RETHINKING HUNGER: LEARNING FROM THE PAST, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
OCTOBER 6, 2023
ASHLAND COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE
The 6th Annual Kentucky Hunger Dialogue was hosted by Ashland Community & Technical College and the Kentucky Campus Compact on October 6th, 2023. This dynamic event served as a hub for interdisciplinary collaborations, bringing together students, representatives from colleges and universities, anti-hunger advocates, community leaders, and food justice activists from across Kentucky.
The event welcomed both college and high school students to foster networking and knowledge sharing, focusing on innovative strategies to address the pressing issue of food security within the state.
The annual Kentucky Hunger Dialogue serves as a platform for impactful conversations, idea exchange, and the development of collaborative solutions to combat food insecurity. Through the convergence of students, non-profit organizations, educators, and engaged community members, the event promotes the fusion of diverse perspectives and expertise, aiming to alleviate food insecurity.
SCHEDULE
9:00am – 9:30am
Registration/Breakfast
9:30am – 10:30am
Welcome
Keynote Speaker
President Larry Ferguson
Commissioner Ryan Quarles
10:30am – 10:45am
Break
10:45am – 11:45am
Roundtable Session on Food Insecurity Topics
11:45am – 12:45pm
Networking Lunch
12:45pm – 1:30pm
College and Community Partner Gallery Walk
1:30pm – 1:45pm
Break
1:45pm – 2:45pm
Anti-Hunger Leadership Panel
2:45pm – 3:00pm
Closing and Reflection
FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS AND SPEAKERS
Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Dr. Ryan F. Quarles serves as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture. First elected to that position in 2015, he was re-elected in 2019, winning 117 of 120 counties.Under his leadership, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) started several new programs, including initiatives to combat hunger and connect Kentucky farmers to new markets.Quarles’s outspoken advocacy for farmers has been recognized on the regional and national level. He has served as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA), and as Chairman of the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee (RACC).Quarles graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2006 with three undergraduate majors and two graduate degrees. In 2008, he graduated with a Master’s degree in higher education from Harvard University. He received his law degree from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in higher education from Vanderbilt University in 2018. From 2010 to 2014, Quarles served as member of the House of Representatives. A native of Scott County, he grew up on his family’s farm in central Kentucky, an area where they have lived and farmed for more than 200 years.
Aetna
AmeriCorps
Anthem Medicaid
Ashland Community and Technical College
Contemplations
Edgewater Recovery
God’s Food Pantry
Hillcrest Bruce Mission
Humana
Kentucky Food Action Network
NKCAA kynect
Primary Plus
River Cities Harvest
