Project 2: The “we need a state coalition to make great things happen” project

Through collaboration and the strategic use of data and technology, county players working together can find a way to ensure that no child or parent lacks access to a stable, secure and nutritious food supply. We are not trying to simplify one of our nation’s and the states’ most complex challenges in a sentence. We are advocating for the start of a long-term, local dialogue about how to end food access disparities. This is a decades-old problem that needs to involve both the public and private sector. This particular project is about joining or creating a countywide and statewide network of health advocates and providers who believe that accessible and affordable food (especially if there’s an emergency) is not a luxury. It’s what civilized governments ensure.

A coalition will allow you to have a strong voice in your community as well as your city, county and state government. You may find that local lawmakers, while sympathetic to this issue, do not see addressing food access disparities as the role of county or city government. For this reason, coalitions matter and they can be a force for awareness.

Your county and state network can educate local lawmakers about a new role for government: ensuring no child, student or parent is marginalized because they can’t afford food. And this coalition can also work to elect officials who will prioritize access to stable and affordable food for all. Using technology to stakeholders with shared visions, goals, activities, use of data, use of communication and messaging and evaluation processes. Your action team starts with identifying who is in the lead with food quality and access reform.