Recognizing that food is a common thread linking all 17 SDGs, given the interconnected economic, social, and environmental dimensions of food systems, the dialogue aims to identify the challenges of feeding 14 million food insecure children of America. Feeding America has projected that by the end of 2021, more children will experience food insecurity than ever before in modern times. As the gaps in access to food were highlighted as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, it is identified that federal child nutrition programs are critical in  meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, the children.  It is also recognized that policy plays a significant role in addressing challenges for food insecure households with children. What policies exist? What is the importance of community awareness and coalition building? And what advocacy tools are available for communities?

The virtual consultative forum aims to foster dialogue in Western North Carolina through an inclusive stakeholder approach to examine the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act as a policy tool and to highlight avenues of participation for local communities in identifying their needs, their challenges, and their interventions to secure sustainable policies.