Nourishing Connections, May 21-23, 2024
Forum Objectives:
1. Nourish meaningful connections between SNAP-Ed providers, participants, and partners across the state.
2. Experience increased empathy for SNAP-Ed eligible community members and a greater understanding of their lived experience.
3. Enhance the impact of SNAP-Ed in Washington by exploring innovative approaches, resources, and encourage community driven solutions.
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
Special thank you to our 2024 Forum Planning Committee:
Jill Farrant, Acacia Corylus, Claudia Abramson, Karla Anderson, Noelle Beecroft, Amber Noskoff, Lori van Anrooy, Linda Mathews, Talea Price, Cambron Walker, Christine Ciancetta, Kimberlyn Jones, Vivian Huynh, Nora Downs, Chris Mornick ,Tara McGinty, Jen Moss, Eileen Grigsby, Mattie Sobotka, Anna Kitchin
Moving Forward: Coming Together to Plan with Purpose
April 11-13, 2023
Spokane, WA
Thank you so much for your attendance and participation!
Forum Agenda
This year’s forum consisted of keynote speakers, updates from DSHS, as well as breakout sessions. Breakouts were a mix of workshop-style sessions to help with three-year planning as well as speaker-centered sessions where folks shared stories and/or work they’ve done related to SNAP-Ed.
Click below to download the agenda as a PDF.
Recordings and Resources
Day 1: April 11, 2023
Day 2: April 12, 2023
Learning Presenters
Changing Family Trees Through Physical Activity (Sandy Zimmerman)
Traditional Food Access and Cultural Connection (Jennifer Martin)
How to Reach People with Low-Incomes on Social Media (Kym Schmauss)
Grassroots Mental Health Support (Marie Marchand)
- Recording
- Slideshow (PDF)
- Exercise 1 Reframing Language (PDF)
- Exercise 2 Self Care Action Plan (PDF)
Everybody’s Hungry – Everybody’s Poor (Stephanie Haag)
Planning Workshops
Food Banks/Pantries
- Danielle Carson (WSU Clallam County) –Slides (PDF)
- Dana Cordy (Washington Food Coalition) –Slides (PDF)
- Sandy Centeno & Elizabeth Kimball (Public Health – Seattle & King County) –Slides (PDF)
- Jeff Mathias & Patrick Merscher (WSDA Food Assistance)
Procurement/Food Access
- Kendra Dean (NEW ESD 101) –Slides(PDF)
- Rey Cooley (FIG Farm to ECE)
- Adele Eslinger (United General District 304) –Slides (PDF)
- Annette Slonim (WSDA) –Slides (PDF)
Retail/Farmers Markets
- Noelle Beecroft (WSU Whatcom County)
- Colleen Donovan (WSFMA) –Slides (PDF)
- Lauren Lubowicki (DOH FVIP) –Slides (PDF)
- Allie Moore (SNAP-Ed Statewide Retail Access) –Slides (PDF)
- Kristen Rezabek (San Juan County Health and Community Services) –Slides (PDF)
School Wellness
- Angela Shields (WSU Clark County) –Slides (PDF)
- Lori van Anrooy (WSU Spokane County) –WSB Slides (PDF) –Slides (PDF)
- Tara Witten (Alliance for a Healthier Generation) –Slides (PDF)
Gardens
- Candida Goza (WSU King County) –Slides 1 (PDF), Slides 2 (PDF), Slides 3 (PDF)
- Tricia Heimer (WSU Island County) -Slides (PDF)
- Tim Kohlhauff (WSU Master Gardeners) –Slides (PDF)
- Pat Munts (Garden Coach) –Slides (PDF)
Meaningful Engagement with Communities
- Marcy Boulet (Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department)
- Mary Dombrowski (Northwest Harvest)
- John Friedl (DOH HEAL)
- Laura Plaut (Common Threads)
- Seth Schromen-Wawrin (Public Health – Seattle & King County)
- Katie Smith (Yakima Neighborhood Health Services)
Day 3: April 13, 2023
Your 2023 Forum Planning Group
A group of WA SNAP-Ed colleagues worked hard to plan the 2023 WA SNAP-Ed Forum. Thank you to those who volunteered to help and for your tireless effort sharing ideas on Zoom calls, contacting potential speakers, and settling all the logistics to make this year run smoothly!
