Member Login
Search

Public Policy Workshop

Public Policy Workshop 2017

Jennifer Schlub (Public Policy Coordinator), Rebecca Fuller (State Policy Representative) and Ashley Thomas (Public Policy Partner) attended this year’s Public Policy Workshop in Washington DC. The weekend was filled with education, networking, and action.

On Sunday attendees gathered in preparation of our visits with our representatives. Speakers included AND President Donna Martin, former Under Secretary to the USDA, Kevin Concannon and the Congressional Management Foundation. The Academy’s Keynote Address, Preparing for "Act"ion: Nutrition Services in Prevention and Treatment and Nutrition Education in the Farm Bill, provided experts in the fields for each “ask” issue. Each expert also answered questions from the audience. ANDPAC Chair Susan Scott, talked about the power of political action committees and how ANDPAC can work to advance our profession. Attendees were invited to a reception immediately following the seminar.

On Monday, the SC Team took Capitol Hill by storm and met with four lawmakers.  Every office was excited to see us and asked us all their burning nutrition questions. Some even asked for healthy southern recipes for their upcoming Independence Day BBQs! We also found that many staff we met with had personal connections to obesity and diabetes. This helped drive our “ask” for the continued full funding of the Prevention Fund and SNAP-Ed and EFNEP (expanded food and nutrition education program). We were able to meet with Senator Lindsey Graham and Representatives Mark Sanford, Jeff Duncan and James Clyburn.

Public Policy Workshop serves as a great opportunity to light our policy fire and now it’s time to carry the torch!  While meeting with our lawmakers and their staff in Washington DC is critical, so is our involvement with them at a district level throughout the year. Participating in Action Alerts and attending local campaign or community events are great ways to continue our face time and communication.


Jennifer Schlub (Public Policy Coordinator), Rebecca Fuller (State Policy Representative) 
and Ashley Thomas (Public Policy Partner)