Access to Health and Education by Mediaplanet_USA

SEPTEMBER 2019 | IMPACTINGOURFUTURE.COM

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ACCESS TO HEALTH & EDUCATION

Gugu Ndebele

OWLAG’s executive director talks about the academy’s e�forts in South Africa

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A look inside Burger King’s work to increase access to education Page 4

Why Purina is making a stand for sustainable agriculture practices Page 11

How Waterford is playing a role in kids’ early education Page 16

Who Is Addressing the Cycle of Food Insecurity and Poor Health Outcomes? Food insecurity contributes to worse health outcomes and higher costs. But Feeding America, with the help of partnerships and anti-hunger advocates, is helping get nutritious food to people in need.

Ami L. McReynolds Chief Equity and Programs Of�ıcer, Feeding America

orty million people in the United States — including more than 12 million children — lack regular access to enough food to live a healthy life. This is food insecurity, and it exists in every county, parish, and congressional district nationwide. Neighbors, classmates, coworkers, friends, and family members often go to bed hungry because

they make difficult tradeoffs between food and other basic needs for survival (e.g., housing or food, utilities or meals, transportation or dinner). And for them, it’s a struggle to bring any food to the table, let alone nutritious ones, and so begins the cycle of adverse health and financial outcomes. Rebuilding the pyramid Diets filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lowfat dairy, and lean proteins are fundamental for good health and financial security. But, for people facing hunger, getting essential vitamins and minerals daily can prove difficult. According to Feeding America’s “Hunger in America” study, 79 percent of people served by the Feeding America network pur-

chase inexpensive foods with low nutritional value in order to feed their family, putting themselves at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Food insecure adults, for example, are at risk of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. In fact, 58 percent of households served by the Feeding America network report having at least one member with high blood pressure, and 33 percent report having one member with diabetes. Banking on food banks The Feeding America network of 200 food banks, along with 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, is on the battlegrounds trying to end hunger and improve health outcomes. From fresh produce and canned vegetables, to

nutrition education, recipes, and budgeting guides, the network is committed to arming Americans with resources to eat better, live healthier lives, and make their money go further. Feeding America also supports several partnerships between food banks and healthcare organizations, especially those in outpatient settings in low-income communities, to help address food insecurity and diet quality in patient populations. Healthcare professionals and food banks aren’t the only ones who can fight against hunger and improve health outcomes — community involvement is also crucial. Whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness on the issue, everyone can help end hunger one helping at a time. n

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Finding a Way Out of Food Insecurity Food banks across the country are changing their approach to getting food to communities and helping the millions of Americans struggling to feed their families fresh, healthy foods.

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ccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 40 million households in America are “food insecure” or live in what are known as “food deserts.” “Food deserts are low-income areas where a third of residents don’t have access to fresh, healthy food,” says Dr. Nicole Cooper, vice president of social responsibility at UnitedHealthcare. “Many people living in struggling communities need food banks and pantries to feed their families.” Food deserts Food deserts are a growing problem linked to the economy, according to Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. “When household incomes decline, poverty increases and local full-service grocery stores close.” The problem is nationwide. Michael Griffin, president and

CEO of Daughters of Charity Health Centers in New Orleans, Louisiana, serves many patients who reside in food deserts and sees the effects daily. “Eighty percent of what affects a person’s health is not necessarily healthcare itself — it’s insufficient housing and their environment, it’s the food they eat every day.” “Medical care is only one part of a person’s overall health and well-being,” Cooper agrees. “This is why we are establishing national and local public-private partnerships to invest in the health of the whole person, including safe and affordable housing, reliable transportation, and locally trained community health workers. And putting healthy food in the hands of people who are in the most vulnerable of situations is part of UnitedHealthcare’s larger Empowering Health commitment.” Food banks can help, but the problem isn’t always a lack of food, but a lack of healthy food. “Food banks are a critical, trusted source of emergency food access,” notes Cooper, “but much of the food donated to food banks is non-perishable processed and canned food that can be easily stored for long periods of time, which is not the most nutritious

food to eat regularly.” This can have a profound effect on health. “A diet lacking nutritious foods plays a significant role in higher rates of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.” Even when fresh produce, meat, or dairy is available to be donated to food banks, they sometimes have to turn it down for lack of proper storage or distribution capabilities. Fresh ideas Griffin fully understands the problem. “Part of what’s broken in our food infrastructure is just the cost of eating healthier,” he says. “Rapid distribution of fresh food can be costly. Rethinking the distribution channel to get fresh food to a community is something that should and can be done.” “Food banks across the nation have been transitioning for more than a decade from distributing shelf-stable foods to distributing more fresh food,” says Hamler-Fugitt. “We work with farmers, growers, and commodity producers to purchase their surplus cosmetically challenged fruits and vegetables.” But connecting those sources of fresh food to food banks has long been an issue. That’s where private sector innovation has