Committee:
- Claudia Abramson, Thurston County Food Bank
- Karla Anderson, WSU Whatcom County
- Noelle Beecroft, WSU Whatcom County
- Acacia Corylus, WSU Statewide Support
- Jill Farrant, WSU Snohomish County
- Eileen Grigsby, CTW
- Morgan Hartline, DOH IA
- Anna Kitchin, WSU King County
- Linda Mathews, WSU Pierce County
- Tara McGinty, DSHS
- Chris Mornick, DSHS
- Jen Moss, CTW
- Upasana Mukherjee, WSU Grant County
- Amber Noskoff, WSU Region 3 IA
- Talea Price, WSU Region 3 IA
- Courtney Schupp, CTW
- Tori Sorenson, CTW
- Lori Van Anrooy, WSU Spokane County
- Cambron Walker, Kittitas County Health Department
- Anna Weyrauch, WSU Clark County
- Shelby Winters, DOH Evaluation
Growing and Evolving within SNAP-Ed: Person-Centered, Multi-Level Approaches
September 13-14, 2022
Recap & Resources
The 2022 WA SNAP-Ed Forum was held virtually and offered opportunities for IAs and LIAs to learn from peers, explore new topic areas, and connect with colleagues across the state. This abbreviated forum prepared and inspired all attendees for the 2023 Forum, which will offer hands-on opportunities to prepare for the next three year plan.
Both days of the forum opened with a main group session centered around the forum’s theme. Participants could then select one of a few breakout sessions, happening concurrently, to have a deep dive into specific topics. Attendees selected breakout session based on their interest and what work they are doing in their local community. All sessions recordings are linked below
Please note that clicking one of these links will take you away from the WA SNAP-Ed website. If you wish to open a recording in a new window, right-click on the session title and select “Open in New Tab.”
Day One Agenda (September 13, 2022)
Welcome and Keynote Panel Discussion: Rural and Urban Community Organizing Strategies
Breakout Sessions:
Utilizing resources outside of SNAP-Ed to complement SNAP-Ed work
Social media literacy as a creator and consumer
Intro to participatory evaluation
Multi-age approaches to SNAP-Ed work
Day Two Recordings (September 14, 2022)
Main Keynote Speaker: Rise and Thrive: Creating Healing Spaces
Breakout Sessions:
Food sovereignty projects in Washington state
Food access work happening in WA farmers markets
Cross agency collaboration to support local food purchasing
Closing Session
Your 2022 Forum Planning Group
A group of WA SNAP-Ed colleagues worked hard to plan the 2022 WA SNAP-Ed Forum. Thank you to those who volunteered to help and for your tireless effort sharing ideas on Zoom calls, contacting potential speakers, and settling all the logistics to make this year run smoothly!
Planning Team Members:
- Claudia Abramson-Thurston County Food Bank
- Angela Amico-DSHS
- Karla Anderson-WSU Whatcom County
- Noelle Beecroft-WSU Whatcom County
- Eileen Grigsby-CTW
- Morgan Hartline-DOH IA
- Cindy Johnson-Mattawa Community Medical Clinic
- Noa Kay-DOH IA
- Jen Moss-CTW
- Upasana Mukherjee-WSU Grant County
- Leigh Newman-Bell-WSFMA
- Amber Noskoff-WSU Region 3 IA
- Terry Perry-CTW
- Courtney Schupp-CTW
- Anna Weyrauch-WSU Clark County
Transforming How We Set the Table:
Commitment to Equity, Community-Driven Collaboration, and Justice
August 17-19, 2021
Recap & Resources
The 2021 Forum was held virtually and offered opportunities for WA SNAP-Ed providers to learn about current and emerging programming, seek new ways of serving communities, and connect with SNAP-Ed providers across the state.
