Tomorrow, we will hold two sessions (9:30-12noon and 3:30-6pm) of the inaugural CauseLab. Here’s what you need to know:

CauseLab, an action tank to develop powerful, effective and impactful ideas to end hunger in America, is just one component of a year long initiative to spark innovation and broader engagement in the movement to end hunger in America.

Our goal is to make hunger a top priority in our country and reverse its current trajectory.  That means we need local, national focus to make both short-term gains and long term goals.  And, most importantly, we need to shift the focus beyond awareness in order to drive meaningful, measurable change.

We have invited you – experts, innovators, disruptors — to help us by creating solutions for three areas that can help further our goal of ending hunger in America.  Specifically, we want solutions that help Feeding America, Share Our Strength and Capital Area Food Bank of Texas:

• Create hunger-free communities
• Humanizing hunger using data
• Accelerate local action and advocacy

To help you lead your session, we have briefly outlined the challenge, what is currently being done and provided suggested questions to frame the brainstorm.  The goal of the session, unlike traditional brainstorming, is to focus on generating a handful of good, innovative ideas that can be implemented this year.

Key Points to Remember:

• Hunger is solvable:  There is enough food produced in this country to feed all Americans.  Identifying who is in need and getting the food to them are two significant barriers.
• What we don’t need: We’re not looking for another awareness campaign, catchy slogan or Facebook widget.  The majority of Americans are aware that there are hungry in America but they don’t take any action.  Those that are food insecure also need actions to make them food secure permanently.
• What we’re looking for: We need ideas to take someone from being aware of the problem to taking action.  We need ideas that can help break the cycle of food insecurity.  We need ideas that can be implemented.
• What is currently been done:  Food assistance, nutrition education programs and the treatment of malnutrition, the promotion of economic independence for individuals and communities, and advocacy are just a few of the examples of how government, the non-profit community, individuals and communities are working together to alleviate and prevent hunger and poverty.  But they aren’t enough.  Hunger is still on the rise.