been crucial. “State-wide investments from UnitedHealthcare have permitted us to expand the infrastructure of our largely nonprofit and faith-based partners through the purchases of refrigeration, coolers, and trucks needed to rapidly move highly perishable foods into communities that need it the most,” says Hamler-Fugitt. “We are connecting food producers to the people and communities that need healthy, wholesome food the most.” Griffin notes that a major barrier to patients at Daughters of Charity Health Centers attaining better health surrounds their lack of daily access to healthy food, which the center has begun tackling. “We’ve hired and trained community health navigators, via an investment from UnitedHealthcare, who screen and assist the underserved with acquiring healthy food through the assistance of various community partners.” This alliance of corporations, community organizations, and local government is having tremendous impact. “It takes all of us to fight food insecurity,” says Cooper. “If we all work together, we can change lives.” n Jeff Somers MEDIAPLANET • 3

Burger King Knows the Importance of Easy Access to Education

Investing in Adult Education Is an Economic Catalyst

Education is crucial to alleviating poverty and class immobility, but for many in America, it is inaccessible. We talked to Amanda Israel, executive director of the Burger King McLamore Foundation, which empowers kids to pursue education, about why this is something in which we need to invest.

Many solutions to the United States’ workforce, economic, and societal issues lie within one of our nation’s greatest untapped resources — adult education.

Currently, what are the major barriers to education in the United States? In the United States, student loan debt is a major barrier to education. This totals a staggering $1.5 trillion, and for the average student this debt is $38,000. There is around $6 billion in scholarships available every year, which only can help around 10 percent of students. Why is now a critical time to be investing in education? Now is a critical time to invest in education because 20 percent of the world’s population is illiterate (women comprise two-thirds of that group). We need to invest in education equality, providing infrastructure, and quality learning materials to break down the barriers that exist. We need to invest in youth development and in the United States to find a solution to the student debt crisis.

Reecie Stagnolia, chair of the National Association of State Directors of Adult Education offers insightful responses to the oft asked ”How do we address America’s skill gap?” According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, “By 2020, 65 percent of all jobs in the economy will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school.” In “The Coming Jobs War,” author Jim Clifton, chairman of the Gallup Organization, noted that, by 2025, the United States will need 23 million more degree holders than our colleges and universities will have produced. Because we don’t produce enough high school graduates to meet the demand of America’s economy, non-traditional

adult students entering and staying in the educational pipeline are the solution — in other words, high school equivalency graduates produced through our adult education system are the key to a more skilled workforce. There are over 23 million working-age Americans (representing nearly 12 percent of the United States workforce) without a high school diploma or equivalency. These individuals are unable to fully participate in the workforce. A better tomorrow Our nation’s adult education system is working toward preparing our students to be college-and career-ready, to prepare them not just for a job, but a better job and ultimately a career. We are responding to the growing demand from employers for employees with essential soft skills as well as strong foundational academic skills. Adult educators realize the urgency for students to move further, faster in their attainment

of skills and educational credentials. We must transform our nation’s workforce to meet current and future demands. It is essential for employers to engage as our partners by investing in prospective and incumbent employees through tuition assistance, and release time to participate in education and training programs. An investment in adult education is an investment in transformative change in America. Adult education transforms Americans’ lives by helping break cycles of educational apathy and intergenerational poverty, significantly reducing public social service costs, reducing unemployment, and lowering incarceration costs. For the sake of our nation’s global competitiveness. We have to be flexible, nimble, responsive, and innovative risk-takers who approach the aforementioned challenges with a laser focus and a sense of urgency. n Reecie D. Stagnolia Executive Director, Kentucky Skills U Education & Workforce Development Cabinet

Join us in the fight to defeat childhood hunger. feedthechildren.org 4 • IMPACTINGOURFUTURE.COM

