs in grocery stores and as a chef also provided much experience with food and people. Jim has been the Food Shelf Manager at The BRICK Ministries in Ashland WI for 2 ½ years and looks forward to many more years of helping and serving those with food insecurities. In his free time you can find him (or maybe not ) hunting, fishing and especially boating on Lake Superior with family and friends.Dan WilsonProgram Director
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food BankDan Wilson is currently the Program Director with Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth, MN. He’s been with the team for five years. Dan oversees the Backpack program, Mobile Pantries, CSFP Senior Feeding program. His team helps to get more food out to people in need by educating food pantries to utilize all they can access from their partner food bank. Dan lives in Superior, WI with a fabulous wife, somewhat moody teenager, and a Siberian Husky that sheds too much hair.Catherine Draeger-PedersonExecutive Director
Friedens Community Ministries, Inc.Catherine Draeger-Pederson, MA is a nonprofit entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience empowering people to make a difference in their community. As the Executive Director of Friedens Community Ministries, 2016 BBB Torch Award recipient, she oversees a network of four food pantries who served 51,000 individuals with 2,000 volunteers in 2016. She has received numerous awards including the Philanthropic 5 recipient in 2016 from United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and the Ten Outstanding Young America's (TOYA) award in 2015 from the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees). She earned her Master's Degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis in leadership form Trinity International University. She is a published author: Faith, Hope and Love: When the World is Not as It Should Be. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and three children.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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11:00 AM
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11:30 AMNetworking Break
Taking in the feedback from last year's evaluation, we have programmed a bit of a longer break to give you some time to network and reflect on the morning sessions.
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMCommunity Resource Navigation Partnership: An Innovative Approach to Addressing Food Insecurity
Overwhelming evidence demonstrates the impact that socioeconomic factors have on health, leading to deep inequities in health outcomes. While health care clinics routinely screen patients for health related factors, like blood pressure and cholesterol, clinics are looking for effective and cost-efficient ways to screen their patients for social determinants of health. Join this session to learn how The Community Resource Navigation Partnership (CRNP) brings the University together with community and primary health to screen patients for screening patients for thirteen health¬ harming social conditions, partner with patients to identify the most pressing needs, and assist patients in connecting to resources.
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Lane Hanson, Community Engagement Coordinator, Center for Patient Partnerships
Lane HansonCommunity Engagement Coordinator
Center for Patient PartnershipsLane Hanson, MSW, works as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. This work focuses on coordinating a Resource Navigator Program in a local primary care clinic. The program involves pre-health undergraduate students in direct patient engagement by screening patients for social determinants of health and connecting them to existing community resources. Lane is also a member of the HungerCare Coalition. She graduated from UW-Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and Master’s degree in Social Work. She has additional work experience teaching and working in both health care and nonprofit administration.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMIncreasing Food Access through EBT at Farmers Markets
This presentation will highlight the work that the University of Wisconsin – Extension and Farmers’ Markets across the state are doing to promote the use of EBT at farmers’ markets. It will touch on the work of two grants, the state-wide Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and Fondy Food Center’s Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program in Milwaukee to provide information about the barriers that households, as well as farmers markets, face, outreach strategies to increase use of SNAP at farmers’ markets, and pilot programs to increase access to fresh and local produce. In addition to coming away with tools and resources to apply in their communities, participants will be engaged in sharing their experiences in promoting EBT at farmers’ markets to expand the collective wisdom of session attendees.
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Amber Canto, FoodWIse State Program Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Karen Early, FoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Francie Dekker, FoodWIse Nutrition Program Administrator, University of WI-Extension
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Jennifer Casey, Executive Director, Fondy Food Center
Amber CantoFoodWIse State Program Coordinator
UW-ExtensionAmber Canto, MPH, RDN received her dietetics degree from the University of WI-Madison, and completed her master's degree in public health nutrition with a global health emphasis with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Amber has worked as a nutrition consultant with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Dominican Republic where she coordinated infant and young child feeding interventions on the Haitian-Dominican border. She previously held the position as Poverty and Food Security Specialist with University of Wisconsin-Extension where her worked addressed food systems and food security, poverty awareness and education, and nutrition education with low-income audiences. She currently serves as the State Coordinator of FoodWIse at the University of WI-Extension.Karen EarlyFoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator
UW-ExtensionKaren Early coordinates the Brown County UW Extension FoodWIse Program. She is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in Leadership in Education and has been providing nutrition education in numerous settings for the Green Bay area since 1975, with occasion to also speak statewide and nationally. Through her Extension work she been extensively involved with local food security and obesity prevention education and interventions. She has personal interests in gardening, holistic living, music, outdoor recreation and eating good food with good friends.Francie DekkerFoodWIse Nutrition Program Administrator
University of WI-ExtensionFrancie Dekker is the FoodWIse Program Administrator for Milwaukee County UW-Extension. In her role, Francie leads Milwaukee’s team of community nutrition educators in teaching families with limited resources how to choose healthful diets, purchase and prepare nutritious food, and become more food secure by spending their food dollars wisely. In addition to direct education, FoodWIse works to address lack of access to nutritious food in communities by collaborating with local food pantries, schools, farmers markets and community gardens to help make the healthy choice, an easier choice in Milwaukee County. Before joining UW-Extension in February 2016, Francie spent four years as the Education Coordinator at Wellspring and NuGenesis Organic Farms. She is also a Culinary Trust Food Writing Fellow, contributing pieces to Edible Milwaukee and Madison Magazines that highlight stories at the intersection of local food, gardening and healthy communities.Jennifer CaseyExecutive Director
Fondy Food CenterJennifer Casey is the Executive Director of the Fondy Food Center, a local non-profit that connects neighborhoods to fresh, local food through its farmers markets, farm project, and city-wide healthy food access initiative. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and professional cook whose work focuses on building a more resilient, diverse, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. Before coming to Fondy, she ran the Diabetes and Community Health programs at Milwaukee’s only American Indian Health Center – where she had the opportunity to experience the power of renewing cultural food traditions to improve public health. Jennifer is a long-time volunteer with Slow Food locally and nationally.- Centralia: FoodShare
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMImproving Food Access through Local Policy Initiatives: A Rural and Urban Case Study
This session will share an overview of perspectives, one urban and one rural, on the use of food policy councils to understand community needs and implement projects to improve access to healthy, affordable and culturally-appropriate food. The City of Madison and Dane County will provide an overview of two nutrition incentive programs: a pilot Fruit and Vegetable prescription program and the “Double Dollars” program. Shawano County UWEX will share the work of the FRESH Project Food Council who have developed a strategic plan after doing a community needs assessment to address food access and insecurity within the county. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the role of food policy councils in creating community change, ideas for collaboration and innovative approaches that may be replicable in their local communities.
