With the federal Household Food Security Report now discontinued, local and classroom-level perspectives have never been more vital. In this NationSwell Braintrust, we’ll explore how educators’ data and firsthand experiences can illuminate emerging hunger trends, inform community responses, and fill critical gaps in our national understanding. Hosted in partnership with DonorsChoose, this session will spotlight emerging research from their Research & Insights division, which uses classroom data to surface real-time needs from teachers and students nationwide. We’ll examine how food insecurity intersects with education, from states with limited school meal funding to the steady, year-round pattern of hunger requests from teachers, and identify opportunities for greater collective action.

To encourage open and candid discussion, this event follows the Chatham House Rule – attendees may share insights from the conversation but cannot attribute statements to specific individuals or organizations. This ensures a trusted space for thoughtful dialogue and deeper insights.