Program Schedule

Program Overview

9:00 - 9:25 AM: Opening Remarks from our Sponsors & Supporters

Welcome - Introductions

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Anna Maria Siega-Riz Dean School of Public Health and Health Sciences	Michael Fox Dean College of Natural Sciences

Opening Remarks

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Candace Burton	Ashley Randle

9:30 - 9:50 AM: Hunger on Campus - The lay of the land of Basic Needs at UMass

A summary of food insecurity and basic needs challenges on campus, how it affects education, and what is being done about it now. 

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Bridget Hynes, PhD Director of Basic Needs Initiatives Dean of Students Office (UMass & MassPIRG)

9:50 - 10:15 AM: Hunger in Massachusetts - Getting the lay of the land

Information on food insecurity across the state, who is most affected, and what state and federal policies are in play at the moment. 

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Julianne Stelmaszyk Director, Division of Food Security, MDAR	Spencer Masterson Director, Make Hunger History, Project Bread

10:30 - 11:30 AM: What is the Right to Food and Who Uses it?

Representatives from the National Right to Food Community of Practice will explain the concept of the ‘right to food’, how it differs from ‘ending hunger’, and how human rights language changes the approach to advocacy and policymaking. 

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Chelsea Marshall National Right to Food Community of Practice	Alison Cohen National Right to Food Community of Practice	Karen Spiller National Right to Food Community of Practice

11:40 AM - 12:30 PM: Rights-holders Respond to the Rights-Based Approach

People with lived expertise of food insecurity will discuss the direct and indirect consequences that the right to food might have in relation to their personal experiences and communities that they know. 

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Dr. Lindiwe Sibeko Chair & Professor, Department of Nutrition Introducer	Alexandra Mello Facilitator	Wendy Bongjoh Panelist	Molly Powers Panelist	Kiana Clarke Panelist

1:00-2:15 PM: Lunchtime Right to Food Discussion and Town Hall, Legislators respond w. Q&A

Discussion on the challenges and possibilities for food and agriculture policy at the state and federal levels right now, and how a rights-based approach might enhance these efforts.

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Moderator: Monte Belmonte NEPM	Panelist: US Congressman James P. McGovern	Panelist: State Senator Jo Comerford	Panelist: State Representative Mindy Domb

2:30-4:00 PM: Breakout Groups - Choose one, join in, ask questions, create actions steps

Right to Food on Campus

1. What does the right to food look like on campus?

2. How can students engage in ensuring the right to food on campus?

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Megan Patton-Lopez Senior Lecturer UMass Amherst Department of Nutrition	Jake Krain UMass Food Pantry	Cora Reese MASSPIRG Chair on Hunger & Poverty

Right to Food in Advocacy

1. How do anti-hunger advocates already advance the right to food?

2. What is the value added with the human rights lens?

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Becca Miller Policy Director,  Massachusetts Food System Collaborative	Kia Aoki Lived Experience, Western MA

Codifying the Right to Food

1. What is already codified in state law that supports the right to food?

2. What are some first steps to codifying the right to food into state systems?

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Caitlin Hodgkins Policy Director and  Subcommittee Staff Director for Representative James P. McGovern	Chelsea Marshall National Right to Food Coalition	Alexandra Mello Lived experience & Policy Advocacy Coordinator Food Bank of Western MA

Food Sovereignty in Massachusetts

1. Where is there evidence of food sovereignty in the state?

2. How can we increase public participation in these efforts?

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Rebecca Davidson Food and Climate Equity Director MDAR	Liz O’Gilvie Gardening the Community

4:15-4:45 PM: Wrap-up & call to action