By Emily Rowan (’17)
On Feb. 17, Cabrini University held a one-day symposium that addressed the topics of childhood obesity and hunger. This symposium was a follow-up to Cabrini’s 2015 Convergence of Childhood Obesity and Hunger: A Forum for Response, which was supported in part by The President Antoinette Iadarola Endowed Fund and The Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation.
Thomas Southard, JD, Director of the Wolfington Center at Cabrini, noted that more than 120 people participated in the daylong event discussing the intersections between childhood obesity and food access. “We were able to educate those new to the field, while raising the level of awareness and possibility for advocacy for all attendees,” Southard said.
Four distinguished speakers took the podium to discuss various ideas and problems surrounding the topic of childhood obesity and hunger.
Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP, Past President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Director of the AAP Institute on Healthy Childhood Weight, and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the Center for Child Health and Policy at Case Western Reserve spoke about the factors that are contributing to childhood obesity and food insecurity and how it has an effect on children’s health.
Eric Mitchell, Government Relations Director for Bread for the World, gave his insight on how to get on track to end hunger by 2030, especially in a time when the United States has a new president in office.
Kim Fremont Fortunato, Director of Community Affairs for Campbell Soup Company and President, Campbell Soup Foundation, helped the attendees to explore the impact that can be made when people come together to solve one common social problem.
Garrett Broad, PhD, Assistant Professor at Fordham University and author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change, spoke on the possibilities and limits that may exist in the food justice approach and can the government deliver sustainable change on the food justice movement.
Throughout the presentations, striking facts and data were shared that helped to link the problems of childhood hunger and obesity together. The symposium gave people the opportunity to speak and collaborate with others who are passionate about the topic and allowed for students to identify potential research and service opportunities relating to the topic of childhood obesity and hunger.
“When we last ran this program, in 2015, we received great feedback on how we positively impacted the work of organizations,” Southard said. “Attendees were better poised to address these areas, and we’re excited to say we’ve already received comments on new ideas and initiatives they’re planning.”
After these two successful forums held at Cabrini on the topic of child hunger, the next forum will be even larger: “In 2019, Convergence of Childhood Obesity and Hunger will move outside of Cabrini, as we work with West Chester University to host the conference there,” Southard said.