Each day consisted of main group sessions to advance our collective understanding of the conference theme and its role in our work for all attendees and breakout sessions that offered a deeper dive into specific topics. The breakout sessions were organized around our five statewide interventions. Attendees were able to select breakout session based on their interest and what work they are doing in their local community.
Recordings and resources from the forum are available, but have unfortunately been moved. CTW is working on re-adding them to the SNAP-Ed website. Feel free to contact us if there is a session you are specifically looking for. Please note: we were not able to record the session with Professor Edwin Lindo.
Graphic illustrations done during the forum are available and links to the sessions that were illustrated can be found below.
Forum Agenda
Day One, Tuesday August 17
8:30am Coffee Networking Chat
9:00am Welcome to the 2021 Washington SNAP-Ed Forum
9:15am-10:30am Main Session – Dr. Loretta Ross: Calling In vs. Calling Out
10:30am-11:00am Break
11:00am-Noon Breakout Sessions: Community Connections and Connectors
Activating a Whole-Child Approach: Healthier Generation’s New Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment Tool
Farm to ECE and Early Childhood Opportunities in SNAP-Ed
Noon-1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm-2:00pm Breakout Sessions:
What’s New at the Grocery Store? Incentives, Online Shopping and MoreVirtual Education beyond COVID 19 Economic Security and Food Access in Washington State During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2:00pm Adjourn for the Day
Day Two, Wednesday, August 18
8:30 am Coffee Networking Chat
9:00 am-10:00 am
Main Session
Valerie Segrest – Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Guidelines 10:00 am-10:30 am
Break 10:30 am-Noon
Breakout Sessions:
Anti-Bias Practice Toward Children who have Experienced Trauma-Session 1
Creative Ways to Promote Physical Activity
Noon-1:00 pm
Lunch Break
1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Main Session
Edwin Lindo 2:00 pm
Adjourn for the Day
Day Three, Thursday, August 19
8:30 am Coffee Networking Chat
9:00 am-10:00 am
Main Session
Babs Roberts, Director of Community Services Division, DSHS 10:00 am-10:30 am
Break 10:30 am-Noon
Breakout Sessions
Anti-Bias Practice Toward Children who have Experienced Trauma-Session 2
Active by Design and How SNAP-Ed Can Be a Part of It.
A Day in the Life at the CSO and CSCC (Community Service Office and Customer Service Contact Center)
Noon-1:00 pm
Lunch Break 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Main Session
Transforming How We Set the Table: Going Forward 2:00 pm
Adjourn and end of forum
Graphic Illustrations
Yen Azzaro, an activist artist, illustrator and graphic recorder created graphic illustrations of the three day forum. They were shared during the closing session and depict the discussion and presentations that took place. Below are links to her work.
Day One
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Community Connections and Connectors
Day Two
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Indigenous Food Sovereignty and the Dietary Guidelines
What’s on the Horizon for Direct Education?
Critical Conversations
Day Three
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Update on DSHS Programming
CSO 101: A Day in the Life
Three Day Forum Graphic Illustration
Your 2021 Forum Planning Group
Planning for the 2021 WA SNAP-Ed Forum started in January with SNAP-Ed colleagues working hard to plan a conference that is relevant for today’s WA SNAP-Ed program. Here are the people serving on two committees, one for main session speakers and one for breakout sessions
Main Session Speaker Committee:
- Candida Goza-WSU King County
- Ulysses Martin-Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
- Christine Ciancetta-DOH IA
- Jen Moss-Region 3 IA
- Courtney Schupp-CTW
- Maggie Grate-CTW
- Angela Amico-DSHS
Breakout Session Committee:
- Linda Mathews-WSU Pierce County
- Anne Cherise Jensen-Tulalip Tribes
- Julie Bongard-SRHD IA
- Mayra Licea-OIC
- Julie Evenson-WSU Kitsap County
- Rachel Muia-United General
- Nicole McNamara-Kitsap Public Health
- Terry Perry-CTW
- Mariah Brown-Pounds-Region 3
- Amber Noskoff-WSU Whatcom County
- Angela Amico-DSHS
- Maggie Grate-CTW














