2022 WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON HUNGER, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH: REVIEW AND TAKEAWAYS. Jeongmin Yoon and Matt Weinstock, ESG Interns, American University

 Overview

The 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health presented an opportunity for efforts directed toward ending hunger to return to the forefront of America's collective public conscience (and we are here for it). Creative Investment Research is ready to work with the current White House administration, Congress, and a wide array of stakeholders to decrease hunger in this country. 

In particular, Creative Investment Research believes that high rates of malnourishment among pregnant Black women needs to be more of a priority. We strongly urge a comprehensive approach, one that includes various federal, state, and local policymakers, as well as members of the anti-hunger, health, and private sector. Additionally, Creative Investment Research believes that people who have actually  experienced hunger are currently underrepresented among policymakers. Discussions on how to reduce hunger in America should be led by people who had limited access to food at various points in their life. This is not currently the case.

While the content was largely admirable and agreeable, it must be noted, unfortunately, that this was an event for the press. The words spoken were just that; words. The amount of time dedicated to discussing how we need to stop with the talk and start with the action, given the fact that this was an entire conference dedicated to talking rather than taking action, was ironic. The discussion itself was  respectable, but words from our elected officials are hollow if they fail to follow through with actions.

Additionally and unfortunately, from a logistics standpoint, the event was certainly discombobulated. Some of the distributed links to enable viewership weren’t usable. Certain specific sessions started late, and attending in person was not a realistic option, despite our applying, as has been the case with many  public policy hearings and events since the January 6th insurrection. 

Under the prior two Presidential administrations, attending events such as this one was feasible for many Americans, not just insiders. Additionally, the prior two administrations both did a generally adequate job of making their events publically accessible via streaming, and by posting event videos immediately on public platforms. The current administration, however, while certainly not atrocious, has not been nearly as capable on that front. Links posted on Government websites would sometimes lead to the wrong place. Many links that did lead to the right place led to sessions that either started quite late, or didn’t begin broadcasting on a timely manner. Intermissions started and ended abruptly, and could last anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours, with little to no warning given.

Unsurprisingly, having to sit through hours of colorful screens paired with elevator music makes for a frustrating experience for members of the public simply trying to stay up-to-date with government policy related to hunger. The conference was certainly not dramatically worse on this front than other public events held by this administration. However, if President Biden wants to shake his reputation as a bland establishment insider, it is paramount that he actually make himself, his teams, and his conferences legitimately accessible to the public. At the current moment, it is usually a coinflip with every specific event as to whether or not it will actually be viewable around the time it is supposedly set to take place.

President Biden speaks during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28, 2022.

Content Of The Conference

The conference was the second-ever meeting on food insecurity and diet-related diseases, with President Biden pushing Congress to permanently extend child tax credits, raise the minimum wage, and expand nutrition support programs to reduce hunger. The administration is facing a significant challenge, however. The conference was held amidst rising food prices and a reduction in government benefits that helped so many through the pandemic. This event showcased one of President Biden's goals: to end hunger in the United States by 2030. The strategy put forward by the administration involves expanding nutrition support programs and launching more health care programs to provide medically-tailored meals. "In the United States, no child should sleep hungry. No parent should die of a preventable disease," he said.

ABOVE: Mike Curtin, Jr. moderates a conversation with Shavana Howard, Donna Martin, Mark Ramos, and Shannon Razsadin during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28, 2022.

As was discussed at the conference, hunger is prevalent at many levels. One issue reviewed and analyzed in detail is the fact that the systems surrounding school meals are not always as effective in practice as they are in theory. Shannon Razsadin noted that while free school meals are certainly helpful, many kids won’t accept them so as to not appear poor to their friends.

Dr. Rajiv Shah in conversation with Dr. Kofi Essel, Dr. Sachin Jain, and Karen Pearl during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28, 2022.

In schools, the military and other institutions, our government is working tirelessly to solve the problem of malnutrition and hunger. Hopefully these efforts will prove more effective than past attempts. We have the opportunity now to do things differently, and it would be in everyone’s best interest for the federal government to take the necessary measures to support the hunger/health initiatives proposed throughout the recent conference. Additionally, there are many people who know better than most what is needed to fix the issue of mass malnutrition in America, namely, the people who have experienced food insecurity themselves. 

For those who have not experienced food insecurity, it is helpful to put themselves in those spaces, to listen to what those with lived experience have to offer. We need to stop overlooking the value of knowledge that comes from first-hand experience. We need to hold our government accountable, and not tolerate empty talk regarding an issue that many claim is fixable. We need to work across sectors of our society to create, identify, and scale programs that work. Most importantly, however, we need to summon the political and social will to make this issue a priority so that once and for all we can successfully end hunger in America.