SNAP into WIC! Positioning Parks as Centers of Community Health

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Join this session to reflect on the available food resources in your community and to learn about opportunities for increasing nutrition security within your community from new National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) resources and promising practices in the field. NRPA is excited to share a new resource — Supporting SNAP and WIC Outreach: A Toolkit for Park and Recreation Professionals — that can help park and recreation agencies support the health of their communities through federal nutrition programs. The toolkit features new messaging guidance that professionals can use to advocate for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs and conduct outreach at park and recreation sites. A guest presenter from Little Rock, Arkansas, will share how a partnership between parks and recreation, libraries, and hunger action coalitions was effective in increasing SNAP and WIC enrollment in their community. After highlighting new resources and promising practices from the field, this webinar will invite learners to identify practices and advocacy actions that can be replicated within their communities.

Teaching Objectives:

  • Learners will have familiarized themselves with the SNAP/WIC toolkit offering and identify opportunities for utilizing NRPA resources to increase food security in their communities. 
  • Learners will experience how SNAP/WIC outreach and engagement can be applied in park and recreation sites through best practices provided by Little Rock, Arkansas. 
  • Learners will have identified opportunities that their agency could advocate/organize in support of SNAP/WIC.  

Liliana Ruiz Fischer (she/her) (Moderator)

Health Program Specialist

National Recreation and Park Association

Liliana Ruiz Fischer (she/her) is a health program manager for the National Recreation and Park Association. Through programs in food access, nutrition, and health equity, her work supports parks and recreation to serve as community wellness hubs. Liliana joined NRPA in 2021 with seven years of experience leading nutrition, food access, and community wellness programs. Liliana holds a BA in Environmental Studies, a Master's in Public Health, and enjoys being outdoors whenever possible. 

Dan McCarthy (he/him) (Moderator)

Advocacy Manager

National Recreation and Park Association

Dan McCarthy joined NRPA in February 2021 to lead grassroots advocacy campaigns and support members in their advocacy. Dan comes most recently from the anti-hunger community in Boston, where he organized coalitions to alleviate childhood hunger. He is a firm believer that our communities are stronger — and our government more effective — when people are interested, informed, and involved in the democratic process. 

Jasmine Zandi (she/her) (Moderator)

Be Mighty Coordinator

Central Arkansas Library System

Jasmine Zandi serves as Be Mighty Little Rock Project Coordinator for the Central Arkansas Library System. Be Mighty is a citywide campaign to connect kids, teens, and families to free meals, cooking and nutrition education, food security resources, and opportunities to eat, play and learn. 

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