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Project Peanut Butter is taking necessary steps to intervene when high-risk children show signs of moderate to severe malnutrition. Project Peanut Butter (PPB) isn’t just interested in eradicating child malnutrition, but in preventing it from becoming an issue at all. In 2017, PPB launched a maternal health study aimed at supporting malnourished pregnant women and thus preventing stunting in utero. In 2019, PPB has taken on another innovative project, this time to identify children at the highest risk of becoming severe acute malnourished (SAM). Patching the cracks In 2017, the World Health Organization changed its recommended to no longer include supplementary foods in the treatment for moderately acute malnourished (MAM) children, and recommend only nutritional counseling. This puts children at the highest risk of adverse outcomes (progression to SAM or death) more susceptible to deterioration failing food interventions. PPB aims to prevent deterioration in these “high-risk” children by expanding treatment criteria. PPB operates clinics where high-risk children are enrolled in community-based feeding programs and where lower-risk children are referred to nutritional counseling through mother support groups. These groups are part of an established program in Sierra Leone and the current national recommendation for MAM children. The intervention treatment for highrisk children incorporates both mother support counseling and a packet (525 calories’ worth) of ready-to-use-food daily. Children continue treatment until they have reached a healthy state, or until 12 weeks of therapy have elapsed. Identifying high-risk children before they fall into SAM is a vital step toward the eradication and prevention of child malnutrition. Sara Shaban Hendrixson, Director of Communications, Project Peanut Butter

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Helping the World’s Youth See a Brighter Tomorrow

expected to affect 5 billion people by 2050 — the risk looms closer to home. The U.S. population has experienced a 42 percent increase in myopia prevalence, a rate that has nearly doubled over the past three decades.

PHOTO: BRIEN HOLDEN VISION INSTITUTE

How to Identify Children at Risk for Severe Acute Malnutrition

Over a billion people are blind or visually impaired because they can’t get access to the care they need. The Brien Holden Vision Institute is here to help. The global need for vision correction has created disability and a poverty-inducing health crisis worldwide. Over 1.2 billion people are unnecessarily blind or vision-impaired because they can’t get an eye examination and a pair of glasses. To further compound the global burden of vision

impairment, evidence is mounting that incidence of myopia — short-sightedness — is growing at an alarming rate. It is estimated half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050. Growing levels of high myopia are increasing the risks of serious eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts, which can lead to permanent blindness. While 89 percent of uncorrected vision-impaired people live in low-tomiddle income countries, if we focus on myopia —

Focusing on child eye health The Brien Holden Vision Institute believes focused child eye health programs, when integrated into existing health and school services, have the biggest impact on children’s futures. Left untreated in childhood, vision impairment can have long-lasting consequences including poor educational outcomes, employment opportunities, and social interaction. Our child eye health programs provide access to eye care for all the world’s children by advocating to peak international agencies and funding bodies, and working with governments to integrate child eye health initiatives into existing health systems and school health programs, and aligning them with education and social development services. By co-founding Our Children’s Vision, a global campaign of almost 100 partner organizations in 72 countries, the Brien Holden Vision Institute has helped initiate a call to action. Since launching in 2016, the campaign has helped more than 37 million children receive eye care services by integrating effective, sustainable eye health programs into regional, national, and global education and health policy. The goal is to push that number to 50 million by 2020. n Brien Holden Vision Institute

How Kids Can Get the Nutrition Their Eyes Need A child’s diet has nutritional gaps, especially when it comes to supporting eye health. While this is a concerning issue, this is a gap we can overcome. Beyond overall health, proper nutrition is imperative for eye health. The eyes are delicate and need specific nutrients to function optimally. Antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein are important for functionality, but they are difficult to get through the daily diet. Dietary gaps Most people know they don’t eat as well as they should, but parents know it’s even more diffi-

cult to get kids to eat well. Moreover, the detrimental impact poor diet can have on the eyes is often overlooked. Because the body doesn’t produce important nutrients like zeaxanthin and lutein on its own, we must eat them. Therefore, our zeaxanthin and lutein levels start to decrease through the years unless otherwise supported by nutrition. Zeaxanthin and lutein can be found in leafy greens and brightly colored fruits and vegetables, but the average person would have to eat 20 ears of corn a day to get the amount of zeaxanthin they need to support their eyes! That’s in

addition to all the other healthy foods they should be eating. For many, a daily vitamin becomes an easy way to supplement these nutrients. Nutrition for children’s eyes Eating a proper diet is arguably even more important for children. Zeaxanthin and lutein are the foundation for healthy eyes, and they protect the retina from harmful light like UV and blue light. Blue light, which screens give off, can disrupt circadian rhythm, making it more difficult for kids to get a good night’s rest — another important part of healthy development.

