Cities Invited to Apply for Leadership Academy on Combating Child Hunger

With support from the Walmart Foundation, the National League of City's Institute for Youth, Education and Families is partnering with the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to help cities reduce child hunger and supplement current funding for out-of-school time programs in their communities by increasing participation in the federal Afterschool Meal Program. As part of this $1 million initiative, NLC is inviting municipal leaders to apply for one of two regional leadership academies that will help them expand participation in the  program. NLC will cover travel costs for 10 cities at each of two leadership academies to be held May 2-3 in Washington, D.C., and May 22-23 in Portland, Ore. 

The federal Afterschool Meal Program reimburses city agencies, schools and nonprofit organizations that provide nutritious meals at their afterschool and weekend programs for children and youth. Passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in December 2010 made this program available in all 50 states following a successful 13-state pilot project.  City leaders selected to attend a leadership academy will receive in-depth training and learn about practical strategies for helping more children receive federally-funded meals after school and on weekends through the expanded Afterschool Meal Program. Teams of up to three city officials and other stakeholders from each of the 20 selected cities will have the opportunity to learn from national experts and city leaders who have launched innovative local approaches to combat child hunger in their communities and leverage federal dollars more effectively/ Cities that participate in one of the leadership academies will also be eligible to compete for up to $60,000 per selected city from the Walmart Foundation, as well as more intensive technical assistance from NLC and FRAC to boost program participation.

Download the request for proposals to apply.