Welcome to Hungry for Action! Visit us at the Concierge area to check in, grab your name tag, and get ready for the conference.

Oklahoma E & F

Hunger Free Oklahoma’s President & CEO Chris Bernard will deliver an opening welcome address to kick off the conference.

Oklahoma A
Jennifer Mayo, Chandy Rice, Sam Russell
Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall: Grants and Fundraising
This session will explore practical fundraising strategies while breaking down the fears and misconceptions that often hold people back, helping you approach fundraising with confidence and boldness. If you like it, try it! Throw the spaghetti against the wall!
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Oklahoma B
Lisa Robinson, Melissa Simms
Community-Led Food Access in Rural Oklahoma
Rural communities face unique challenges in addressing food insecurity, but they also bring creative, community-driven solutions to the table. This session highlights two Oklahoma communities working collaboratively to expand food access, reduce barriers, and strengthen local networks that support families. Presenters will share practical strategies, partnerships, and lessons learned that can inspire and be adapted in other rural settings.
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Oklahoma C
Bailey Ashbaker, Jessica Dietrich
Hunger, Policy & the Headlines
In a time of information overload, this session breaks down the policies shaping hunger in Oklahoma and nationwide. Learn how to interpret media coverage, understand the federal response to food insecurity, and navigate common myths about programs like SNAP—through a clear, nonpartisan lens.
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Oklahoma D
Emily Heath, Colleen Stice, LaCrinthia (LC) Watts
Food, Health, and Connection for Older Oklahomans
This session will look at the unique challenges older Oklahomans face with hunger and access to resources. It will cover the impact of food insecurity on health and independence, the barriers that keep many seniors from getting support, and the role of programs like SNAP in expanding access. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of the issue and practical ways communities and partners can help bridge the gap.
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Boomer A & B
Lindsey Vandeventer
Compassion Fatigue
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Sooner A & B
Devin Schroeder, Treba Shyers
SNAP 201: Improving Outreach and Access Across the State
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and a vital tool for helping Oklahomans stretch their grocery budget. Join us for an informative session designed to enhance your SNAP expertise. We’ll cover key program updates, tools to support clients with applications and household changes, and effective strategies for connecting eligible individuals and families to benefits. Attendees will also have the chance to network with partners, exchange best practices, and learn how staying engaged as a SNAP partner can unlock valuable resources and opportunities to better serve your community.
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Oklahoma G & H

Join us for an evening of conversation, meeting fellow conference attendees, and, of course, food!

Welcome to Hungry for Action! Visit us at the Concierge area to check in, grab your name tag, and grab some quick breakfast.

Oklahoma E & F
Sarah Smith-Moore, Amandah Treaster, Lindsey Vandeventer, Jerrod Wilson, Maurianna Adams (Moderator)
Shifting Perspectives with Lived Experience
In 2024, Hunger Free Oklahoma launched the Lived Experience and Resource Network (LEARN) Workshop, an eight-month cohort that compensates 10 individuals with lived experience of food insecurity and hunger and enhances skills in personal narrative, policy and advocacy, and federal nutrition programs. Lived experts share their experiences using their voices to end hunger. Through personal stories, interactive discussions, and practical strategies, attendees will be equipped with new perspectives and tools to engage those who have navigated the intersection of trauma and hunger.

Take 30 minutes to stretch, grab some coffee and breakfast, and come back recharged for the next event.