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Nick Heckman, Food Security Policy Analyst, Public Health Madison & Dane County
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George Reistad, Food Policy Director, City of Madison
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Nancy Schultz, FLE, UW-Extension
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Kara Skarlupka, Staff, UW-Extension
Nick HeckmanFood Security Policy Analyst
Public Health Madison & Dane CountyGeorge ReistadFood Policy Director
City of MadisonGeorge Reistad is the Food Policy Coordinator for the City of Madison. He comes from a sustainable agriculture and local food systems background, formerly serving as the Associate Policy Director at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. In his relatively new role at the City, George focuses on creating and continuing programs and advancing policies that increase food access for residents of the City of Madison, with particular focus being paid to initiatives that create healthy affordable food access and build more robust community food systems. Examples of initiatives that George has worked on in this role include: Assisting community gardens in the City through the Gardens Network partnership; launching a new Wholesome Wave-funded Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on the Northside of Madison; and staffing the Madison Food Policy Council, which uses the expertise and dedication of community volunteers to create and move many food-based policies through the City process.Nancy SchultzFLE
UW-ExtensionNancy is currently the Family Living Educator for the Shawano County UW-Extension office. She has a degree in dietetics and accounting, and MS degree in Food Science and Nutrition from UW-Stevens Point. She also has a degree in accounting from Lakeland College in Sheboygan. She is actively involved with many community projects, such as the F.R.E.S.H. project, Healthy Shawano- Menominee County – Community Health Act Team, Shawano Pathways – Bike/Pedestrian pathways, Safe Routes to School, Strong Women, Strong Bones strength training program, SAM 25 – Homeless Shelter, Boy and Girls Club, Share the Bounty and the Dreams of Green Community Garden project. In her spare time she loves gardening, cooking, and taking long walks with friends and family.Kara SkarlupkaStaff
UW-ExtensionAs the UW-Extension Shawano County Family Living Support Staff, Kara Skarlupka assists office educators with various community development, youth, food and nutrition programs . She is currently a Strong Bones instructor, on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Shawano County, and teaches gardening and canning programs in the community. Outside of work, Kara serves on the Bonduel School Board and is the clerk for the Town of Washington.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMMeasuring the Health of the Food We Distribute with the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST)
Traditionally, quantity (lbs.) of food distributed has been the driving measure of success in hunger relief. With increased awareness of health and hunger, along with a general increase in the demand for healthier foods by clients, there is a need to develop tools to measure the nutritional value of the food distributed by food banks and pantries to help them make informed sourcing decisions. The Feeding America Foods to Encourage measure has provided a helpful first step to doing this. Building on this work, the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) has been developed to provide increased specificity in measurement through a collaborative partnership between Second Harvest Heartland and the University of Minnesota, with financial support from Target, Inc. FAST enables food banks and their agency partners to measure the nutritional quality of foods sourced and distributed at any one point in time, as well as measure change over time.
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Kristen Williamson, Registered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Kate Burggraff, – Program Innovation & Impact Manager, Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank
Kristen WilliamsonRegistered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandAs a Registered Dietitian and Program Coordinator, Kristen provides nutrition council for Second Harvest Heartland’s FOODRx healthcare work and Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) project. Her most recent work includes developing patient centered approaches to food insecurity and chronic disease management, fostering collaboration with health professionals and directing operations related to the chronic disease pilot. Kristen has also been working to address the need to quantify the healthfulness of food through the work of the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST).Kate Burggraff– Program Innovation & Impact Manager
Second Harvest Heartland Food BankKate has over 10 years of experience in hunger relief and non-profit management. Currently Kate serves as the Program Innovation & Impact Manager, focusing on continuous quality improvement and data-driven decision making to maximize the impact of the Second Harvest Heartland network of food pantries and other partners. Kate provides expertise in both standardizing compliance measures in the SHH Hunger Relief network and strengthening Agency Partners’ capacity to implement best practices aimed to improve operational efficiencies and a client-centered approach to service provisionPrior to joining the SHH team, Kate worked on the front lines of hunger relief as the Volunteer Coordinator and Food Shelf Manager at St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) in St. Louis Park, MN. During her time with STEP, Kate doubled the number of volunteers and led quality improvement initiatives. Kate earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) in 2003.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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12:45 PM
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2:15 PMLuncheon Keynote: "Addressing Public Health, Nutrition, and Food Access in Milwaukee”
Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker will give the keynote address, which will cover the public health and nutrition issues in Wisconsin's largest and most diverse city.
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Bevan Baker, Commissioner of Health, City of Milwaukee Health Department
Bevan BakerCommissioner of Health
City of Milwaukee Health DepartmentBevan K. Baker was sworn in as the 16th Commissioner of Health of the City of Milwaukee on August 6, 2004. He was nominated by Mayor Tom Barrett in 2004 and re-confirmed for a second term by the City’s Common Council on June 10, 2008. As the 16th Health Commissioner in a line dating back to 1867, Mr. Baker serves the city as the city’s chief adviser on health. As Commissioner, Mr. Baker is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the agency’s departments in their collective efforts to provide health and well being of the people of Milwaukee. Before this appointment, Baker served as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Milwaukee Health Department from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Baker has also held progressive positions of responsibility as Chief Operating Officer with the Health Choice Network, Inc. in Miami, Florida and the Associate Director of Administration for the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation in Brooklyn, New York.- Grand Ballroom
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2:15 PM
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2:30 PMTransition Break
Assorted cookies, snack mix, coffee, tea and soda will be available in the Riverside foyer on your way to your last session of the day.
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMRural FoodShare Outreach and Best Practices
FoodShare is Wisconsin's most effective anti-hunger fighting tool. Unfortunately, many people across the state are unaware that they might be eligible for the benefit. Food banks across the state help raise awareness and provide application assistance in both urban and rural settings. Dr. Lori Bakken shares her research on the feasibility of FoodShare Outreach in rural Wisconsin and discusses the challenges and opportunities for outreach programs in these communities. Learn how rural communities across the state can partner with other agencies to help people gain access the program and help end food insecurity through the FoodShare program.