Screen time also affects the eyes and brain, which can alter a child’s ability to perform in the classroom and socially. Getting protective, eye-healthy ingredients like zeaxanthin and lutein is critical for their development. Only 11 percent of kids get at least 1 serving of vegetables a day; and far fewer the specific foods that contain these antioxidants. That’s why an eye vitamin containing zeaxanthin and lutein can be an especially good solution for parents battling a child’s finicky palate or screentime habits. n Dennis Gierhart, Ph.D., CEO, Co-Founder, EyePromise®

Screen time can harm their eyes. Screen Shield™ Teen can help.

Learn more at www.eyepromise.com/visionhealth MEDIAPLANET • 7

This Organization Is Helping Defeat Childhood Hunger

The Restaurant Industry Is Uniting to End Childhood Hunger

In the United States, 1 in every 6 children will struggle with hunger or food insecurity. Feed the Children is committed to working each day to defeat hunger. Not only does the organization work to make a difference in the lives of children and families across the United States, but they also assist children and families in 10 counties around the world. For the nonprofit, defeating hunger means working with public and private partners to ensure kids everywhere have access to the safe, healthy, and nutritious food they need. By working with a vast network of community partners, the organization provides food and essentials, supports teachers and students, and mobilizes resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Feed the Children distributed 88.6 million pounds of food and essentials across the United States and around the world in 2018. Through partnerships and programs, the organization’s outreach benefited approximately 6.5 million children and families globally who don’t always know from where their next meal will come. Carrie Snodgrass, Feed the Children

Over 12 million U.S. children live in food-insecure homes, meaning their households don’t have enough food for every family member to live a healthy life.

ere’s what that means: In some families, the pantry is completely empty. In others, mom skips dinner a few nights a week so the kids can have something to eat in the evening. In others, families are making impossible decisions between paying the rent or buying groceries. Hunger can have long-term negative consequences on a child’s development. Hungry kids are at risk of long-term, avoidable health problems like heart disease, slow brain development, and asthma. Hungry kids also have trouble focusing in class and are more likely to act out. Lending a hand The good news is that childhood hunger is a solvable problem. One of the most effective ways to help families and children is through federal nutrition programs, such as school breakfast, summer meals, and afterschool meals. No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger, connects kids to these

effective programs so they have the food they need to thrive. Since the start of the No Kid Hungry campaign in 2010, the restaurant industry has stood behind its work, contributing funding, support, and energy to the mission of making sure every child in America has the food they need. Each year, thousands of restaurants across the country participate in Dine for No Kid Hungry, a fundraiser to raise the critical funds to feed hungry children. This year, more than 15,000 restaurants are participating and, since 2008, our delivery and restaurant partners and their guests have raised over $75 million for No Kid Hungry. Want to know how you can help? Dine for No Kid Hungry at a participating restaurant in your neighborhood this September and help end childhood hunger in America. n No Kid Hungry

Trimble Connected Farm RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF FARMING

PHOTO: NO KID HUNGRY

Feed the Children is getting food and necessary essentials to families and children who desperately need them. There’s more that needs to be done.

These Technologies Are Changing the Future of Farming We spoke with Trimble general manager Abe Hughes about the biggest advancements in agriculture technologies and what’s on the horizon. How has technology helped farmers improve productivity on the farm in the past 20 years? Introducing GPS to create vehicle guidance systems on agricultural vehicles in the late 1990s provided the first wave of productivity through technology on the farm. Trimble Autopilot® technology allowed farmers to use precision steering tools, which allows for longer hours of operation,

especially during time-critical operations like planting and harvesting. Yield monitors help farmers assess the variability that exists on acres planted so corrective plans can be developed to improve yields. Soil sampling has helped farmers assess variability of soil conditions and develop corrective plans with specific inputs applied on certain zones as needed. Technology in agriculture over the past 20 years has provided farmers with improvements in productivity. New innovations on the horizon from companies like Trimble promise to make technology

Technology in agriculture over the past 20 years has provided farmers with improvements in productivity even more prevalent and useful to farmers in the future. What major problem areas are tech developers prioritizing when it comes to modern farming?

More consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it’s produced. When an E. coli outbreak was linked to romaine lettuce last fall, it illustrated the importance of traceability in agriculture. Trimble developers are helping to avoid these devastating situations and the economic damage caused by recalls. HarvestMark®, a Division of Trimble, is the leading traceability solution that links the first and last mile of the supply chain — from field to fork. There are several exciting technologies in the works that are sure to make farming more productive and sustainable in the future. n

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Bioagriculture and the Science of Making the Future of Food Secure

Farmers Are Hungry to Tackle Food Insecurity The nation’s farmers and ranchers are availing themselves of every possible technology to end world hunger.

