2021 Special Event: The Economic and Health Impacts of Food Insecurity: The Business Community as Changemaker

October 1, 2021 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm GBCC Virtual Event Platform

Event Details

Food insecurity is a pressing public health issue that affects all of us, including the business community. Join us for this conversation with top business leaders who will discuss the importance of a healthy workforce and how we can address together!

Tickets

Free for Members and Non Members
(Advance registration is required.)
Online registration will close 90 minutes before the start of the program. If you would like to register after we have closed online registration, please reach out to [email protected].

Background:

The regional, national, and global economic and public health consequences of food insecurity have been dramatically worsened by COVID-19.
These consequences affect working people and families from across the social and economic spectrum.
Local estimates reveal that at least 1 in 10 adults, and 1 in 9 children, do not know where their next meal will come from.
Unemployment rates remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Panelists will discuss:

Their perspectives on some of the health and economic consequences of food insecurity,
How the business community can play a critical role in supporting staff and developing long-term, sustainable solutions, and
How cross-sector models like the Hunger to Health Collaboratory can help build healthier, more resilient, and more equitable communities.

This program is a Special Event presented by the Chamber in partnership with the Hunger to Health Collaboratory and Stop & Shop.

Danielle Dorey

Director, Program Operations

[email protected]
617-557-7323

FEATURING

Gordon Reid

President, Stop & Shop Panelist

Gordon Reid serves as President of Stop & Shop, a great local brand of Ahold Delhaize USA. Founded in 1914, Stop & Shop now has more than 400 stores across…Read more

Prabal Chakrabarti

Executive Vice President & Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Panelist

Prabal Chakrabarti is an Executive Vice-President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in the Regional and Community Outreach department, with a mission to improve…Read more

Megan Greenfield, Ph.D.

Partner, McKinsey Boston Panelist

Megan is a leader in McKinsey’s Marketing & Sales, Healthcare, and Private Equity Practices. A biotech researcher by training, she brings an exceptional understanding…Read more

Zamawa Arenas

Founder & CEO, Flowetik Moderator

Five-time Emmy award winner Zamawa is a marketing strategist and entrepreneur intent on making a difference. She is the Founder and CEO of Flowetik, a marketing…Read more

Congressman Jim McGovern

(D-MA) Special Guest

Jim was born and raised in the Burncoat neighborhood of Worcester. The values he learned from his friends and family are the same ones he fights for every day in…Read more

Jim was born and raised in the Burncoat neighborhood of Worcester. The values he learned from his friends and family are the same ones he fights for every day in Congress: fairness, decency, respect for all people, and the idea that each of us has an obligation to give back to our community. Jim’s parents, Walter and Mindy, own a small package store in Worcester, and his sisters are both public school teachers. He is married to Lisa Murray McGovern and they have two children, Patrick and Molly. First elected to Congress in 1996, Jim has fought tirelessly for the people of Massachusetts and has earned the respect and trust of his colleagues – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who named him Chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee during the 116th Congress. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition and Oversight. He also serves as the Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and is the Democratic Co-Chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission – both of which monitor, investigate and advocate on behalf of international human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. Jim’s commitment to public service began at a young age. In 7th grade, Jim volunteered on the 1972 presidential campaign of Senator George McGovern – no relation. When Jim decided to attend college at the American University in Washington, D.C. he applied for an internship in the office of Senator McGovern. He worked his way through college as an intern, earning a BA in history in 1981 before going to work in the office of Congressman Joe Moakley, a Democrat from South Boston. While working for Moakley, Jim went back to American University to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1984. It was also in Moakley’s office that Jim was asked to help lead the investigation of the murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador following public outrage in Congress. He exposed that the murders were committed by the U.S. – backed Salvadoran military, leading to a major shift in U.S. foreign policy that made future military aid contingent on improved human rights and a negotiated peace in El Salvador.Jim saw firsthand what strong, principled leadership looked like while working for Congressman Moakley. But with Newt Gingrich as Speaker, he also saw that too often, Washington worked for the rich and powerful instead of the American people. Jim successfully ran for Congress in 1996 and has won reelection in each subsequent term. After his first election, when Jim was on the House Floor to take the oath of office, he took his two mentors – Moakley and Senator McGovern – with him. He asked them both: “what should I know before I take this oath?” Senator McGovern said: “get over the fear of losing an election, or else you’ll constantly be obsessed with polls instead of doing what’s right. Always do what’s right.Congressman Moakley said: “get to know everyone here as a person. Get to know what they stand for and who they are and treat them with respect.”Jim has never forgotten their advice. From principled stands on tough issues to working with Members of Congress from across the country and on both sides of the aisle, Jim has fought to ensure that every single person in this country and around the world is treated with dignity and respect.

AGENDA

2:00-2:10 p.m. Welcome & Introductions

2:10-2:50 p.m. Moderated Discussion

2:50-3:00 p.m. Audience Q&A

Presented in Partnership with

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events.

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, or if you have any questions about the venue, event format, or virtual platform, please contact us at [email protected].

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Series

2026 Government Affairs Forum | Governor Maura Healey

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMING:

Member Engagement

Maximize Your Membership

Register Now

Membership Directory

Discover fellow Chamber members.

Upcoming Events

Stay Involved

Talent & Workforce

City Awake

Boston’s Future Leaders

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Women’s Leadership Program

Partnership with Boston Public Schools

Strategic Communication for Better Collaboration

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

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