WHAT

The Prince George’s Food Equity Council is hosting its first ever “Food Equity Forum” to discuss critical strategies to improve the health of county residents and increase access to healthy food to all socio-economic groups. Among the topics is the county’s abundance of “food deserts,” low-income areas with too few supermarkets, and “food swamps,” areas with lots of fast food. The forum features experts and breakout sessions to engage stakeholders from diverse sectors of the county’s food system-including farmers, University of Maryland extension representatives, non-profits, grocery stores, elected officials, government agencies, renewable energy companies, and healthcare executives-to mitigate public health challenges posed by food inequity.

SPEAKERS & FACILITATORS

  • Sydney Daigle, Food Equity Council Coordinator
  • Margaret Morgan Hubbard, CEO, ECO City Farms & Food Equity CouncilCo-Chair
  • Nicete Moodie, Nutrition Outreach Coordinator, Share Our Strength
  • Denise Ann Benoit-Moctezuma, Program Supervisor, Prince George’s Expanded Food & Nutrition Program, University of Maryland Extension
  • Pete Charlerie, Farmer and Owner, SunSplash Farm
  • Shelby Watson Hampton, Farmer, Robin Hill Farm and Vineyard
  • Christie Balch, Executive Director, Crossroads Community Food Network
  • Susan Thweatt, Program Chief, Prince George’s County Health Department
  • Michael J. Wilson, Executive Director, Maryland Hunger Solutions
  • Allison Lilly, Sustainability & Wellness Coordinator, University of Maryland Dining Services
  • Evelyn Kelly, Senior Program Manager, Institute for Public Health Innovation

WHEN

Thursday, September 18, 2014, 4:00pm-7:00pm

WHERE       

Busboys and Poets

5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781

WHY

The quality of life in Prince George’s County is hampered by high levels of chronic disease and obesity, especially in low-income communities.  The 22-member Prince George’s County Food Equity Council,formed in response to the Institute for Public Health Innovation’s (IPHI) efforts to  reduce chronic disease rates, works to improve public health, economic opportunity and food security for county residents by developing policies, approaches, procedures, practices and initiatives that create systemic change to the local food system. The first-ever Food Equity Forum is an important part of this effort.

For more information, contact Sydney Daigle at pgfoodcouncil@gmail.com or (240) 253-1036.

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