(04/30/25) BATON ROUGE, La. — The second Louisiana Charitable Food Summit recently brought together community leaders, nonprofit organizations, food system experts and advocates to address food insecurity across Louisiana. The event, hosted in Baton Rouge by the LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities team, focused on the theme “Moving Forward Together.”

The summit featured a robust lineup of speakers and sessions with topics spanning local food procurement, charitable food policy, community engagement and nutrition-focused strategies. Attendees participated in breakout sessions tailored to different focus areas, including working with populations of focus, incorporating community voices and meeting nutrition needs.

“In Louisiana, food means more than just nutrition. It’s a cornerstone of our culture and communities. Improving nutrition security will take that same spirit of connection and collaboration,” said Denise Holston, AgCenter associate professor and extension nutrition specialist. “This summit brings together people who are working every day to ensure all Louisiana residents have access to the nourishment they need to thrive, including fresh, local food grown by our farmers.”

Highlights from the summit included an opening session and welcome remarks led by Holston and AgCenter Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) program leader Gina E. Eubanks followed by policy insights from Lupe Lamadrid, of the Louisiana Board of Regents, and Pat Van Burkleo, of Feeding Louisiana, who discussed advocacy efforts like the Hunger Free Campus initiative.

Additional sessions explored how local organizations are implementing Food Is Medicine programs and strengthening food access through innovative purchasing and distribution strategies.

“This summit brought a diverse group of stakeholders together and served as a catalyst for ideas, networking and inspiration that will directly support existing efforts throughout the state,” said Chelsea Jackson, director of Greaux the Good, a state-funded nutrition incentive program operated by Market Umbrella.

Jackson emphasized that programs like Greaux the Good depend on collaboration to expand their reach and increase their efficiency and impact. Partnering with organizations that have strong, direct ties to their communities is critical to ensuring these initiatives achieve their goals.

“In Louisiana, there are no regular in-person convenings for local food system and food access practitioners,” Jackson said. “The Louisiana Charitable Food Summit offered a much-needed opportunity to bring us all together.”

The afternoon breakout sessions allowed attendees to engage in smaller, focused discussions. These sessions encouraged the exchange of ideas on how to better serve older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness and other populations of focus. The “Centering Neighbors” discussion, led by speakers from Second Harvest and Northern Illinois Food Bank, emphasized the importance of community-driven program design.

In addition to panel discussions and networking, the event featured an exhibitor fair that connected participants with resources and partnership opportunities to support their work beyond the summit.

Loreli Rogers with Matthew 25:35 Ministries, a food pantry in Destrehan, Louisiana, stressed the value of connecting with a broad spectrum of people throughout the charitable food system, including boots-on-the-ground food pantry staff like herself and those who work on state-level food policies.

“The summit is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other people who are passionate about the same things that we are,” Rogers said. “It's a wonderful opportunity to learn from all levels, from high up perspectives to client perspectives.”

The summit was made possible through collaboration with several partners, including the AgCenter’s SNAP-Ed and High Obesity Program (HOP), Market Umbrella, Second Harvest Food Bank, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Community Center of St. Bernard, Christian Community Action and Holistic Vibes.

Participants and those who missed this year’s summit are encouraged to continue collaborating through quarterly follow-up calls hosted by the AgCenter Healthy Communities team.

For more information, visit https://www.LSUAgCenter.com/HealthyCommunities or contact Makenzie Miller at makenziemiller@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Lemel Jones, impact coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank, speaks during a policy, advocacy and funding question-and-answer session with Lupe Lamadrid, of the Louisiana Board of Regents, and Pat Van Burkleo, of Feeding Louisiana. Photo by Ruthie Losavio/LSU AgCenter

LSU AgCenter Nutrition and Community Health agents, from left, Becky Gautreaux, Kristy Monier and Maria Gonzales take part in a "Who is in the Room?" activity where participants learned about one another’s role in the charitable food system and shared their reasons for attending the summit. Photo by Ruthie Losavio/LSU AgCenter

Exhibitors like Amanda Gustavson, with Louisiana Healthcare Connections, shared opportunities and resources available to support charitable food efforts in Louisiana. Photo by Ruthie Losavio/LSU AgCenter