As our population grows, science looks to nature’s tiniest organisms to safeguard the food’s future. By 2050 there could be 10 billion people alive that must be fed. Insects and diseases destroy crops, and chemicals designed to protect those crops have diminishing returns. “Nobody really believes the future of agriculture is going to be more chemicals,” says Thomas Laurita, president and CEO of NewLeaf Symbiotics, a bioagricultural company based in St. Louis. Small solutions One solution is tiny organisms called M-trophs. “M-trophs are a unique type of microbe that has co-evolved with plants,” explains Laurita. Using genome-sequencing tools, NewLeaf identifıes benefıcial M-trophs, leading to healthier plants and larger crop yields. They are also developing insect- and disease-resistant M-trophs, and eventually intend to develop all-new M-trophs. “We believe the future of food is more earth-friendly technologies,” Laurita says with a hint of pride. Jeff Somers

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t’s unacceptable that people go to bed hungry in our country. Farmers go to bed tired from long days, but they end their work day with the satisfaction that what they’re doing puts food on our plates. The shared goal is that one day, no one will go hungry in the United States or elsewhere in the world. We work every day to improve how we produce food, and are determined to turn this hope into a reality. A fed future Each new day and each innovation bring us one step closer to achieving our goal of feeding everyone. Over the years, as the number of farmers and arable land has decreased, technology has helped fewer farmers grow more crops on less land. In 1950, the average corn yield was 38 bushels per acre; it’s skyrocketed to as high as 176 bushels per acre today. The global population is expected to increase to 9.7 billion by 2050, and farmers and ranchers around the world will have to grow about 70 percent more food than we do now. New technology Just as you use GPS in your car for directions to the new Trader Joe’s or your daughter’s soccer tournament, GPS is an important tool for farmers, too. We use it to make sure our seeds are precisely planted and the fertilizer is spread only where needed. This type of precision planting goes a long way toward ensuring

we don’t waste fuel, seed, water, or fertilizer as we strive to produce more using less. Other types of technology allow us to check the soil in several spots in a field, so we can tell if one area needs more or less water, or other interventions. This also helps limit our use of pesticides to exactly where they’re needed and in just the right amounts. There are many more innovations to come to help farmers combat hunger one crop at a time. Once farmers and ranchers have full access to broadband, which the federal government and internet providers are working on, they’ll be able to download a wealth of data right from their tractor seats. Yes, our farms and ranches are businesses, making complex decisions every day about the best way to be productive and both use and protect the resources on our land. But the bottom line for all farmers — the reason we end each day so proud of what we do — is feeding people. We welcome the opportunity to continuously improve as we strive to feed America and the growing number of families beyond our borders. Farmers and ranchers are using technologies like biotechnology and broadband-enabled precision farming to farm sustainably and fight hunger. If we keep an open mind to the ways that modern technology helps us reach our goals, we can and will end hunger together. n Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation

PHOTO: PHILIP GERLACH, AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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Consumers know Purina as the manufacturer of high-quality pet foods. The company is also committed to supporting local communities, farmers, and the environment. Guided by the belief that pets and people are better together, Purina is dedicated to ensuring a sustainable environment for pets and people.

“We’re thinking of ways we can make true improvements to our environment, for the benefit of both animals and people,” says Jack Scott, vice president of sustainability and responsible sourcing at Purina. In an ongoing effort to support farming, agriculture, and conservation, Purina has taken on many sustainability projects. For example, the company supports The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a global organization dedicated to conserving land and water, by helping install wetlands and woodlands at key junctures to reduce

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PURINA

How a Pet Food Manufacturer Is Supporting Sustainability, Conservation, and Local Communities

nutrient and sediment flow along the Wabash River in Indiana and Illinois. That’s a critical tributary of the Mississippi River Basin and a region where the company sources key ingredients for its pet food recipes. Protecting natural resources The company also contributed $1 million over five years to TNC’s reThink Soil initiative, a national, collaborative effort to advance soil health practices on U.S. croplands, which could deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits for farmers

and communities. “Our aim is to ensure a sustainable agriculture system that benefits both people and nature. To do that, we need companies like Purina that have the scale and commitment to drive change from the ground up,” says Pipa Elias, director of agriculture for The Nature Conservancy in North America. “Efforts to improve soil health on U.S. farms and conserve our natural areas are critical to addressing climate change, ensuring clean drinking water, and providing food security for a growing world.” Purina’s commitment to responsible ingredient sourcing, sustainability, and conservation also includes ongoing work with Ducks Unlimited (DU), a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl. In total, the company has given over $5 million to support conservation programs in the United States with TNC and DU. DU’s Living Lakes Initiative and Rice Stewardship Partnership are other examples. The Living Lakes program protects and improves 1,600 acres of Iowa wetlands and grasslands; and the Rice Stewardship Partnership helps preserve wetlands, keeps rice lands healthy, and creates waterfowl habitats. Supporting farmers Purina also supports the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA), including sponsoring an event at the group’s annual con-

