WHO:
Linda Moore, Founder and Executive Director, Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School
Sandra Schlicker, Ph.D., Director, Wellness and Nutrition Services, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Government of the District of Columbia
Tom Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association
Jim Lemke, Chairman, United Fresh Produce Association and Senior Vice President, C.H. Robinson
Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, Vice President, Nutrition, United Fresh Produce Association
WHAT:
Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill – School Salad Bar to be donated to Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School
Linda Moore, Founder and Executive Director, of Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School, and Representatives from the Government of the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, will join the United Fresh Produce Association in recognizing the importance of improving child nutrition in the nation’s capital and across the country. The focal point of the Fresh Festival event will be a salad bar, demonstrating to lawmakers the efficacy of school salad bars in increasing student’s consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Following the event, the salad bar will be donated to Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School.
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 9, 6:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE:
Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
1st St SE & Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20514
(202) 303-3400
VISUALS:
District of Columbia and Elsie Whitlow Stokes school officials with salad bar ? Congressional staff and guests enjoying the salad bar
BACKGROUND:
In the coming months, Congress will reauthorize all child nutrition programs. The Child Nutrition Act presents a tremendous opportunity to improve the nutritional value of school meals, including more fresh fruits and vegetables, which will impact the health of millions of children across the country. United Fresh supports legislation that promotes salad bars in every school in America.
Salad bars are an effective strategy to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables among schoolchildren. United Fresh, along with the Government of the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, recognizes the importance of creating and nurturing healthier eating habits for students in Washington and across the country. Increased funding for fresh fruits and vegetables in school nutrition programs is addressing childhood obesity and improving dietary habits among students.
ABOUT ELSIE WHITLOW STOKES PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL:
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School serves 320 students in grades Pre-K-6. It was chartered by the District of Columbia Board of Education in 1998. Stokes School prepares its students to become leaders, scholars and responsible citizens who are committed social justice. Through its language immersion program, students learn to think, speak, read, write and learn in two languages: English and French or English or Spanish. With a dual focus on academic excellence and community service, the Stokes School accomplishes its mission by creating an environment of achievement, respect and non-violence.The school receives funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and received federal stimulus funding to purchase new refrigerators to store perishable fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, the school has a wellness coordinator, two school gardens and will begin self-preparation of school meals in 2010.
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