WEST COOK YMCA IN WASHINGTON DC
Published 10.01.22
This past week, our President/CEO, Phillip Jimenez was in Washington DC where he met with the Y’s National Government Affairs team, attended the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health, and was able to visit the historic YMCA of Metropolitan Washington’s, YMCA Anthony Bowen.
After more than 50 years since the first and only White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health that was held in 1969, West Cook YMCA was invited to participate in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, & Health on Wednesday, September 28th. The first conference was pivotal in helping galvanize actions that included the creation of life changing programs like school lunches, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and changes to how we label foods.
The conference began with welcome remarks and an overview of the National Strategy by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. announced a goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 – all while reducing disparities. Other speakers included Ambassador Susan E. Rice in conversation with Chairman Jim McGovern, Senator Cory Booker, and Senator Mike Braun, the bipartisan sponsors of the Conference.
Mrs. Cici Rojas, YMCA of the USA’s Board of Directors Chair spoke on Fit for Life: Creating communities designed for activity. Tom Farrey facilitated a panel discussion with Al Bangoura, Jaci McCormack, and CiCi Rojas, YMCA of the USA’s Board of Directors Chair. Mrs. Rojas spoke on Fit for Life: Creating communities designed for activity. The panel discussed promoting physical activity and building communities with safer roads and greater access to parks. During the conference, Phillip met Chef Jose Andres from World Central Kitchen, who addressed the entire conference after the panel discussion with the Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra in conversation with Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, and Mayor Eric Adams.
The goal of this year’s conference is to “end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The West Cook YMCA is committed to supporting Y-USA’s efforts to be a key partner in advancing this important initiative to help strengthen communities. The West Cook YMCA has been supporting our members, community, and healthcare partners in reducing the social determinants of health through chronic disease prevention program. It was an honor to represent West Cook YMCA and see the Y being called on and recognized for improving the health and well-being of our communities.
On Thursday, September 29th, Phillip Jimenez, and his wife, met with Ms. Marianne Drowne, Executive Assistant to the President/CEO, Angie Reese-Hawkins of the Anthony Bowen YMCA. This Y was founded in 1853 and was the first YMCA open to African Americans in the world. Inspired by his friend William Chauncey Langdon, founder of the YMCA of the City of Washington, Anthony Bowen was committed to the advancement of African Americans in social, educational, and religious respects. For nearly the first forty years of its existence, the “Colored” YMCA existed independent of the white YMCA of the City of Washington, and their activities were restricted to meetings in rented space, donated rooms, and members’ living rooms. With determination and dedication, YMCA Anthony Bowen was reorganized as a branch of the YMCA of the City of Washington in 1905.