Hunger Free Texas Health Community Professionals Conference - Food-Nutrition-Wellness May 18-20

2016 Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference The Largest Healthy Communities Conference in Texas May 18-20, 2016 NRG Convention Center, Houston, Texas The Keeping Our Communities Healthy Communities Conference (TKOCH) is now about 4 weeks away! We are entering our final month of registration for the conference if you are still interested in attending. Come join 600-700 healthy community professionals from across the state seeking to learn more about school nutrition, food access, healthy communities, farmers markets, agriculture education and outreach best practices over the 3-day event in Houston. . Healthy Communities encompasses a broad spectrum of areas and sectors to include community reinvestment and transformation, farmer markets and food access, school nutrition & school health, hunger, public health issues such as chronic disease prevention, parks and recreation, exercise and fitness, smart growth and green spaces, good nutrition & healthy eating, access to affordable healthcare and medicine, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, poverty, financial literacy, public safety, safe neighborhoods and many other topics. Who's Attending? Education (public schools, colleges and universities) Government (local, state and federal agencies) Nonprofits (children & family, seniors, veterans, homeless, housing service organizations etc.) Faith-based organizations (churches & ministries) Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Sector (food producers/farmers, farmers markets, gardeners etc.) Healthcare (clinics, hospitals, healthcare systems, public health, healthy living advocates) Business (banks, chambers of commerce and general business) Participate by: Attend the conference, Registration is $350 with access to all 3 days and includes meals Thurs & Fri. Exhibit your organization in the Healthy Communities Expo. Non Profit Booths are $500 and includes 1-conference registration with access to all 3 days. Sponsor the conference and promote healthy communities The Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference (TKOCH), the largest healthy communities conference in Texas, is an annual event to increase awareness of food, nutrition, health and wellness initiatives across America. Experts and leaders from the food, nutrition, health & wellness industry and vested healthy communities stakeholders come together to talk about best practices, innovative models, network, share the latest news and research on what is happening in Texas and across the nation. 2016 Conference Theme: Farmer’s Markets: Promoting access to healthy foods and local economic opportunities in our communities. 2016 Conference Highlights: The 2016 Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference (TKOCH), is proud to announce a national lineup of plenary presenters to include Carmen Rottenberg, Deputy Administrator for Food Safety & Inspection Service of the USDA who will give an overview of food safety in America, Dr. Alice Kuo, Chief of UCLA Medicine-Pediatrics and co-author of promoting food security for all children; Sid Miller, Commissioner for the Texas Department of Agriculture will present on how agricultural initiatives can improve public health in communities and create economic opportunities; Craig Gundersen, Soybean Industry Endowed Professor of Agricultural Strategy with the University of Illinois will discuss why food insecurity is worse than the U.S. thought; Cynthia Woodside, Senior Domestic Policy Analyst from Washington DC’s Bread for the World Institute will present the 2016 Hunger and Health Report making a direct correlation between malnutrition and health outcomes; Aaron Herrera, CEO of Hunger Free Texans will unveil the nation’s first ever national Farmer’s Market University (FMU); in addition, Fort Worth Mayor, Betsy Price will explain how her city is creating a healthier community in North Texas; IDEA Public School's Chief Operating Officer, Irma Munoz will share their Innovative Farm Program for Healthy Schools; Texas A&M's Director for a Healthy South Texas will share their efforts to promote health along the Rio Grande, Patricia Garcia with Medical Center Health System in West Texas will share why her hospital is running the only "hospital" certified farmers market in Texas in an effort to improve patient and community health; Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Chief Medical Officer for Prevention from the American Heart Association will discuss the importance of access to healthy foods for all Americans along with many other topics from healthy community leaders and experts from across the U.S. TKOCH Conference is an initiative of Hunger Free Texans. Agenda, Registration & Conference Website: http://www.hungerfreetexans.org/annual-conference.html Conference Hotel Reservations: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/I/IAHWSHH-HFT-20160515/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG More info: info@hungerfreetexans.org FOOD | NUTRITION | WELLNESS | HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Convening & Educating Nonprofits and Public Sector Organizations Across Texas www.hungerfreetexans.org