Toward Food Security 2025: A Case for Change Summit

Building a Food Secure Hometown in Austin, Minnesota

May 25, 2022

Location: Hormel Foods Innovation Center, Global Headquarters

Our Austin Food Security summit is an opportunity to come together for a discussion on how we can better collaborate to create a food-secure community right here in Austin, Minnesota. Food security impacts so many aspects of our community. Together, we can capitalize on the work that is underway by many organizations in Austin to focus on this important cause, and end hunger.

This summit is a natural outgrowth of the commitment to food security by the United Way, Hormel Foods and a recent partnership formed with the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. We will have several experts from the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty joining us to share the incredible work they are doing to research and eradicate hunger in Texas and across the country. 

Agenda

9 a.m.: Welcome from Jim and Tammy Snee

9:05:  Setting the tone – the importance of mindfulness when solving important problems: Sherry Chesak and Tammy Snee

9:10: Jim Snee: Introductions name, organization and why food security matters to you (roundtable)

9:20: Molly Lanke: United Way’s perspective on food security in Austin

            –The Case for Food Security in Austin

                        -History (how the % has stayed the same over the last several years)

                        -Current Efforts

-Overview of resources dedicated to food security

                        -Facts and figures on food security – what we know today

9:40-9:45:  Jim Snee introduces special keynote guests: Craig Gunderson and Jeremy Everett of Baylor Coalition on Hunger and Poverty

9:45-10:30 –Keynote Presentation – Craig Gunderson and Jeremy Everett

-Hunger in America – What the Research Tells Us

-Behind the numbers  – case studies of communities and what’s behind food insecurity

-Action to solve for hunger – what works and what doesn’t work

-Baylor Collaborative – Community collaboration success stories- hunger free communities

                                    -Challenge and opportunities

                                    -Focus areas for Baylor Collaborative today and tomorrow

10:30-11:00 – Breakout exercise – Attention Span Media

-Breakout Discussions  

-Do we want Austin to be food secure? If so, what will it take?

-Do we have the right resources? Do we feel like they are working together?

            -What does a food secure community look like and how to we maintain it?

– What are the three actions we can take today that will help build a more food secure Austin?

11:00-11:15: Jim Snee – what we heard and an idea that we can all rally around.

-A Partnership Approach to a Food Secure Community by 2025

-Blueprint to solve and share

            -Office of Food Security (Baylor + Other Univ Fellows)

            -Goal to have Austin, MN designated as a food secure community by 2025

-Announcement of local advisory council – those in this room + others who weren’t able to attend (Molly Lanke will chair, along with Hormel Foods)

-Quarterly meetings

11:15-11:30:  Final comments, questions  -point people to the website for additional resources and information

• Mayo Clinic
• Hormel Institute
• QPP
• SPAM Museum
• Austin Public Schools
• Riverland Community College
• University of Minnesota SNAP Education Extension
• Saint Augustine/Pacelli Catholic
• Grace Lutheran/Ruby’s Pantry
• Foundation for Essential Needs
• Attention Span Media
• Channel One
• Second Harvest