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Lori Bakken, Evaluation Specialist, UW-Extension
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Liz Seefeldt, Executive Director, The BRICK Ministries
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Brian Larson, FoodShare Outreach Specialist, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Lori BakkenEvaluation Specialist
UW-ExtensionDr. Bakken has over 25 years of experience leading and conducting evaluation studies in the medical, public health and education fields. The early part of her career focused on evaluating and improving laboratory performance in medicine and public health. In 1995, her focus shifted to designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs to improve the quality and quantity of clinical research conducted in the US. She developed one of the nation’s first and highly successful education and career development programs for clinical researchers and established a NIH-funded research program to study the career development of clinician-scientists. In 2010, she joined the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Human Ecology’s faculty and became an evaluation specialist for UW-Extension. Dr. Bakken is a member of the American Evaluation Association and holds degrees in Medical Technology (BS, 1980), Medical Microbiology (MS, 1991) and Continuing and Vocational Education (PhD, 1998) from UW-Madison.Liz SeefeldtExecutive Director
The BRICK MinistriesLiz Seefeldt comes to the nonprofit world by way of her leadership experiences in the legal and local government fields. Currently the Executive Director of The BRICK Ministries, she has also been the Clerk for the Town of Kelly in northwest Bayfield County, Wisconsin for the past 17 years. Liz is active in her community and currently sits on the board of the League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Throughout her adult life Liz has volunteered with numerous and varied nonprofit organizations, serving at every organizational level. When she is not in a board room, Liz can be found watching the diverse bird population of the Northwoods or kayaking on Lake Superior.Brian LarsonFoodShare Outreach Specialist
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WisconsinBrian’s varied path has taken the occasional twist and turn to keep things interesting. A couple of themes that have been consistent have been food and community involvement. In other words, he likes to eat with people. Once he located to beautiful, remote Richland County his high school teaching morphed into social work. After his stint doing outreach for Badgercare was cut short by the great recession – it was time for Second Harvest Foodbank and Foodshare Outreach in the Hinterland. For the last 8 years he has spent time developing relationships and weaving himself into varied settings of SW Wisconsin – educating and offering assistance for people in regards to Foodshare. Outside of the workplace Brian continues to be involved in broadbased community organizing in Richland County. More importantly, he has the good fortune to be married to someone who loves to ride bike as much as him – and he has time to do it because his kids are in Florida and Utah.- Centralia: FoodShare
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMWisconsin Blueprint to End Hunger
In 2008, just as the Great Recession was beginning to unfold, the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium released the Wisconsin Blueprint to End Hunger. The plan consisted of four table legs: 1) family economic security, 2) access to affordable and healthy food, 3) federal nutrition programs, and 4) emergency food assistance. Now, as we approach the document's 10 year anniversary, we are working to update the blueprint and relaunch a statewide effort put the recommendations of the plan into action. Join this session to learn about the new Blueprint and how you can join this important effort.
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Nick Heckman, Food Security Policy Analyst, Public Health Madison & Dane County
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Amber Canto, FoodWIse State Program Coordinator, UW-Extension
Nick HeckmanFood Security Policy Analyst
Public Health Madison & Dane CountyAmber CantoFoodWIse State Program Coordinator
UW-ExtensionAmber Canto, MPH, RDN received her dietetics degree from the University of WI-Madison, and completed her master's degree in public health nutrition with a global health emphasis with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Amber has worked as a nutrition consultant with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Dominican Republic where she coordinated infant and young child feeding interventions on the Haitian-Dominican border. She previously held the position as Poverty and Food Security Specialist with University of Wisconsin-Extension where her worked addressed food systems and food security, poverty awareness and education, and nutrition education with low-income audiences. She currently serves as the State Coordinator of FoodWIse at the University of WI-Extension.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMInfant Health and Food Insecurity: Creating a Community of Healthy Breastfeeding
This session will explore community-based approaches to creating breastfeeding friendly policies and spaces. We will discuss our work with a community health and nutrition focused coalition and implementing breastfeeding friendly areas in county-owned spaces such as the Courthouse, Health Care Center, and even the Fairgrounds. We will discuss working with area employers on their breastfeeding-friendly policies and accommodations. Strategies to overcome barriers to breastfeeding and creating breastfeeding-friendly spaces and policies will also be addressed.
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Nancy Vance, Family Living Educator, Clark County, UW-Extension
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Melissa Kono, Community Resource Development Educator, Clark County, UW-Extension
Nancy VanceFamily Living Educator, Clark County
UW-ExtensionNancy Vance is the Family Living Educator for Clark County, WI. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois with both a Master’s of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in the area of Family and Consumer Science. Nancy has had many diverse careers in the field of Family Science ranging from middle school teacher to program director for a domestic violence agency in Illinois where she worked with families impacted by violence and abuse. Nancy has been a University of Wisconsin Extension educator since 2013 where she has focused her work around families and poverty issues in rural Clark County WI.Melissa KonoCommunity Resource Development Educator, Clark County
UW-ExtensionMelissa Kono is a Community Resource Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Clark County. Ms Kono has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Economic Development from the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities and a Bachelors Degree in Global Studies and Sociology also from the University of Minnesota. Ms Kono has worked with several non-profits on food security and health issues including the Hmong Mutual Assistance Agency in La Crosse, Minnesota International Health Volunteers, and the United Nations Association in Minnesota. She has been working with the U.S. Agency for International Development Farmer to Farmer program since 2014. In her current position, she works with the Clark County Health Department on administering the Center for Disease Control’s Worksite Health Assessment, Cancer Clear and Simple Training, farmers markets, and building capacity with the Eat Right Be Fit Coalition on obesity-reduction efforts.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMFaithful Citizenship
There is a growing consensus across the political spectrum that government has an important role to play if we are to take effective action to dramatically reduce poverty. Both progressives and conservatives accept that government is essential to creating a social and economic context where poverty is far less prevalent. Despite this seeming agreement, ideological divisions over policy create a standoff that blocks effective action. Join this session to learn how your food pantry or community organization can join thousands of other people of faith in local communities throughout our state to drive meaningful, accountable action toward the achievable goal of cutting child poverty in half in a decade.
