Accomplishments

Pilot Light Policy Advisor Taylor Meredith joined representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Feeding America and the United Way of New York City on a panel moderated by Corby Kummer, Executive Director, Food & Society, Aspen Institute, for a discussion on how private/public and non profit partnerships can strengthen food security efforts and the important role innovative strategies, like Food Education for all, play in the next era of food security in the United States.

Executive Director Dr. Alexandra “Alex” DeSorbo-Quinn joined leaders from DNO Produce, Brighter Bites, and D’Arrigo New York at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show for a national conversation on how early food education can shape children’s eating habits and increase fruit and vegetable consumption.

Alex DeSorbo-Quinn and Pilot Light educator Anna Cynar delivered a keynote exploring how schools can integrate food education into the school day without creating an additional burden for educators. The session highlighted strategies for connecting classroom learning, school meals, wellness initiatives, and community partnerships to create a more comprehensive approach to food education.

Pilot Light co-founder Matthias Merges joined a panel of Chicago food system leaders at the premiere of The Henry Ford’s documentary exploring how farmers, schools, chefs, and communities can work together to build a stronger food system and a healthier future for children. The conversation featured the Cultivate Collective, the Evolved Network, and other food system leaders. The event was presented by The Henry Ford and Ford Philanthropy and highlighted the power of cross-sector collaboration to improve food, education, and health for children and communities.

Pilot Light joined leaders from the Urban School Food Alliance, Cultivate Collective, and The Henry Ford to explore the power of school meals to improve health, strengthen academic outcomes, and transform communities, and the opportunities created when classroom food education and school food systems work together.

Pilot Light brought food education to the national science education community at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference, demonstrating how food can serve as an engaging, real-world lens for scientific inquiry. Pilot Light team member and former Food Education Fellow Megan Gottlieb led a featured session exploring how Pilot Light’s newly revised Food Education Standards can help educators use everyday food phenomena to make NGSS-aligned science concepts tangible, relevant, and engaging.

Pilot Light educators Lisa Ernst and Toni Schoblom also represented the organization as exhibitors, connecting directly with science teachers from across the country and sharing classroom-ready resources for integrating food education into science instruction.

Alex DeSorbo-Quinn joined education leaders from ISTE+ASCD, Fairfax County Public Schools, High Tech High, and Healthy Planet Schools for a national conversation about reimagining the student experience and creating more engaging learning environments.

Alex DeSorbo-Quinn joined national food and nutrition experts for a conversation exploring the future of children’s nutrition policy and nutrition education, sharing Pilot Light’s perspective on making food education impactful and effective in real-world classrooms.