Alice Waters Meets with Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity met with author and food activist Alice Waters. Waters is the Executive Chef and Founder of Chez Panisse and Founder of The Edible Schoolyard, a program that connects educators around the world to use gardening and kitchen classes to improve nutrition and strengthen educational outcomes.
“As we mark Hunger Action Month, the Task Force was pleased to welcome Alice Waters to join us for a discussion on child nutrition and access to healthy food,” stated Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer. “With one in five children living in food insecure households and childhood obesity more than doubling in the past 30 years, we have much more work to do to ensure that children have access to healthy food. I thank Chef Waters for her leadership in creating The Edible Schoolyard program and I look forward to working with her to raise awareness and advocate for strong federal investments so no child in America goes to bed hungry.”
“Fifteen million American kids know the harsh reality of hunger. From food insecurity to a lack of access to healthy food, many families struggle to get enough to eat. That’s why I’m so proud to welcome my constituent, Chef Alice Waters, to the Task Force. Every day, her work helps ensure that children are eating healthy food that will nourish them as they grow. Her edible garden model is a powerful education and hunger-fighting tool; I hope that all school districts will consider this successful model,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “Likewise, her activism is challenging leaders to do better to ensure that in the richest and most powerful country in the world, no child goes to bed hungry.”
"I am so delighted to meet with members of this task force on an issue we all agree is of vital importance: access to healthy food is a right, not a privilege,” said Alice Waters. “I am committed to working together to ensure for every child in our public schools a free, nutritious, delicious, and sustainably produced lunch."
Launched in 2013, the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity works to raise the awareness of Members of Congress and the American people about the ongoing crisis of poverty, the positive human and economic impacts of effective poverty alleviation programs, and the need for a comprehensive national effort to eradicate poverty. The Task Force consults with key stakeholders and works closely with the Administration to develop support for strategies to eradicate poverty.