Webinar Series Connects Groups to Address Hunger

Across the United States, nearly 34 million people experience hunger each year. Poor nutrition is linked to an array of health issues, including nutrient deficiencies, cardiovascular ailments, weakened immune systems and stunted growth in children, and can lead to long term health issues.

While the problem is national, its impact is local. The solution requires bringing organizations at all levels together to address the issue of hunger in their communities. To help make those connections possible, the CDC Foundation launched the Cultivating Connections webinar series–part of the Action Collaborative for Hunger, Nutrition, and Health–designed to highlight successful strategies, food and nutrition system changes, multi-sector partnerships and community-building efforts.

Launched in January 2025, the webinar series brings together national and community non-profits, federal, state and local government agencies, businesses, health systems and others dedicated to ending hunger. Each webinar is built around a relevant theme, and includes panelists who lead discussions on a wide range of health and nutrition topics. Webinar topics thus far have included Mayors Making a Difference, Data-Sharing for Impact, Urban Agriculture Partnerships, the Impact of SNAP and WIC on Children’s Health, Partnering to Improve Nutrition in and after Pregnancy, and Food Insecurity Among Military Families.

The goal of the Cultivating Connections webinar series is to impact health and nutrition in local communities by connecting the organizations doing work in those communities. Anna Corona-Romero, Senior Specialist, Child and Adolescent Health Systems Building at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), said the connections they made through the Action Collaborative have strengthened the support they can provide for their members–state public health leaders working in communities across the country.

“That’s why the network is so important,” Corona-Romero said. “It allowed us to expand our own reach at AMCHP, deepen our own organizational understanding of the food and nutrition landscape and overall provide higher quality support to our members who are charged with improving maternal and child health outcomes in their states and jurisdictions.”

Connections build stronger networks, and stronger networks help combat hunger and strengthen our nation’s public health systems. Through Cultivating Connections, national, state and community non-profits, federal, state and local government agencies, businesses and health systems can work together more seamlessly, united in the fight to end hunger in American communities.

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