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Ken Taylor, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
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Peter Bakken, Public Policy Coordinator, Wisconsin Council on Churches
Peter BakkenPublic Policy Coordinator
Wisconsin Council on ChurchesPeter Bakken is Coordinator for Public Policy at the Wisconsin Council of Churches and Executive Director of Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light. He received his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is the author of the WCC publications, Hunger at Our Doorstep: A Study-Action Guide for Wisconsin Congregations (2006; 2014) and Becoming Welcoming Communities: Immigration in Light of Biblical Faith (2011). Other publications include: Church on Earth: Grounding Your Ministry in a Sense of Place (with Jeff Wild; Augsburg Fortress 2009); Ecology, Justice and Christian Faith: A Guide to the Literature (co-compiled with J. Ronald Engel and Joan Gibb Engel; Greenwood Press, 1995), among others. He was a member of the task force that produced the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America social statement, “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice.” He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife and daughter, where they are members of Advent Lutheran Church.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMCommunity Linkages: Wood County's Approach to Solving Hunger
Learn about how our Summit's host county is bringing together their community to create local hunger solutions - from first identifying the community needs through the Wood County Health Assessment to developing and implementing solutions with local WIC clinics, public health, and other community stakeholders.
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Kristie Rauter-Egge, Community Healthy Planner, Wood County Health Department
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Amber France, MS, MPH, IBCLC, WIC Director and Lactation Supervisor, Wood County Health Department
Kristie Rauter-EggeCommunity Healthy Planner
Wood County Health DepartmentKristie Rauter Egge is the Community Health Planner and Health Promotion Supervisor for the Wood County Health Department. She oversees the Healthy People Wood County Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan focusing on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Mental Health & Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, and Healthy Growth and Development. Kristie’s work focuses on policy, system, and environmental changes at the local level and she has experience working with diverse populations and numerous community organizations including non-profits, school districts, worksites, city/county planning, and the health care industry to name a few. She received her undergraduate degree from UW-Eau Claire in Biology and earned her Masters in Public Health through Concordia University. Kristie and her husband are proud to call Wisconsin Rapids home and have a 18 month old daughter named Avery and a 4 legged-furry-5-year old named Lucy.Amber France, MS, MPH, IBCLCWIC Director and Lactation Supervisor
Wood County Health DepartmentAmber France is the Nutrition and Lactation Program Supervisor at the Wood County Health Department. She has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, a Masters in Nutrition Education from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and a Masters in Public Health from Concordia University. She also has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since November 2011. She is the chair of the Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition and the Wood County Breastfeeding Coalition, past-chair of the Wisconsin WIC Association, and a serves on the Statewide Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Workgroup. She focuses on policy, systems, and environmental changes related to breastfeeding (breastfeeding friendly childcare and worksites), community health, and chronic disease prevention.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMCommunity Resource Navigation Partnership: An Innovative Approach to Addressing Food Insecurity
Overwhelming evidence demonstrates the impact that socioeconomic factors have on health, leading to deep inequities in health outcomes. While health care clinics routinely screen patients for health related factors, like blood pressure and cholesterol, clinics are looking for effective and cost-efficient ways to screen their patients for social determinants of health. Join this session to learn how The Community Resource Navigation Partnership (CRNP) brings the University together with community and primary health to screen patients for screening patients for thirteen health¬ harming social conditions, partner with patients to identify the most pressing needs, and assist patients in connecting to resources.
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Lane Hanson, Community Engagement Coordinator, Center for Patient Partnerships
Lane HansonCommunity Engagement Coordinator
Center for Patient PartnershipsLane Hanson, MSW, works as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. This work focuses on coordinating a Resource Navigator Program in a local primary care clinic. The program involves pre-health undergraduate students in direct patient engagement by screening patients for social determinants of health and connecting them to existing community resources. Lane is also a member of the HungerCare Coalition. She graduated from UW-Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and Master’s degree in Social Work. She has additional work experience teaching and working in both health care and nonprofit administration.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMInfant Health and Food Insecurity: Creating a Community of Healthy Breastfeeding
This session will explore community-based approaches to creating breastfeeding friendly policies and spaces. We will discuss our work with a community health and nutrition focused coalition and implementing breastfeeding friendly areas in county-owned spaces such as the Courthouse, Health Care Center, and even the Fairgrounds. We will discuss working with area employers on their breastfeeding-friendly policies and accommodations. Strategies to overcome barriers to breastfeeding and creating breastfeeding-friendly spaces and policies will also be addressed.
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Nancy Vance, Family Living Educator, Clark County, UW-Extension
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Melissa Kono, Community Resource Development Educator, Clark County, UW-Extension
Nancy VanceFamily Living Educator, Clark County
UW-ExtensionNancy Vance is the Family Living Educator for Clark County, WI. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois with both a Master’s of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in the area of Family and Consumer Science. Nancy has had many diverse careers in the field of Family Science ranging from middle school teacher to program director for a domestic violence agency in Illinois where she worked with families impacted by violence and abuse. Nancy has been a University of Wisconsin Extension educator since 2013 where she has focused her work around families and poverty issues in rural Clark County WI.Melissa KonoCommunity Resource Development Educator, Clark County
UW-ExtensionMelissa Kono is a Community Resource Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Clark County. Ms Kono has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Economic Development from the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities and a Bachelors Degree in Global Studies and Sociology also from the University of Minnesota. Ms Kono has worked with several non-profits on food security and health issues including the Hmong Mutual Assistance Agency in La Crosse, Minnesota International Health Volunteers, and the United Nations Association in Minnesota. She has been working with the U.S. Agency for International Development Farmer to Farmer program since 2014. In her current position, she works with the Clark County Health Department on administering the Center for Disease Control’s Worksite Health Assessment, Cancer Clear and Simple Training, farmers markets, and building capacity with the Eat Right Be Fit Coalition on obesity-reduction efforts.- Riverside B: Healthy Partnerships
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7:00 AM
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9:00 AMBreakfast
A light breakfast buffet, including breakfast sandwiches, cereal, yogurt, fruit, bagels, and muffins will be available in the Grand Ballroom. Coffee and tea will also be available to help kickstart your day.
