Playing At Learning’s Post

In this week’s Avalon Consulting Group dispatch, learn how we’re helping our team focus on high-value work. You will also find client success, nonprofit KPIs, growth mindset, a special film screening, and more. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/grQfRd_R #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitconsulting #deepwork

I try to not engage in a lot of political conversations. But with another government shutdown looming and short sited "solutions" to fund WIC could have extensive unintended consequences for SNAP participants and retailers I wanted to share. Making this proposed change would essential rob Peter to pay Paul, eliminate the dignity of household food choices, and create unnecessary burden on retailers. "Restricting eligible items to those approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will quickly drive-up food costs and strangle the program with needless red tape with no meaningful public health outcome to show in return,” the association wrote in the letter, which was signed by nearly 2,500 businesses and trade groups. “The government will need to categorize more than 600,000 products and update the list each year with thousands more products. Grocery store cashiers will become the food police, telling parents what they can and cannot feed their families.” We already see low participation in SNAP. Only a fraction of those eligible participate. Making this change would create additional pressure on the charitable food network to pick up the slack, and they are already seeing a continued record number of clients. https://lnkd.in/eevPAEjU

I thought this was an amazing example of nonprofit justice in action. Offering skills and training support to non-profit leaders in food justice organizations can lead to direct policy transfection through continued advocacy and network-building. Collaboration across sectors helps build further institutional influence, leading to tangible change. #Nonprofit #Justice #Advocacy #FoodJustice

Friends and colleagues, We all have likely had a foodborne illness where we didn't seek medical care and thankfully the illness resolved. Many of us, as food safety professionals, can likely point to where we got the contaminated food from as well (and tell you how). Many consumers (and many we know) don't just get an illness that resolved but they get a foodborne disease (where they seek medical treatment) and have lifelong debilitation or they die from the disease. We all have heard the stats, that the CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases each year in the United States. However, if you want to know an actual number of cases of disease from foodborne disease outbreaks (the most current number of reported cases in the United States is from 2022 which is only a snapshot of multistate outbreaks that are reported), there were 2,094 outbreaks, 45,500 illnesses, 868 hospitalizations, and 61 deaths in 2022. You can track these back to 1993 here: https://lnkd.in/egMFJDT9 The only way to prevent most foodborne diseases is either by avoidance (like I do for foods with peanuts) or stopping the physical, chemical, or biological adulteration of the food. This is why all of us in the government, academia, industry, trade groups, publishers, food safefy product and service suppliers, and non profits work together in this profession to stop foodborne diseases, and why we all support the mission of Stop Foodborne Illness. Show you support as a food safety professional by donating. https://lnkd.in/eWPduaZq

On December 22, the Friday before Christmas, Kim Reynolds, Iowa's Republican governor declined to participate in a #USDA program that would have provided low-income residents with $40 a month in additional food assistance during the coming summer. “The Iowa Hunger Coalition (IHC) noted that because of the government's decision, 240,000 children in the state will lose out on $120 in food assistance this coming summer.” Outrageously, the Governor rationalized her decision in part because the $2.2million dollars it would cost the State (which is only half of the costs the other 50% are covered by the Federal legislation) were much to much for the state to bare. Not only is this Dickensian politics, it’s also draconian in nature and it’s poor economics that radically disempowers poor people and under-resourced communities. Let’s start with the fact that this decision simply denies children access to food. That’s terrible enough. Now let’s look at one of the Governor’s major rationales for this cruel, unjust and unfair decision. Governor Reynolds claims this is an economic hardship for the State (link below). Yet in September she held a press conference and announced that the state would enter fiscal year 2024 with a $1.83 Billion surplus, would have another $902 Million in cash reserves and would be contributing $2.74 Billion to the Tax Payer Relief Fund (link below). Still though $2.2million or a little more than 1/1000 of a percent of the budget surplus is too much to spend to feed hungry children. To put the icing on the cake this cruel decision is also a terrible economic policy. By not participating in this federal program the state is losing out on $28.8million in support. Which according to the USDA and the GAO amounts to the States failure to harness $43.2million dollars in economic activity (link to SNAPs economic impacts below). Now, because benefits are typically spent within 1mile of the recipients’ home (making it a highly efficient and effective economic development tool) the Governor’s decision adds insult to injury by not only denying food to children but denying the possibility of economic growth in the under-resourced communities where the vast majority of these children live. We need a #nationalrighttofood. We need to establish #foodsovereignty in our communities and to ensure #foodaccess and #foodsecurity for all. Together we can build communities, states, regions, a country and a world where #foodjustice, #economicjustice and #environmentaljustice are the common practice for the #commongood of people and planet. Alison Meares Cohen, Gizem Templeton, PhD, Kate MacKenzie, Keith Carr, Curtis Ogden, Curt Ellis, National Right to Food Community of Practice.

