The summit will convene leaders from across government, higher education, faith institutions, nonprofit organizations and philanthropy to examine the systemic drivers of food insecurity and advance collaborative, solutions-oriented strategies to strengthen food access across New Jersey.

Food insecurity is a pressing issue impacting communities and students throughout the state. The summit is designed to elevate the issue as both a public policy priority and a community imperative, while creating space for cross-sector collaboration that leads to tangible, actionable solutions.

The full-day program will include panel discussions and audience engagement, concluding with an interactive session, “From Conversation to Action,” designed to capture key recommendations and identify next steps for sustained collaboration.

The event is open to the public, but registration is required.

“Food insecurity is a challenge that affects the health and wellbeing of communities across New Jersey, including students of all ages,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “As an anchor institution deeply connected to the communities we serve, Kean is proud to host the summit and work with partners to advance solutions that strengthen access to food and support student success across the state."

The summit will also feature three panel discussions:

• Faith and Local Leadership: Community-Based Solutions to Hunger at 10:30 a.m.

  Explore how faith institutions and local governments collaborate to support vulnerable families

• National and State Policy Solutions: Policy, Systems and the Future of Food Access at 11:30 a.m.

  Examine systemic drivers of food insecurity and identify policy and funding solutions

• Higher Education and Campus Food Insecurity: Students at the Center — Campus-Based Solutions at 1:30 p.m.

• Address the challenge of food insecurity among college students and highlight innovative campus responses

Prominent voices in policy, advocacy and community leadership will come together to deepen the conversation around food security in New Jersey and beyond.

“New Jersey has made meaningful progress in addressing food insecurity through smart, data driven policy and sustained investment, but we know that work is far from over. Together, we’ve established the first Office of the Food Security Advocate in the nation, expanded SNAP benefits while ensuring colleges have the resources to help students enroll, and supported the creation of food pantries and anti-hunger programs on college campuses to meet people where they are,” said New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Conferences like this one at Kean University are essential to advancing the policy conversations that shape our food systems and ensure access for every resident. By aligning state and national solutions with on the ground expertise, we can, and are, building a stronger, more equitable future for our residents and I commend Kean University for bringing leaders together across sectors to focus on real, workable solutions that strengthen food access in New Jersey and beyond.”

“I commend Kean University for holding this summit. True food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for both dietary and cultural preferences for both an active and healthy lifestyle. This definition signifies that this work requires a focus on understanding systemic drivers of food insecurity and identifying policy and funding solutions at state and national levels,” said Mark Dinglasan, executive director, New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). “New Jersey has continued to lead the way food security research and innovation that informs the national and state conversation, and we are doing this because we know it is a public policy and moral imperative. OFSA is pleased to be a part of this important conversation.”

Addressing food insecurity requires coordinated action across institutions, with higher education playing a critical role in supporting both community and student populations.

“This summit reflects the power of partnership and the importance of bringing diverse stakeholders to the table,” said Kellie I. LeDet, chief government affairs officer at Kean University. “By convening leaders across sectors, we are creating space for meaningful dialogue, shared learning and coordinated action to address food insecurity in a way that is both strategic and impactful.”