Building Connections, Sharing Stories: My Takeaways from the SDHNC Annual Meeting

Guest blog by Nicole Starrett, MPH Student at the University of South Dakota

On August 5, 2025, I had the pleasure of attending the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative’s first annual meeting. As someone deeply passionate about addressing food insecurity, I found it inspiring to join others who share that commitment, including the dedicated team at SDHNC.

The meeting featured keynote speakers from across the country, Tamara Baker (Carolina Hunger Initiative), Chris Schwartz (Iowa Food System Coalition), Dr. Joe Segeleon (Sanford), Lindsey Weber (Avera), Anne Palmer (Johns Hopkins), among others. Each speaker shared how their organization tackles food insecurity through unique programs, challenges, and projects in their communities. As a master’s student in Public Health at the University of South Dakota, this was my first real look behind the scenes of public health work, seeing what goes on in collaborative spaces that the public rarely observes. It was powerful to watch people exchange ideas, support one another, and rally around SDHNC as it continues to grow.

During my practicum at SDHNC, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy the role of community education. In undergrad, and to some extent in my graduate program, I learned about community education in theory, but practicing it feels entirely different. There's something deeply rewarding about reaching out to our audience, helping them understand what programs are available, sharing what we do as an organization, and engaging them in real ways.

One highlight of the meeting was how many organizations use social media to raise awareness about food insecurity. I wore my “social media hat,” took notes, gathered ideas, and imagined how SDHNC might adapt these strategies.

A moment that truly stood out was when Chris Schwartz described how his organization incorporates lived experience into community education, interviewing people who’ve faced food insecurity and sharing their stories. Hearing those voices helps remind everyone affected that they are not alone. It’s something I’m eager to bring into SDHNC, perhaps by interviewing someone in our network willing to share their story to encourage and connect with others.

I know others who attended will have different takeaways and I’m very interested in hearing their perspectives. What struck them most? What ideas left a mark? I’m looking forward to learning more from their experiences.