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8:00 AM
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9:00 AMGeneral Session and Morning Discussion Panel
Our second conference day will kick off with a panel discussion focused on deepening our understanding of "health and nutrition," in its broadest sense, as it relates to people, communities, and policy. Our panelists - a bioethicist, the leader of one of the nation's largest food banks, and the executive director of one of the largest farmers markets in Wisconsin - will share perspectives from their diverse professional backgrounds to help us work through how we move forward together improving our efforts to improve health and fight hunger.
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Jennifer Casey, Executive Director, Fondy Food Center
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Paul Kelleher, Associate Professor, Bioethics & Philosophy, UW Madison
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Rob Zeake, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Heartland
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David Lee, Executive Director, Feeding Wisconsin
Jennifer CaseyExecutive Director
Fondy Food CenterJennifer Casey is the Executive Director of the Fondy Food Center, a local non-profit that connects neighborhoods to fresh, local food through its farmers markets, farm project, and city-wide healthy food access initiative. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and professional cook whose work focuses on building a more resilient, diverse, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. Before coming to Fondy, she ran the Diabetes and Community Health programs at Milwaukee’s only American Indian Health Center – where she had the opportunity to experience the power of renewing cultural food traditions to improve public health. Jennifer is a long-time volunteer with Slow Food locally and nationally.Paul KelleherAssociate Professor, Bioethics & Philosophy
UW MadisonPaul Kelleher is Associate Professor of Bioethics and Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his bachelor's degree from Colgate University and his Ph.D from Cornell University, both in Philosophy. Prior to coming to UW-Madison, he was a post-doctoral fellow in the Program in Ethics and Health at Harvard University. Professor Kelleher works in areas of applied ethics and political philosophy that address the health of populations. He has published widely on topics including the foundations of social justice and its implications for health policy; issues in public health ethics concerning government paternalism and the restriction of free choice; the ethics of climate change; and clinical ethics issues such as conscientious refusal to serve certain patients and ethical issues at the end of life. He is currently writing a book about what it means to properly value the health and well-being of future generations.Rob ZeakeChief Executive Officer
Second Harvest HeartlandAs Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since 2008, Rob has overall responsibility for leadership, planning and management of Second Harvest Heartland. Under Rob’s direction, Second Harvest Heartland has not only grown in size and scale, but also has earned a reputation as an innovator and national thought leader in hunger relief. Rob is helping change the conversation about hunger relief by bringing together partners from private and public organizations that have a stake in closing the missing meal gap. Prior to joining Second Harvest Heartland, Rob led fundraising and government relations for Boston-based Jumpstart, which is nationally recognized for preparing schoolchildren for success, and served as a Harvard Business School Service Leadership Fellow for Mercy Corps. Rob holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University.David LeeExecutive Director
Feeding WisconsinDavid Lee brings 15 years of non-profit experience, specializing in community relations, public affairs, hunger relief and food systems programming, and advocacy to Feeding Wisconsin. Previously at Feeding America, the nation’s largest anti-hunger charity, David managed partnership and program development and led its state policy and grassroots advocacy. He has served as an adviser to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Hunger Partnership and the Farm Foundation’s Dialogue Project for a 21st Century Agriculture. David is an alum of the American Express/Independent Sector NGen Fellows program and the American Express/Aspen Institute Academy 2.0 Non-Profit Leaders program. He attended Vassar College, where he holds an A.B. in film and drama. He lives in Bay View with his wife where they stress out over their backyard garden and whether their dog Molly is living a rich and fulfilling inner life.- Grand Ballroom
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12:45 PM
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2:15 PMLuncheon Keynote: "Addressing Public Health, Nutrition, and Food Access in Milwaukee”
Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker will give the keynote address, which will cover the public health and nutrition issues in Wisconsin's largest and most diverse city.
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Bevan Baker, Commissioner of Health, City of Milwaukee Health Department
Bevan BakerCommissioner of Health
City of Milwaukee Health DepartmentBevan K. Baker was sworn in as the 16th Commissioner of Health of the City of Milwaukee on August 6, 2004. He was nominated by Mayor Tom Barrett in 2004 and re-confirmed for a second term by the City’s Common Council on June 10, 2008. As the 16th Health Commissioner in a line dating back to 1867, Mr. Baker serves the city as the city’s chief adviser on health. As Commissioner, Mr. Baker is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the agency’s departments in their collective efforts to provide health and well being of the people of Milwaukee. Before this appointment, Baker served as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Milwaukee Health Department from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Baker has also held progressive positions of responsibility as Chief Operating Officer with the Health Choice Network, Inc. in Miami, Florida and the Associate Director of Administration for the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation in Brooklyn, New York.- Grand Ballroom
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMWisconsin Budget For All
A year of deep messaging work in Wisconsin revealed that a paradigm shift was needed to overcome public attitudes about spending, taxation, and the core functions of government. The research suggested that such a paradigm shift was possible through disciplined and focused communication that highlighted revenue attained by addressing flaws in the tax code that benefit special interests and reinvesting that recovered revenue into projects that promote the common good, which results in thriving communities. The key insight was to inspire people by keeping the focus on building thriving communities -- an idea that is broadly resonant -- rather than focusing on the specifics of policy. We hope you will join us in incorporating this work into your organization’s communications to amplify this message and help us shift the conversation surrounding our public institutions.
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Ken Taylor, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
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Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Robert KraigExecutive Director
Citizen Action of WisconsinOver the past 16 years, Robert has played a significant role in the Wisconsin public policy arena. Robert is a leading strategist in the Wisconsin progressive movement, and is especially known for developing innovative approaches to strategic communication and issue campaign design and implementation. Robert is leading in the development of new progressive communications models which are more effective and fully integrate traditional organizing with earned, social, and new media strategies. Robert frequently appears in Wisconsin media on health care and economic issues. He has also appeared on major national and international media outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, Democracy Now, and many syndicated radio programs, and has been quoted in national newspapers and magazines such as the New York Times, Washington Post, The American Prospect, The Atlantic, and Mother Jones.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMImproving Food Access through Local Policy Initiatives: A Rural and Urban Case Study
This session will share an overview of perspectives, one urban and one rural, on the use of food policy councils to understand community needs and implement projects to improve access to healthy, affordable and culturally-appropriate food. The City of Madison and Dane County will provide an overview of two nutrition incentive programs: a pilot Fruit and Vegetable prescription program and the “Double Dollars” program. Shawano County UWEX will share the work of the FRESH Project Food Council who have developed a strategic plan after doing a community needs assessment to address food access and insecurity within the county. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the role of food policy councils in creating community change, ideas for collaboration and innovative approaches that may be replicable in their local communities.
