Household & Community Programs Legislative Update
Wednesday, December 20
3:00-4:00 PM ET / 12:00-1:00 PM PT
ACDA Members: Free | Non-Members: $25
Feeding America Members: Free with Code
(Reach out to info@commodityfoods.org for registration code)
Join us on December 20th at 3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT for an exciting panel discussion about important topics that will impact your work and the communities you serve in 2024 and beyond. During our discussion, we will address the Farm Bill, funding and regulatory updates, and we will identify ways you can get involved. Our panel will be moderated by Katherine Byers, PhD, and includes Julia Lemp with Feeding America, Sarah Kuhns with the Ohio Association of Food Banks, and Roger Szemraj with OFW Law.
Moderator:
Katherine Byers, PhD, Houston Food Bank
Dr. Byers has 20 years of experience in direct service, policy analysis, advocacy, and research. She has a Master’s in Social Work and graduated from the University of Houston with a doctorate in political science. Dr. Byers has worked with federal, state, and local policy makers and been an integral part of the passage of several pieces of important legislation. She has conducted analysis for state and local level research projects and has taught as an adjunct at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work since 2013. She is currently the Government Relations Officer at the Houston Food Bank.
Speakers:
Sarah Kuhns, Ohio Association of Food Banks
Sarah Kuhns is the Advocacy & Engagement Manager at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Sarah joined the association in 2021 after graduating with honors from University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy. In her role, she works closely with Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks to advocate on anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs on the state and federal level, combining her passion for advocating for a hunger-free Ohio and her skills of writing, researching and public speaking. Her policy portfolio includes state and federal commodity programs and other programs supporting basic needs security. Prior to her current position, she worked as an intern at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) and at Ohio Votes/Ohio Voter Rights Coalition as their Southwest Ohio organizer. She currently resides in Columbus, Ohio.
Julia Lemp, Feeding America
Julia joined Feeding America as a Policy Manager on the Government Relations Team in July of 2023, working to end hunger through federal public policy change. Prior to joining Feeding America, Julia served as the inaugural Policy Specialist at the Capital Area Food Bank, supporting the strategic direction of the Advocacy and Public Policy Department throughout the DC metro area. Julia also had prior experience leading the Advocacy Team in her role as a Marketing Communications Specialist at Northern Illinois Food Bank, serving 13 counties in the suburban and rural areas outside of Chicago. Julia’s previous work experience has been focused on government relations and communications in both the nonprofit and public sectors, including internships at the United States Department of the Interior, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the U.S. House of Representatives, and Americans for the Arts. Julia received her B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University in 2020, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University.
Roger Szemraj, OFW Law
Roger has more than 30 years of experience on Capitol Hill, concentrating on agriculture including: agricultural appropriations; Farm Bills; food assistance programs; international food aid and development programs; food safety issues; trade issues; bio-fuel opportunities; and research programs. Roger was Born in Buffalo, NY, received his B.S.F.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1975 and his J.D. from Georgetown University law Center in 1982. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