Many of the key drivers of hunger are addressed — or not addressed — through public policy. Check out our article in the Taste the Local Difference blog to learn more about Food Gatherers' advocacy work. https://lnkd.in/gGK4ndN2

It was Friday, December 17th, 2021—exactly two years and six months ago today—that God planted the seed of Brown Babee in my spirit, though at the time I understood it as Brown Baby. But I am certain now that it was always meant to be Brown Babee. Just three months prior, my daughter Chancellor was diagnosed with eczema. We made changes to her formula, laundry soap, and other products to address the root causes. Concerned about the side effects of prescription creams containing steroids, which force the immune system into submission, I knew that natural solutions were the only option. While there is no single cause for eczema, an overactive immune system plays a significant role in atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema. This condition arises from the immune system's hyperactivity, often triggered by genetic, environmental, seasonal, dietary allergens, or stress factors. In my daughter's case, it is both hereditary and allergy-related. As a mom, I initially set out to find clean products that could soothe her sensitive skin. But I was soon left disappointed by the lack of suitable options on the market. Frustrated by not being able to help my child, I surrendered as I often do by way of prayer to a higher power, resulting in the immediate download of Brown Babee on the morning of Friday, December 17th, 2021. I've heard it said that a God idea is seldom a small one. This post isn't about recounting how the idea has unfolded or how much it has grown over the last two and a half years. Instead, it's an invitation to follow us through what may be lows and no’s as we continue to plant seeds of faith on this journey to the yes’s and successes. Follow us at the links below as we share our journey and watch the story of Brown Babee continue to unfold. Do register for our email newsletter to stay updated on upcoming focus groups, prelaunch date and more. For business journey follow: Facebook or Instagram @Brown Babee Co. For more of my personal journey follow: Instagram: @itsmrsmompreneur #BuildingBrownBrownBabee🤎

We don't often think about prematurity as a diet-related chronic disease... but in many cases it is... #worldprematurityday #worldprematurityday2023 #preeclampsia #overweight #obesity #hypertension #highbloodpressure #plantbased #plantbasediet #plantbasednutrition #health #healthawareness #healthandwellness #nutrition #lowfat #highraw #highfibre #fruitsandvegetables #fruitsandveggies

Food insecurity affects hardworking families struggling to keep up with rising costs. If you have the means, consider the buy one, give one approach. Whether it's a 2 for $ deal or a donation to your local food pantry, every bit counts. Can't give financially? Donate your time by volunteering at a food pantry. Let's support those in need. #foodinsecurity #foodpantry #give Read more about the impact of food insecurity on health: https://lnkd.in/epeMtZp2

From Dietitians of Canada press release today (**** = consider this to be a main conclusion): As reported by Statistics Canada last year, in 2022 18% of Canadian families admitted to experiencing food insecurity during the previous 12 months, up 16% from 2021. Also, in 2022 nearly one in four Canadian children under the age of 18 experienced food insecurity, including more than 1.2 million children who lived in moderately or severely food insecure households. These findings reinforce what dietitians have heard from their clients who face issues with access to food. "Nearly one in four children live in food insecure households which is heartbreaking," said Leslie Beck, Chair of the Board of Directors of Dietitians of Canada. "As advocates for public health and nutrition, Dietitians of Canada stands firm in its commitment to work collaboratively with policymakers and partners to address the multi-faceted challenges associated with household food insecurity. In the face of soaring inflation and escalating food prices, Dietitians of Canada’s (DC) position statement provides recommendations for meaningful changes, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive approach." Household food insecurity is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate lack of access to an adequate quantity of food. It is a socio-economic challenge that is harmful for many individuals, families and communities. Karen Giesbrecht, Co-Chair of Dietitians of Canada’s Household Food Insecurity Network asserts, ****"Dietitians play a pivotal role in the health of individuals and communities, and we cannot ignore the profound impact of household food insecurity on well-being. Our profession is uniquely positioned to address this critical issue, providing expertise, education and support to create sustainable solutions that aim to ensure all Canadians have access to nutritious food.*****" https://lnkd.in/gB8_5gUw Find a Dietitian today to help support you! #dietitian