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Nick Heckman, Food Security Policy Analyst, Public Health Madison & Dane County
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George Reistad, Food Policy Director, City of Madison
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Nancy Schultz, FLE, UW-Extension
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Kara Skarlupka, Staff, UW-Extension
Nick HeckmanFood Security Policy Analyst
Public Health Madison & Dane CountyGeorge ReistadFood Policy Director
City of MadisonGeorge Reistad is the Food Policy Coordinator for the City of Madison. He comes from a sustainable agriculture and local food systems background, formerly serving as the Associate Policy Director at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. In his relatively new role at the City, George focuses on creating and continuing programs and advancing policies that increase food access for residents of the City of Madison, with particular focus being paid to initiatives that create healthy affordable food access and build more robust community food systems. Examples of initiatives that George has worked on in this role include: Assisting community gardens in the City through the Gardens Network partnership; launching a new Wholesome Wave-funded Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on the Northside of Madison; and staffing the Madison Food Policy Council, which uses the expertise and dedication of community volunteers to create and move many food-based policies through the City process.Nancy SchultzFLE
UW-ExtensionNancy is currently the Family Living Educator for the Shawano County UW-Extension office. She has a degree in dietetics and accounting, and MS degree in Food Science and Nutrition from UW-Stevens Point. She also has a degree in accounting from Lakeland College in Sheboygan. She is actively involved with many community projects, such as the F.R.E.S.H. project, Healthy Shawano- Menominee County – Community Health Act Team, Shawano Pathways – Bike/Pedestrian pathways, Safe Routes to School, Strong Women, Strong Bones strength training program, SAM 25 – Homeless Shelter, Boy and Girls Club, Share the Bounty and the Dreams of Green Community Garden project. In her spare time she loves gardening, cooking, and taking long walks with friends and family.Kara SkarlupkaStaff
UW-ExtensionAs the UW-Extension Shawano County Family Living Support Staff, Kara Skarlupka assists office educators with various community development, youth, food and nutrition programs . She is currently a Strong Bones instructor, on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Shawano County, and teaches gardening and canning programs in the community. Outside of work, Kara serves on the Bonduel School Board and is the clerk for the Town of Washington.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMWisconsin Blueprint to End Hunger
In 2008, just as the Great Recession was beginning to unfold, the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium released the Wisconsin Blueprint to End Hunger. The plan consisted of four table legs: 1) family economic security, 2) access to affordable and healthy food, 3) federal nutrition programs, and 4) emergency food assistance. Now, as we approach the document's 10 year anniversary, we are working to update the blueprint and relaunch a statewide effort put the recommendations of the plan into action. Join this session to learn about the new Blueprint and how you can join this important effort.
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Nick Heckman, Food Security Policy Analyst, Public Health Madison & Dane County
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Amber Canto, FoodWIse State Program Coordinator, UW-Extension
Nick HeckmanFood Security Policy Analyst
Public Health Madison & Dane CountyAmber CantoFoodWIse State Program Coordinator
UW-ExtensionAmber Canto, MPH, RDN received her dietetics degree from the University of WI-Madison, and completed her master's degree in public health nutrition with a global health emphasis with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Amber has worked as a nutrition consultant with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Dominican Republic where she coordinated infant and young child feeding interventions on the Haitian-Dominican border. She previously held the position as Poverty and Food Security Specialist with University of Wisconsin-Extension where her worked addressed food systems and food security, poverty awareness and education, and nutrition education with low-income audiences. She currently serves as the State Coordinator of FoodWIse at the University of WI-Extension.- Timberland: Policy & Research
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMThe Future of FoodShare and BadgerCare
FoodShare is the largest hunger fighting program in Wisconsin and BadgerCare is the largest healthcare program in Wisconsin. With the tough choices that many Wisconsin families face every day, these important programs provide some assistance to ensure that everybody has access to the food and healthcare they need to work toward a better future. Yet, the future of these programs is uncertain and unclear. With a Farm Bill on the horizon in 2018 and Healthcare Reform seemingly around the corner, what does the future hold for these vital programs. Join this session with two experts on the issue to find out!
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Nick Levendofsky, Government Relations Associate, Wisconsin Farmers Union
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Jon Peacock, Research Director, Wisconsin Council on Children & Families
Nick LevendofskyGovernment Relations Associate
Wisconsin Farmers UnionNick Levendofsky is the Government Relations Associate at Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. Prior to joining WFU in August 2016, Nick worked in a number of roles for Kansas Farmers Union, namely in government relations, special projects, and communications. A graduate of Kansas State University, Nick resides in Madison, WI, but finds time to get back to north central Kansas where his parents still farm and reside.Jon PeacockResearch Director
Wisconsin Council on Children & FamiliesJon Peacock has nearly 40 years of experience working on public policy issues in Wisconsin. Since 1999 Jon has been the research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), where he has been actively involved in issues relating to BadgerCare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. In addition, Jon directs the work of the Wisconsin Budget Project, which is an initiative of the Council that analyzes the impacts of state fiscal policy decisions, particularly as they relate to low- and moderate-income families in Wisconsin.- Centralia: FoodShare
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMIncreasing Food Access through EBT at Farmers Markets
This presentation will highlight the work that the University of Wisconsin – Extension and Farmers’ Markets across the state are doing to promote the use of EBT at farmers’ markets. It will touch on the work of two grants, the state-wide Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and Fondy Food Center’s Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program in Milwaukee to provide information about the barriers that households, as well as farmers markets, face, outreach strategies to increase use of SNAP at farmers’ markets, and pilot programs to increase access to fresh and local produce. In addition to coming away with tools and resources to apply in their communities, participants will be engaged in sharing their experiences in promoting EBT at farmers’ markets to expand the collective wisdom of session attendees.