vention. The company also donates prizes for the annual Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest. This year’s winner, Woody, is an Australian shepherd farm dog from Texas. Additionally, every year Purina’s support helps fund AFBFA’s educational materials for schools about farming. “We believe that everyone should understand where their food comes from. To reach that goal, we offer a variety of standards-based programs for teachers and educators,” says Zippy Duvall, chairman of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. “Many of the educational resources we offer, including sustainable agriculture lesson plans and My American Farm online games, are available free of charge thanks to support from sponsors, including Purina.” The company works with conservation groups to determine the biggest opportunities to make a difference. Purina knows the work they do now can have immediate and longterm benefits. “A healthy environment is key to producing healthy ingredients,” says Scott. “Our goal is to use high-quality ingredients to make our pet food, and in the process, create a healthier planet for pets and people. We want to make products in a caring, responsible way that preserves the environment, not just for today but for future generations.” n Kristen Castillo MEDIAPLANET • 11

The Academy With a Famous Donor That’s Changing South African Girls’ Lives

In your experience, what have you found are the biggest obstacles for girls gaining access to education? From my experience, girls face a number of obstacles. While access has increased, a number of girls do not go to school because of cultural norms, where some cultures prioritize the education of boys over girls. Beyond that, if young girls do have access to school, some are not able to

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finish because of high numbers of teenage pregnancy, and HIV and AIDS. How does education help to break the poverty cycle? Education is an equalizer. It increases the potential to earn higher income and boosts economic growth, which in turn increases employment opportunities. It is central in increasing the next generation’s income and beyond. What kind of long-term impacts does investing in girls’ education have for a community? Research shows that when you educate a girl, there is a greater possibility of positively impacting her family and society. Investing in the education of girls brings high returns in terms of breaking the

cycle of poverty and aiding economic growth, because girls are more likely to return to their community. In addition, educating girls improves child and maternal health, which can be a burden to the health system and, therefore, contribute to poverty. In your years of experience in this space, have you seen significant change in education access for girls? Yes, there has been a significant change in access for girls. More and more girls are attending school. Introducing free and compulsory schooling has helped increase [education] access for girls. However, their access is sometimes affected by socio-economic conditions and increased poverty. This is because when resources in families decline, girls are the first ones to be pulled out of school. n

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PHOTO: HARPO INC.

Studies show that when girls do not have access to education, almost every aspect of a society is negatively impacted. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) — which honored its eighth graduating class earlier this year — aims to give girls in South Africa that critical access. We spoke with OWLAG executive director Gugu Ndebele about the academy and the importance of education.

IS READING A CHALLENGE FOR YOUR CHILD? Thorndike Press Large Print

Standard Print

Books are shown at 40% of actual size.

LARGE PRINT CAN HELP. 3 in 4 teachers observed that students reading below grade level experienced better comprehension and retention with large print books.1 Give your child the option to try large print. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.

1 Based on a report from a 2018–2019 nationwide study to determine the efficacy of large print books on student reading skills and mindsets conducted independently by Project Tomorrow® at the request of Thorndike Press, from Gale, a Cengage Company.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK gale.com/thorndikebooks

Large Print Books Spark Reading Confidence and Comprehension According to a recent study, large print books could be the key to growing kids’ reading skills and getting them hooked on reading. Strong reading skills are essential for success in school and life. Yet reading is often a challenging and frustrating experience for many of our nation’s children. It’s important that educators and parents find new ways to make reading more meaningful for children and support striving readers. With this goal in mind, Project Tomorrow® , a national education nonprofit organization, conducted a nationwide study on behalf of Thorndike Press from Gale, a Cengage company, investigating the impact of students reading large print-formatted books. Our findings indicate text size makes a big difference. Results show students in grades 3-12 who read large print books developed stronger reading skills, felt more comfortable reading, and adopted new mindsets about reading. This was especially true for striving readers in our study. Added confidence An extremely significant finding from the study was that most reluctant student readers said they enjoyed reading a large print book more than any other book during the school year. Fifty-five percent of student participants said they’d like to be able to read more large print books for school. Whether they are used at home or in school, large print books are a lowcost, easy-to-use literacy solution. Our research shows that when students have access to large print materials, their comprehension levels and mindsets improve. Dr. Julie A. Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow

