Urban School Food Alliance, Washington D.C., DC Videos

ICYMI: The Urban School Food Alliance is one of just 20 finalists for the Newman's Own Foundation Community Choice Awards. The organization receiving the most votes will be awarded a $10,000 grant, and we need your help to get there! Cast your vote before September 10, 6:00pm ET: https://bit.ly/3AHY5vd

"The Urban School Food Alliance allows us to do things with school food service that not only impacts us locally, in our own district, but nationally." Thanks to The School District of Palm Beach County for hosting our latest member meeting! Our members, staff, leadership, and partners experienced the difference Palm Beach is making by growing school gardens and elevating the student dining experience. These meetings are critical in bringing decision makers from across the country together to share and create new #SchoolFood ideas. Next stop ⏭ Chicago 🏙

Urban School Food Alliance members face unique challenges in serving students in large districts. Their creative problem solving can inform solutions in districts of all sizes and settings! We work to showcase the incredible work our members are doing, so school nutrition programs can learn from one another and drive innovation nationwide. Access best practices and see how USFA members supported their students, staff, and communities last year in the 🆕 2023 Annual Report: https://bit.ly/3UTsSNz

USFA 2024 Board Training
🌱 An investment in your board is an investment in your organization! The Urban School Food Alliance recently held its first annual board training event in Chicago. During the week, board members gained new tools and skills to support the continued growth and sustainability of our work. Watch the recap to hear from USFA leaders about the impact of this development on their ability to best serve the organization and mission.

A donation to the Urban School Food Alliance impacts the 4+ million students in our member districts and the many more served by the broader #SchoolFood system. Now with even more ways to support our work and mission, consider making a tax-deductible gift this holiday season: http://bit.ly/3pgEwQJ

This year has brought continued challenges to school nutrition, as programs navigated changes, supply chain disruptions, and funding strains. Through the generosity of donors, the Urban School Food Alliance has been on the front lines of these issues. This #GivingTuesday, a day of giving and global impact, we are counting on you to help us further this work. 💙 Learn more about our impact and make a donation to support #SchoolFood transformation: https://bit.ly/USFAGivingTuesday

USFA CIA Training 2023
As our members head #BackToSchool this fall, they are launching exciting new menus that feature student favorites, scratch cooking, diverse flavors, local ingredients, and more! See how the Urban School Food Alliance is supporting culinary innovations in #schoolfood with technical assistance and training ⬇️, and check back this month as we highlight what our districts are serving up in SY23-24!

School meals are a vital part of nearly 30 million kids’ lives! They make it possible for all children to get the crucial nutrition they need to learn, play, run, thrive, and do the most important thing of all… grow up. Visit madewithschoollunch.com to learn more about the benefits and faces of #schoolmeals and SHARE! #MadeWithSchoolLunch

ICYMI: Urban School Food Alliance Chief of Finance and Operations Jeremy West appeared live on CNN this weekend to weigh in on how we can help school districts continue their forward movement in developing stronger, sustainable food systems! The Alliance supports a limit of added sugars based on percentage of calories, so milk can be a part of that percentage. We need to consider the whole diet of the child and look at prepackaged sweet grains and the high amount of sugar in those items.

Growers and producers are a critical part of the conversation and creating global solutions! In November, Dr. Wilson attended the i-Danha Food Lab in Portugal. She joined agricultural partners and international food system experts and represented the Urban School Food Alliance on a panel about how public entities can change consumption habits towards a more sustainable future. Learn more with Food4Sustainability: idanhafoodlabevent.com

Happy New Year from the Urban School Food Alliance! Looking for a recap of what happened in #schoolfood last year? Want to learn more about what our team and members accomplished to support food systems transformation? Check out our website for press releases, industry presentations, publications, and more from 2022!

Our members are decision makers in the largest school districts in the country, with ability to make significant changes to food quality and food access in the United States. But we don't accept funding from food companies or manufacturers and rely on donor support to make that happen! This #GivingTuesday, please consider making a gift to the Urban School Food Alliance. Any amount will help us continue research and create resources that transform food systems and change the lives of families nationwide: https://bit.ly/USFAGivingTuesday

Urban School Food Alliance Donation
A donation to the Urban School Food Alliance impacts the millions of students in our member districts and the broader global food system. Now with even more ways to support our work and mission, consider making a tax-deductible gift this holiday season: http://bit.ly/3pgEwQJ

USFA 2022 Fall Member Meeting Highlights
Last month, Urban School Food Alliance members, leadership, staff, and partners met in Baltimore to share best practices, explore new #schoolfood research, and continue work on several exciting initiatives that support sustainability and innovation in school meals, including an upcoming breaded chicken pilot and next week's #PlasticFreeLunch Day! Watch the video below for a special look inside our meeting and organization.

☝️ One plastic-free day leads to another! Join us next Wednesday, November 2 as we partner with Cafeteria Culture (CafCu) / Styrofoam Out of Schools (SOS) and districts nationwide to host the first #PlasticFreeLunch Day to reduce single-use plastic in our schools and cafeterias. Access resources and templates on plasticfreelunch.org and RSVP your site now at https://bit.ly/PFLDshare.

Congratulations to Whitney Ellersick in Portland Public Schools for being named Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Outstanding Dietician of the Year! The Urban School Food Alliance is proud to have you and our membership is stronger with your passion and creativity. #ThankAHungerHero

For our members, #farmtoschool extends beyond the cafeteria! Initiatives like Great Kids Farm provide students with hands-on lessons about where their #schoolmeals come from. In our latest episode of the #UrbanUpdate, we hear from Baltimore City Public Schools on the history and importance of the 33-acre learning farm. Listen now: https://bit.ly/3qVoVsf

🎙 Episode 2 of the #UrbanUpdate podcast is live on your favorite podcast platform! This month, NxtGen Network co-host Marlon is joined by Manish Singh of Los Angeles Unified School District. During the pandemic, LAUSD partnered with food banks, farmers, and the American Red Cross to distribute more than 140 million meals in the community. Listen now to learn how: https://bit.ly/3qVoVsf

👏 Great response from Elisa Bracero, a parent and school nutrition manager in member @pbcsd, on why we need healthy #SchoolMealsForAll! School meals are a critical source of nutrition for many students and a universal free school meals program would reduce barriers that may prevent students from accessing them.

Well said, Jessica! Thank you to our partners at MomsRising.org for your continued engagement in sharing the message of the importance of #schoolmeals and the impact #BuildBackBetter can have on childhood hunger.