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Amber Canto, FoodWIse State Program Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Karen Early, FoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator, UW-Extension
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Francie Dekker, FoodWIse Nutrition Program Administrator, University of WI-Extension
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Jennifer Casey, Executive Director, Fondy Food Center
Amber CantoFoodWIse State Program Coordinator
UW-ExtensionAmber Canto, MPH, RDN received her dietetics degree from the University of WI-Madison, and completed her master's degree in public health nutrition with a global health emphasis with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Amber has worked as a nutrition consultant with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Dominican Republic where she coordinated infant and young child feeding interventions on the Haitian-Dominican border. She previously held the position as Poverty and Food Security Specialist with University of Wisconsin-Extension where her worked addressed food systems and food security, poverty awareness and education, and nutrition education with low-income audiences. She currently serves as the State Coordinator of FoodWIse at the University of WI-Extension.Karen EarlyFoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator
UW-ExtensionKaren Early coordinates the Brown County UW Extension FoodWIse Program. She is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in Leadership in Education and has been providing nutrition education in numerous settings for the Green Bay area since 1975, with occasion to also speak statewide and nationally. Through her Extension work she been extensively involved with local food security and obesity prevention education and interventions. She has personal interests in gardening, holistic living, music, outdoor recreation and eating good food with good friends.Francie DekkerFoodWIse Nutrition Program Administrator
University of WI-ExtensionFrancie Dekker is the FoodWIse Program Administrator for Milwaukee County UW-Extension. In her role, Francie leads Milwaukee’s team of community nutrition educators in teaching families with limited resources how to choose healthful diets, purchase and prepare nutritious food, and become more food secure by spending their food dollars wisely. In addition to direct education, FoodWIse works to address lack of access to nutritious food in communities by collaborating with local food pantries, schools, farmers markets and community gardens to help make the healthy choice, an easier choice in Milwaukee County. Before joining UW-Extension in February 2016, Francie spent four years as the Education Coordinator at Wellspring and NuGenesis Organic Farms. She is also a Culinary Trust Food Writing Fellow, contributing pieces to Edible Milwaukee and Madison Magazines that highlight stories at the intersection of local food, gardening and healthy communities.Jennifer CaseyExecutive Director
Fondy Food CenterJennifer Casey is the Executive Director of the Fondy Food Center, a local non-profit that connects neighborhoods to fresh, local food through its farmers markets, farm project, and city-wide healthy food access initiative. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and professional cook whose work focuses on building a more resilient, diverse, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. Before coming to Fondy, she ran the Diabetes and Community Health programs at Milwaukee’s only American Indian Health Center – where she had the opportunity to experience the power of renewing cultural food traditions to improve public health. Jennifer is a long-time volunteer with Slow Food locally and nationally.- Centralia: FoodShare
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMRural FoodShare Outreach and Best Practices
FoodShare is Wisconsin's most effective anti-hunger fighting tool. Unfortunately, many people across the state are unaware that they might be eligible for the benefit. Food banks across the state help raise awareness and provide application assistance in both urban and rural settings. Dr. Lori Bakken shares her research on the feasibility of FoodShare Outreach in rural Wisconsin and discusses the challenges and opportunities for outreach programs in these communities. Learn how rural communities across the state can partner with other agencies to help people gain access the program and help end food insecurity through the FoodShare program.
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Lori Bakken, Evaluation Specialist, UW-Extension
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Liz Seefeldt, Executive Director, The BRICK Ministries
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Brian Larson, FoodShare Outreach Specialist, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Lori BakkenEvaluation Specialist
UW-ExtensionDr. Bakken has over 25 years of experience leading and conducting evaluation studies in the medical, public health and education fields. The early part of her career focused on evaluating and improving laboratory performance in medicine and public health. In 1995, her focus shifted to designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs to improve the quality and quantity of clinical research conducted in the US. She developed one of the nation’s first and highly successful education and career development programs for clinical researchers and established a NIH-funded research program to study the career development of clinician-scientists. In 2010, she joined the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Human Ecology’s faculty and became an evaluation specialist for UW-Extension. Dr. Bakken is a member of the American Evaluation Association and holds degrees in Medical Technology (BS, 1980), Medical Microbiology (MS, 1991) and Continuing and Vocational Education (PhD, 1998) from UW-Madison.Liz SeefeldtExecutive Director
The BRICK MinistriesLiz Seefeldt comes to the nonprofit world by way of her leadership experiences in the legal and local government fields. Currently the Executive Director of The BRICK Ministries, she has also been the Clerk for the Town of Kelly in northwest Bayfield County, Wisconsin for the past 17 years. Liz is active in her community and currently sits on the board of the League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Throughout her adult life Liz has volunteered with numerous and varied nonprofit organizations, serving at every organizational level. When she is not in a board room, Liz can be found watching the diverse bird population of the Northwoods or kayaking on Lake Superior.Brian LarsonFoodShare Outreach Specialist
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WisconsinBrian’s varied path has taken the occasional twist and turn to keep things interesting. A couple of themes that have been consistent have been food and community involvement. In other words, he likes to eat with people. Once he located to beautiful, remote Richland County his high school teaching morphed into social work. After his stint doing outreach for Badgercare was cut short by the great recession – it was time for Second Harvest Foodbank and Foodshare Outreach in the Hinterland. For the last 8 years he has spent time developing relationships and weaving himself into varied settings of SW Wisconsin – educating and offering assistance for people in regards to Foodshare. Outside of the workplace Brian continues to be involved in broadbased community organizing in Richland County. More importantly, he has the good fortune to be married to someone who loves to ride bike as much as him – and he has time to do it because his kids are in Florida and Utah.- Centralia: FoodShare
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7:00 AM
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1:00 PMRegistration
Drop by the registration desk outside of the Grand Ballroom to pick up your name badge and conference materials.
- Main Atrium
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9:45 AM
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11:00 AMBest Practices for a Best in Class Food Pantry
It takes a lot to run an effective food pantry. This session focuses the three core components of a food pantry: Volunteers & Mission, Operations & Maximizing Distribution, and Nutritional Education Programming. The session will provide a unique and tangible best practices to help elevate your hunger-relief organization and improve overall organization efficiencies. Learn from industry experts how to clarify your mission statement, empower your volunteers to increase efficiency, seek out opportunities within local organizations to increase program capacity and impact and how to increase nutritional programming to customers to address food insecurity from multiple perspectives. You will walk away with greater confidence, inspiration, and tools to become a best-in-class food pantry.
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Erin Waldhart, Executive Director, WAFER Food Pantry
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Jim McPhetridge, Food Shelf Manager, The BRICK Ministries, Inc.