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Lack of Literacy Is a Problem We Can No Longer Ignore Literacy is a fundamental human right. So why aren’t we doing more for the 750 million who live without it?

n summer 2019, the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. That giant leap of technology and bravery is an iconic moment in the history of the capabilities of humankind. But back home And yet, five decades on, there are still 750 million people globally who cannot read my opening statement. Two-thirds of them are female. More than 100 million children around the world do not complete elementary school and so do not learn to read and write. This is totally unacceptable. Literacy is a fundamental human right — one that we collectively are not doing nearly enough to ensure. Literacy matters The ability to read and write truly represents the difference between inclusion in and exclusion from society. It helps people to function and participate fully in their communities, and as global citizens. Teaching a child to read and write matters. These skills allow a chid to build knowledge of the world, fostering their creativity,

Educators are part of a complex ecological system of stakeholders that impacts a child’s education. imagination, and critical thinking. It grows their capacity to respond with empathy and compassion toward others. In the classroom Research-based quality instruction, delivered by knowledgeable professionals in classrooms, matters. Yet, the latest numbers from UNESCO indicate that as many as 1 out of every 5 children between the ages of 6 and 17 does not go to school. Who, then, ensures those 262 million youth can read and write? Educators are part of a complex ecological system of stakeholders that impacts a child’s education. They are joined by families and caregivers working in mutu-

ally respectful partnership toward the same goal. Back to policy Finally, and arguably most importantly, we have policymakers who, informed by research in the field of literacy education, must fight for well-funded and well-resourced classrooms. It is in these classrooms that highly qualified, highly prepared teachers can grow children who can read and write, who do read and write, and who love to read and write. That’s what’s at the heart of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Rights to Read initiative: ensuring equity, equality of opportunity, and social justice for all children regardless of geographical location, race, or social circumstance, and demanding that we all work together to break the destructive cycle of illiteracy. When 750 million citizens of the world are unable to read and write, we must all be held responsible. We all must do more, and we all must do better. Their futures depend on it. n Bernadette Dwyer, Immediate Past President, International Literacy Association MEDIAPLANET

CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN BE PREVENTED. Lifetime encourages families to build lifestyles around healthy choices. Together, families can create fun opportunities to eat healthier meals and be more active every day.

The home represents the primary environment for early education for children, and parents should treat it as such. America has a strong commitment to the ideal that every child has the right to an excellent education. Researchers have singled out early education as essential for achieving that goal. When children arrive at school without key early childhood experiences and skills, they struggle and often fall permanently behind. The solution to this problem is clear: We need every child arriving at school ready to learn. What is less clear is how to achieve this goal. Early childhood programs for young children are, quite literally, all over the map. Some primarily offer childcare for working parents, some target rich social- and play-based experiences, and others focus on academics. While these brick-and-mortar options are helpful for many, some parents believe the best environment for a young child is the home itself. Parents are the missing piece In order for every child to arrive at school ready to learn, we need to recognize the incredible resource that parents represent. Parents are right there in the home. They know their children and their needs better than anyone. So why not bring parents into the process? When we start with parents as the first teachers of their children, we acknowledge some important truths. Children naturally model off their parents. When parents engage with their children through verbal exchanges, actively listen to them, or read a book with them, the payoffs are profound for all involved. In short, while supplementary activities outside the home can be beneficial, it is essential to have parents engage with their children in the home. Dr. Benjamin Heuston, President and CEO, Waterford.org 16 • IMPACTINGOURFUTURE.COM

How to Unlock the Power of Play for Children in Crisis Refugee children are especially needful of playful learning opportunities, which can help them overcome the trauma of displacement.

PHOTO: SESAME WORKSHOP / RYAN DONNELL

Parents Play an Essential Role in Their Child’s Early Education

rowing children need to play. It’s one of the most important ways they learn. In the first five years of life, young brains develop at their most rapid pace — and research shows that infants and children are constantly learning, connecting, and engaging with their surroundings through positive playful experiences. Playful learning boosts children’s cognitive, physical, and social-emotional growth — it’s a developmental dynamo. And it doesn’t need to be costly or require manufactured games or toys. Through guided activities, like building with found objects and role-playing, children learn how to be good communicators, grow their imaginations, and develop empathy, laying the foundation for them to become lifelong learners. What they need most For refugee children, playful learning can be especially transformative. Play fosters a child’s natural curiosity to learn through engaging interactions with grownups, and research shows that same adult-child engagement — “nurturing care” — is what children who have experienced the trauma of war and displacement need most. Leading

