WANDA Selected as an Inaugural Member of the Child Nutrition Education Network Leadership Fellows

Global Network Recognizes WANDA's Leadership in Advancing Food Sovereignty, Belonging, and Nutrition Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. — WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture) is proud to announce that Founder and CEO Tambra Raye Stevenson was selected as an inaugural member of the Child Nutrition Education Network Leadership Fellows, an international initiative led by the Foundation for Fresh Produce. The inaugural Leadership Fellows Retreat, held in Denver, Colorado, convened leaders from around the world to strengthen collaboration, reimagine the future of child nutrition education, and build a shared vision for healthier generations.

The invitation recognizes WANDA's growing leadership at the intersection of nutrition, food systems, culture, belonging, and public health. As one of a select group of global fellows, Stevenson joined nonprofit executives, philanthropic leaders, and international practitioners committed to transforming how children experience food, nutrition education, and healthy communities.

Reimagining Child Nutrition Education

Stevenson participated as a featured panelist during the opening Perspectives Panel: How the Field Has Evolved, and Collective Visioning for a Bright Future Ahead, alongside distinguished leaders including Rob Bisceglie, Chief Executive Officer of Action for Healthy Kids; Devon Klatell, Vice President of Food at the The Rockefeller Foundation; and Robyn Wild-Hills of Food & Trees for Africa. The discussion was facilitated by Samantha Nesrallah, Program Director of the Child Nutrition Education Network.

Tambra Stevenson of WANDA along with Rob Bisceglie, Chief Executive Officer of Action for Healthy Kids; Devon Klatell, Vice President of Food at the The Rockefeller Foundation; and Robyn Wild-Hills of Food & Trees for Africa speaks on the Perspective Panel. Photo: Miguel Hernandez

Stevenson addressed one of the retreat's central questions: How has the field's understanding of culture, identity, and community voice changed over time, and what still needs to evolve?

Drawing upon WANDA's work across nutrition education, food systems, health communication, and leadership development, Stevenson challenged participants to think beyond nutrition as information alone and embrace nutrition as a vehicle for belonging, identity, civic participation, and community transformation.

"Nutrition is never just about what's on our plates," Stevenson said during the retreat. "It is about who belongs, whose knowledge is valued, whose culture is reflected, and who has the opportunity to shape the food system itself. When children see their food traditions honored and their communities represented, they don't simply learn healthier habits, they develop a stronger sense of identity, confidence, and possibility. Food is one of our first teachers, and it should teach every child that they belong."

Throughout the session, Stevenson also highlighted WANDA's innovative work developing women and girls as food systems leaders through initiatives such as WANDA Academy, WANDA Scholars, Sisterhood Suppers, and the organization's Food Bill of Rights. Participants also viewed a video highlighting WANDA's community-centered approach to transforming food systems through culture, education, storytelling, and leadership.

Fellows representing WANDA, Dr. Yum, Wellness in the Schools, Charlie Cart Project with Keynote Speaker, Debra Eschmeyer, Co-Founder of Food Corps and Founder of Original Strategies. Photo: Miguel Hernandez

A Global Community of Practice

The retreat was intentionally designed to move beyond presentations toward relationship building and collective visioning. Participants explored how child nutrition education has evolved over the past decade, identified emerging trends that will shape the field through 2030, and considered bold opportunities for collaboration across philanthropy, research, schools, nonprofit organizations, government, and community leaders.

Discussions focused on questions such as:

• What bold investments could transform child nutrition education over the next decade?

• How can organizations better align messaging, programming, research, and funding?

• What challenges cannot be solved by any single organization?

• What will distinguish organizations that thrive from those that struggle in the years ahead?

The retreat reflected a growing recognition that today's most pressing nutrition challenges require cross-sector collaboration, systems thinking, and community leadership.

Belonging as a Missing Ingredient

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvwKgRyewQk

For Stevenson, the experience reinforced a central insight that has shaped both her scholarship and WANDA's mission.

"Nutrition education has evolved tremendously over the last decade," Stevenson reflected. "We've become better at talking about healthy foods, physical activity, and school meals. But the next frontier is belonging. Children learn best when they feel seen, respected, and connected to their culture and community. If we want healthier generations, we must build food systems where every child knows they belong."

That perspective resonated deeply with retreat organizers.

The Child Nutrition Education Network Leadership Fellows Retreat was designed to invest in leaders who are investing in children's access to food and nutrition education. By creating space for learning, sharing, and meaningful connections, the Network hopes to strengthen the collective voice of organizations working in this sector and amplify the impact of child nutrition education worldwide.

Samantha Nesrallah, Program Director of the Child Nutrition Education Network, praised Stevenson's contributions to the inaugural gathering.

"Tambra was a powerful and inspiring voice at the Retreat, reminding us that nutrition is far more than what's on our plate; it's about community, culture, and belonging. Tambra and the team at WANDA are pioneering food systems transformation through an often overlooked, but crucial lens. By educating, inspiring, and empowering women and girls around the world to lead healthier lives, they are building the next generation of sheroes.

We are thrilled to have WANDA as a member of the Child Nutrition Education Network and look forward to supporting this shared mission."

Closing Dinner at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo: Miguel Hernandez

Looking Ahead

As an inaugural Leadership Fellow, WANDA joins an international network committed to accelerating innovation, strengthening collaboration, and advancing evidence-informed approaches to child nutrition education.

The experience also reinforces WANDA's broader vision that improving children's health requires more than changing what is served on a plate. It requires investing in the people, cultures, relationships, and communities that shape lifelong food experiences.

As WANDA looks toward the future, partnerships like the Child Nutrition Education Network create new opportunities to expand global collaboration, amplify community voices, and help shape the next generation of nutrition education leaders.

"Our vision has always extended beyond nutrition education alone," Stevenson said. "We're cultivating leaders who understand that food connects health, culture, agriculture, education, democracy, and belonging. Children don't just inherit recipes; they inherit stories, identities, and possibilities. When we nourish all of those together, we create healthier families, stronger communities, and a more hopeful future."

Through this inaugural fellowship, WANDA continues its commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity not only to eat well, but also to belong, thrive, and become a leader in building healthier food systems for generations to come.