Oklahoma A
Ana Altares, Sam Landercasper, Dr. Megan Mueller
Mapping Solutions: Understanding and Addressing Rural Food Insecurity
This session explores innovative strategies to address food insecurity in rural regions through collaborative evaluation and strategic planning. Drawing from the partnership between Colorado State University and the Mountain Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security, presenters will share their community-engaged evaluation process and initial findings from household surveys comparing food insecurity and coping strategies across income levels in the Parachute-to-Aspen corridor in Colorado. Additionally, attendees will learn about applying GIS mapping techniques to develop comprehensive regional food system strategies.
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Oklahoma B
Alissa Snider, Gia Chow, Treasure Standeford
Data-driven Decisions: Summer Meals Regional Convenings in Oklahoma
The child nutrition team and the continuous improvement team at Hunger Free Oklahoma collaborated to identify the areas of Oklahoma with little to no meal sites during the summer of 2023. The presenters will highlight the data layering and outcomes from the summer of 2024 to show how to use data to make a difference.
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Oklahoma C
Casey Bakhsh, Lacey Thompson Caywood, Sabrina Villalon, Dr. Marianna Wetherill
Centering Community in Food is Medicine Research: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the NOURISH-OK Study
Join us for an interactive session to explore best practices in food is medicine (FIM) using examples from an ongoing NIH-funded FIM study being conducted in Oklahoma. We’ll explore why it’s critical for FIM to remain rooted within community-based organizations and how food assistance programs can play a role in Oklahoma’s FIM movement.
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Oklahoma J
Tiffany Brown Tagbo
The Power of Community in an Era of Political Disruption
In a time of shifting politics and policy disruptions, communities must lead the fight against hunger. This session explores how grassroots innovation, inclusive design, and cross-sector collaboration are critical to breaking down access barriers and keeping hunger relief efforts resilient, equitable, and people-centered.
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Boomer A & B
Lauran Larson, Keeley White
Bridging Hunger and Health
What happens when healthcare and hunger relief organizations work together to tackle food insecurity as a health issue? This session examines the undeniable link between hunger and chronic disease, highlighting how screening, referrals, and community-clinical partnerships can create sustainable solutions. Using real-world examples, we’ll introduce strategies for integrating food insecurity screenings into clinical workflows, improving coordination with community organizations, and delivering food is medicine for both immediate and long-term health outcomes. Participants will gain tools and insights to interrupt the hunger-disease cycle in their own work, building stronger connections between clinics and communities.
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Sooner A & B
Brandi White, MA, CPH
The Hidden Link: Exploring the Intersection of Family Violence and Food Insecurity.
This training explores the critical intersection between domestic/family violence and food insecurity. Survivors often experience hunger as a result of economic abuse, isolation, and disrupted access to resources—deepening the impact of trauma and creating additional barriers to safety. Participants will learn how violence affects food access, how to recognize signs of food insecurity, and how to implement trauma-informed, culturally responsive strategies to support survivors. Through practical tools, case examples, and collaborative solutions, this training equips advocates, social workers, food providers, and community partners to respond more effectively and ensure survivors have access to nourishment, stability, and dignity.
Click here for presentation.

Oklahoma E & F
Dr. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon
Permission to Lead
Dr. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon will invite the room to move towards their next level of leadership in the movement to end hunger. He will introduce five key questions that all leaders must answer to keep elevating their contributions to positive social change. His keynote will be filled with poems, stories, and real examples of how leaders in communities across our country have given themselves permission to dive in and make history together.

Take 30 minutes to stretch, grab some coffee, and come back recharged for the next event.

Oklahoma A
Gia Chow, Ahmed “Omar” Omar, Abby Stainer, Aily Tran
We Build It; You Ride: A Continuous Improvement Case Study
What would happen if we stopped thinking we could “build the bike while we ride it?” Over the last year, Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) has tried exactly that, and we are here to share the results with you! This session will take you through our journey creating a dedicated Continuous Improvement team in our organization and what impact that has had on our culture and work. Would having a dedicated bike “pit crew” be beneficial in your work? Could HFO fill that gap for your organization too? Join us to find out!
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Oklahoma B
Adriana Gonzalez, Lauran Larson
The Collaboration Playbook: Building and Sustaining Effective Coalitions
Successful coalitions require both vision and practical systems that align diverse perspectives. This session will explore strategic planning techniques, feedback-gathering methods, and ready-to-use templates that help coalitions stay organized and sustain long-term engagement. Whether you’re starting from scratch or enhancing an existing effort, you’ll gain actionable insights to strengthen your coalition’s impact and success.
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Oklahoma C
Diana Romano
Working with Hispanic Communities
This presentation explores the cultural, dietary and health aspects of Hispanic Communities in the U.S and in Oklahoma, emphasizing the impact of aculturación on nutrition and health practices.
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Oklahoma J
Ana Lusk, Chris Moghaddami, Natalie Shumway, Dr. Marianna Wetherill, Dr. Mary Williams
Nutrition Security Challenges and Opportunities for Oklahomans Receiving SNAP: What We’ve Learned from DUO Participation and the PROVIDE Study
This session shares preliminary findings from the PROVIDE study’s nutritional risk assessments among SNAP recipients and findings from the expansion of Double Up Oklahoma (DUO) in grocery stores. You will explore DUO’s impact on fruit and vegetable access, dietary intake, and health-related risk factors, while identifying key opportunities for strengthening nutrition interventions statewide.
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Boomer A & B
Brian Blevins, Nicole Doherty, Lorri Romero, Dezavia Taylor
Beyond the Shelf: Collaborative Strategies to Combat Campus Food Insecurity
This session brings together campus pantry leaders, campus departments, student advocates, and community partners to share innovative strategies for addressing food insecurity in higher education. Presenters will discuss cross-campus collaborations, outreach methods, data-driven advocacy, and sustainable resource development. Attendees will gain practical insights and actionable tools to strengthen or launch food support services on their campuses. Join us for a dynamic dialogue centered on equity, access, and student well-being.
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Sooner A & B
Devyn Manns, Kevin Marshall, Jenna Moore, Val Wiestner
Barriers to Local Food Access
Why local food is important to food security.
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Precon

Join us for an afternoon of fun networking, Policy Corner Chat, photo ops, and snacks to wrap up your Hungry for Action Conference experience.