experts in child development believe play holds the potential to help displaced children, and their parents and caregivers cope with instability. And yet from Syria to Bangladesh, displaced children often lack access to playful learning opportunities and quality early education. In fact, less than 3 percent of global humanitarian aid goes to education, and just a fraction of that goes to the youngest children. Luckily, there is growing recognition of the power of learning through play and its potential to help children in crisis. Last year, the LEGO Foundation — a longtime partner of Sesame Workshop — pledged $100 million to harness the power of learning through play for children affected by the Rohingya and Syrian refugee crises. We hope these audacious investments will inspire others to come forward to establish early education and play-based learning as an essential component of humanitarian response. By harnessing the power of play, we can forge a legacy for children worldwide affected by conflict. n Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop MEDIAPLANET

Food Waste Is a Major Driver of Climate Change — It’s Also an Easy Problem to Solve Food waste generates 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually, but we can break the cycle by tackling systemic inefficiencies and taking action at home. Fall is synonymous with harvest time at farms across the country, but what actually happens on the ground may shock you. A stunning 33 percent of U.S.-grown food is unharvested or left on the field, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of Santa Clara. Why? Growers who work with grocery stores know big chains won’t buy misfit foods. When food goes to waste, so do trillions of gallons of water, hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides, and nearly 2 billion pounds of fertilizers used to grow it. Worse yet, rotting food produces methane, a greenhouse gas that’s up to 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The good news is that anyone can help cut down on food waste. Here’s how: Become a smarter shopper Use shopping lists so you only buy what you need at the market. Avoid buying foods in bulk unless you know you can consume them by their expiration dates. Store food wisely Follow FIFO, the “first in, first out” storage method, where you place the oldest food toward the front of your fridge so it’s top of mind. Then, place the newer items toward the back. Plan, serve, and preserve creatively Using the whole of foods, from root to tip — think carrot top pesto, potato peel chips, and homemade veggie stock from scraps — makes a big dent in your household waste. Abhi Ramesh, Founder and CEO, Misfits Market

18 • IMPACTINGOURFUTURE.COM

How We Can Help Food Insecure People in the United States

Food insecurity is a harsh reality for many people and is particularly concerning for growing children and older adults. The United States has nearly 40,000 grocery stores and more than 1 million restaurants, but 15 million households lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Poverty, unemployment, and underemployment are key drivers of food insecurity. African Americans, Latinos, older adults, and people living in households led by single parents are more likely to be food insecure. As a result, people in these demographics often go hungry or choose less expensive, high-calorie foods that don’t deliver the nutrients they need. Children Federal child nutrition programs that offer free and reduced meals, and fresh produce at schools play a vital role in providing children with nutritious foods. Children who lack access to enough nutritious food are more likely to have difficulty paying attention in school, and suffer from behavioral issues and anxiety. Households with children experience higher rates of food insecurity than the national average: 15.7 percent vs. 11.8 percent, according to the USDA.

Adults Older adults face barriers to finding healthy food, including living in areas known as “food deserts,” as well as a lack of transportation, physical mobility, and cognitive function. Adults of all ages who lack access to enough nutritious foods are more likely to experience mental health issues and chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Federal food and nutrition assistance programs can help. Households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are less likely to be food insecure than those who do not receive SNAP benefits at the same income level. Some community organizations collaborate with food banks and grocery stores to offer vouchers for fresh produce. According to a 2019 position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, older adults benefit most from participating in community-based food and nutrition programs that enable them to remain healthy and independent. If you want to join the fight against hunger, consider volunteering at your local food bank. Food insecurity is a problem we can all work together to solve. n Lauri Wright, Ph.D., RDN, LD, National Spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics MEDIAPLANET

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“By donating this food, we’re part of something larger than ourselves.”

shift supervisor, San Antonio

With the help of partners like Kirsten, Starbucks is working every day to fight hunger in our communities. Through the Starbucks ® FoodShare program, in partnership with Feeding America, we collect 100 percent of food available to donate from Starbucks stores each night. So far, we’ve donated over 20 million meals to our neighbors in need.

Text HUNGER to 73356 to learn more about how Starbucks is giving back to the communities we serve. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to 73356 to opt out, text HELP for more information. By opting in, you agree to receive recurring messages from Starbucks, which may be sent through an automated dialing system. Consent is not required to purchase. Visit Starbucks.com to read our Privacy Statement. Additional info: Sbux.co/terms. © 2019 Starbucks Coffee Company. All rights reserved.