MEDIA ALERT
Summit To Spotlight Issue of Hunger on College Campuses Administrators, Students, Community Leaders from Across the Carolinas Convening to Explore the Issues and Build Solutions
WHAT: Representatives from 24 colleges across the Carolinas, food banks from across the two states, and community members, will convene this Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12, at the North Carolina A&T State University Student Center for the Carolinas College Hunger Summit. The event will delve into the challenge of hunger on our campuses and explore strategies to address the needs confronting many of our students.
“It is commonly assumed that if people can afford college, they are not facing issues with hunger or other basic needs,” says Eric Aft, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, one of several conveners and sponsors of the event. “However, for many of our areas’ college students, the reality is far different. The circumstances may vary; however, the future success of our communities requires us to respond aggressively to ensure our students are prepared to lead us in the years to come.”
While studies vary, the number of students who are food insecure (without regular, reliable access to food) ranges from 15% to over 40%. The Carolinas College Hunger Summit will increase understanding of the issue and its ramifications and provide a forum for sharing promising practices and building connections so that work to identify new strategies to combat college hunger can be strengthened.
Serving as the keynote for the summit is Marissa Meyers, a practitioner and researcher at the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University, one of the preeminent research centers on the issue hunger on college campuses. Workshops and roundtable sessions will facilitate deep dives into understanding the challenges, overcoming stigma, engaging the greater community and other related topics.
The public is invited to attend and must register at carolinascollegehungersummit.org. There is a modest registration fee for the Saturday portion of the event.
Media is invited to attend all or part of the summit. See schedule below.
WHEN: Friday’s Opening Session is being sponsored by another media outlet (7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m)
Saturday, October 12, 8:15 AM – 3:15 PM
WHERE: North Carolina A&T State University
Student Center – Deese Ballroom
1403 John Mitchell Drive Greensboro, NC. 27411
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Marissa Meyers, Hope Center for College, Community and Justice
Eric Aft, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
SATURDAY SCHEDULE--NC A&T STUDENT CENTER:
8:15 AM to 8:30 AM Deese Ballroom
Welcome Gabrielle Jackson, North Carolina A&T University
Eric A. Aft, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM Deese Ballroom Keynote Presentation Understanding the Challenge of Campus Hunger
Marissa Meyers, Hope Center for College, Community
and Justice
9:45 AM to 11:00 AM Workshop Choices
Workshop 1: Institutional Support / Overcoming Stigma Room 385 NORTH
Panelists: Stacy Deng, Appalachian State University; Priscilla Holmes, Appalachian State University; Dr. Robert Kahle, College of Charleston; Amber Martinez, James Sprunt Community College; and Dr. Laura McArthur, Appalachian State University.
Workshop 2: Community Engagement in Combating Hunger on Campus and in Community
Room 385 SOUTH
Panelists: Jai Baker, Allied Churches of Alamance County; Margaret Grant, Lowcountry Food Bank; Kim Perkins, Wilkes Community College; Ashley Rankin, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Autumn Robertson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Brad Shugoll, Wake Forest University; and Sarah Williams, Elon University.
All Remaining Sessions Will Be in the Deese Ballroom
11:00 AM - 11:10 AM Break
11:10 AM - 12:10 PM Roundtable I
Hunger Responses - Best Practices
12:15 PM to 1:30 PM Lunch
Engaging Stakeholders through Data, Stories, and Demonstrating Results & A Glimpse at Future Trends
Panelists: Dr. Lauren Davis, North Carolina A&T University; Dr. Mary Haskett, North Carolina State University; Amanda Hege, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation; Dr. Robert Kahle, College of Charleston, The Riley Center.
1:30 PM to 2:15 PM Networking Break
Meet up with new contacts or existing colleagues for quick insights or for making plans to connect in the future.
2:15 PM to 2:45 PM Roundtable II
Applying Your Learning / Action Steps Back Home
2:45 PM to 3:15 PM Concluding Remarks / Next Steps & Special Announcement
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About Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NCAt Second Harvest, we believe everyone deserves to eat. We address immediate needs for food assistance among families as well as the root causes of poverty and food insecurity. We are the primary source for food for a network of more than 460 local food assistance programs (pantries, community kitchens, shelters, and meals programs for children and seniors) serving communities throughout 18 Northwest North Carolina Counties. We operate Providence Culinary Training and two non-profit restaurants. Every day, we strive to address the critical connections between hunger and health, with a focus on alleviating childhood hunger, providing impactful nutrition education, advocating for policies that strengthen families, and collaborating with others to build locally relevant solutions to hunger and poverty. We are a proud member of Feeding the Carolinas and of Feeding America. Learn more about our work and get involved at secondharvestnwnc.org.
