H2HC-Connections-header.png

WINTER 2023

Note from the Executive Director

Dear friends,



In fall 2022, we welcomed our newest H2HC Leadership Council member, Keurig Dr Pepper, an award-winning national company recognized by Human Rights Campaign, Newsweek, and many others for for its social and environmental practices. We look forward to a robust and creative partnership with our KDP corporate sustainability colleagues.


H2HC is engaged in several national and local collaborations, including the Root Cause Coalition, the Tufts Food and Nutrition Innovation Council, and the New England Council Healthcare and Health Equity committees. In 2022 H2HC also served as a member of the national Task Force Informing the White House Conference. The Task Force published its recommendations in advance of the Conference, and many of the recommendations were adopted in the Biden-Harris Administration's new national strategy.


On November 17, H2HC hosted more than 70 national, regional, and local thought leaders from the corporate, government, healthcare, academic, and nonprofit sectors at our 2022 Fall Summit at the Museum of Science in Boston. A full day of presentations and discussions focused on pathways forward following the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health as well as innovative work advancing health equity.


All of our Fall Summit sessions are now available to watch online. We are putting the final touches on a Fall Summit report, and if you are interested in reading it, please reach out to us at info@h2hcollaboratory.org and let us know. We are also at work on planning events for 2023 in partnership with the Museum of Science and will share details in the coming months.


Thank you for your continued engagement as we work together to advance food, nutrition, and health equity.


Warmly,

Nicolene Hengen

Executive Director

H2HC Fall Summit 2022 Highlights

Rep. McGovern (D-MA) Urges Cross-Sector

Leaders to Act with Urgency

National anti-hunger champion Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) opened our Summit virtually by emphasizing that urgent action by the private sector is pivotal to the success of the Biden-Harris Administration's National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. He urged leaders to continue to collaborate and innovate because "...the power to end hunger rests with us all."

Dr. Sara Bleich Outlines USDA's National Food and Nutrition Security Work


Dr. Bleich, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity for USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, addressed national challenges and opportunities following the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Her presentation focused on the USDA’s work in leveraging the Conference to elevate and promote national nutrition security.

View the presentation



USDA Food and Nutrition Security (FNS)


1 in 4 Americans is served by one of USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs.

Ensuring all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods essential for optimal health and well-being.

H2HC Summit Panelists Focus on White House Conference Lessons, Innovation, and Health Equity

After the White House Conference: Where Do We Go from Here?

Dean Dariush Mozaffarian (Tufts Friedman School) and Ambassador Ertharin Cousin (Food Systems for the Future) discussed the history and highlights of the White House Conference, White House Task Force recommendations, and next steps.

Innovation, White Space, and Solutions

Julie Greene (Guiding Stars), Dr. Wiljeana Glover (KMH Center, Babson), and Ruby Ferguson (City of Chicago, Greater Chicago Food Depository) addressed creative work in academia, local government, and the private sector.


Learn more

Health Equity and Pathways to Success

Dr. Elsie Taveras, Dr. Thea James, and David Waters focused on innovative local health equity work and programs at Mass General Brigham, Boston Medical Center, and Community Servings, respectively.

H2HC Member Spotlight:

Boston Medical Center

BMC's Health Equity Accelerator Marks First Anniversary: Learnings and Next Steps


In late 2021, Boston Medical Center, an H2HC Advisory Council Member, launched its Health Equity Accelerator, a radical system-wide transformation to holistically address the root causes of health inequities among people of different races and ethnicities and speed improvements in health outcomes. One year later, co-executive directors Dr. Thea James and Elena Mendez-Escobar reflect on building and implementing a radically new vision for healthcare.



Learn more

BMC President and CEO Kate Walsh Shares Insights in Recent Articles


"At BMC, we believe health system leaders must hold themselves accountable, uncover the racism entrenched in societal systems and healthcare policies, and shift efforts from simply filling gaps to eliminating them." Frontiers of Health Services Management, Winter 2022


"If we don't speak candidly about racial health disparities, we can't do the work to eliminate them." BMC HealthCity, Jan. 5, 2023

H2HC Research Flashback

Opportunities to Improve Food Equity and Access in Massachusetts


In June 2022, with H2HC funding, The Greater Boston Food Bank conducted a statewide survey that identified changes in food insecurity, documented barriers to and facilitators of both food pantry use and SNAP enrollment, and developed recommendations to improve food access and equity.


Read the report

New Resource


Harvard Healthy Living Guide 2022 / 2023


The Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has released its new Healthy Living Guide for 2022 and 2023. Explore the latest edition for research reviews, tips, and strategies for improving nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle.


Read the guide

Mission

The Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) convenes cross-sector thought leaders to identify systemic solutions to food, health, and nutrition challenges

through a focus on equity and the social determinants of health.

H2HC Members

Visit our website

Contact us at info@h2hcollaboratory.org


Follow us on social media

LinkedIn      Twitter      YouTube