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Dan Wilson, Program Director, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
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Catherine Draeger-Pederson, Executive Director, Friedens Community Ministries, Inc.
Erin WaldhartExecutive Director
WAFER Food PantryErin Waldhart has worked in the non-profit sector for 20 years. She currently serves as Executive Director at WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse, WI, which provides 1500 families with food monthly and distributes 1.6 million pounds of food annually. During the past four years, Erin’s leadership has resulted in a more than 100 percent increase in food package delivery for seniors and rural families, a transition to “client choice,” a backpack program in the Bangor School District and implementation of a “Nutrition Education and Tools Project”. Currently, Erin is leading a team charged with designing a “food pantry on wheels” program to decrease the transportation barriers associated with food insecurity. Erin enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, photography, music and outdoor activities such as hiking, running and paddle boarding. Erin and her husband, Ryan, have three children - Connor, Isaac, and Grace.Jim McPhetridgeFood Shelf Manager
The BRICK Ministries, Inc.With his beautiful, loving wife and two wonderful children, Jim moved to the northland in 1995 in hopes of raising their family in a smaller more closely knit community. They owned and operated two floral shops, affording him experience with perishable products and dealing directly with the community. Previous jobs in grocery stores and as a chef also provided much experience with food and people. Jim has been the Food Shelf Manager at The BRICK Ministries in Ashland WI for 2 ½ years and looks forward to many more years of helping and serving those with food insecurities. In his free time you can find him (or maybe not ) hunting, fishing and especially boating on Lake Superior with family and friends.Dan WilsonProgram Director
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food BankDan Wilson is currently the Program Director with Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth, MN. He’s been with the team for five years. Dan oversees the Backpack program, Mobile Pantries, CSFP Senior Feeding program. His team helps to get more food out to people in need by educating food pantries to utilize all they can access from their partner food bank. Dan lives in Superior, WI with a fabulous wife, somewhat moody teenager, and a Siberian Husky that sheds too much hair.Catherine Draeger-PedersonExecutive Director
Friedens Community Ministries, Inc.Catherine Draeger-Pederson, MA is a nonprofit entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience empowering people to make a difference in their community. As the Executive Director of Friedens Community Ministries, 2016 BBB Torch Award recipient, she oversees a network of four food pantries who served 51,000 individuals with 2,000 volunteers in 2016. She has received numerous awards including the Philanthropic 5 recipient in 2016 from United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and the Ten Outstanding Young America's (TOYA) award in 2015 from the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees). She earned her Master's Degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis in leadership form Trinity International University. She is a published author: Faith, Hope and Love: When the World is Not as It Should Be. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and three children.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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11:30 AM
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12:45 PMMeasuring the Health of the Food We Distribute with the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST)
Traditionally, quantity (lbs.) of food distributed has been the driving measure of success in hunger relief. With increased awareness of health and hunger, along with a general increase in the demand for healthier foods by clients, there is a need to develop tools to measure the nutritional value of the food distributed by food banks and pantries to help them make informed sourcing decisions. The Feeding America Foods to Encourage measure has provided a helpful first step to doing this. Building on this work, the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) has been developed to provide increased specificity in measurement through a collaborative partnership between Second Harvest Heartland and the University of Minnesota, with financial support from Target, Inc. FAST enables food banks and their agency partners to measure the nutritional quality of foods sourced and distributed at any one point in time, as well as measure change over time.
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Kristen Williamson, Registered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator, Second Harvest Heartland
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Kate Burggraff, – Program Innovation & Impact Manager, Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank
Kristen WilliamsonRegistered Dietitian and FAST Program Coordinator
Second Harvest HeartlandAs a Registered Dietitian and Program Coordinator, Kristen provides nutrition council for Second Harvest Heartland’s FOODRx healthcare work and Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST) project. Her most recent work includes developing patient centered approaches to food insecurity and chronic disease management, fostering collaboration with health professionals and directing operations related to the chronic disease pilot. Kristen has also been working to address the need to quantify the healthfulness of food through the work of the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST).Kate Burggraff– Program Innovation & Impact Manager
Second Harvest Heartland Food BankKate has over 10 years of experience in hunger relief and non-profit management. Currently Kate serves as the Program Innovation & Impact Manager, focusing on continuous quality improvement and data-driven decision making to maximize the impact of the Second Harvest Heartland network of food pantries and other partners. Kate provides expertise in both standardizing compliance measures in the SHH Hunger Relief network and strengthening Agency Partners’ capacity to implement best practices aimed to improve operational efficiencies and a client-centered approach to service provisionPrior to joining the SHH team, Kate worked on the front lines of hunger relief as the Volunteer Coordinator and Food Shelf Manager at St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) in St. Louis Park, MN. During her time with STEP, Kate doubled the number of volunteers and led quality improvement initiatives. Kate earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) in 2003.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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2:30 PM
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3:45 PMFaithful Citizenship
There is a growing consensus across the political spectrum that government has an important role to play if we are to take effective action to dramatically reduce poverty. Both progressives and conservatives accept that government is essential to creating a social and economic context where poverty is far less prevalent. Despite this seeming agreement, ideological divisions over policy create a standoff that blocks effective action. Join this session to learn how your food pantry or community organization can join thousands of other people of faith in local communities throughout our state to drive meaningful, accountable action toward the achievable goal of cutting child poverty in half in a decade.
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Ken Taylor, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
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Peter Bakken, Public Policy Coordinator, Wisconsin Council on Churches
Peter BakkenPublic Policy Coordinator
Wisconsin Council on ChurchesPeter Bakken is Coordinator for Public Policy at the Wisconsin Council of Churches and Executive Director of Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light. He received his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is the author of the WCC publications, Hunger at Our Doorstep: A Study-Action Guide for Wisconsin Congregations (2006; 2014) and Becoming Welcoming Communities: Immigration in Light of Biblical Faith (2011). Other publications include: Church on Earth: Grounding Your Ministry in a Sense of Place (with Jeff Wild; Augsburg Fortress 2009); Ecology, Justice and Christian Faith: A Guide to the Literature (co-compiled with J. Ronald Engel and Joan Gibb Engel; Greenwood Press, 1995), among others. He was a member of the task force that produced the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America social statement, “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice.” He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife and daughter, where they are members of Advent Lutheran Church.- Riverside A: Healthy Emergency Food System
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