Researchers from Penn State, data experts and other representatives from Pennsylvania-based community organizations gathered at the Food Security and Access for Healthy Futures Symposium to identify and explore state and regional food distribution needs, and to create a vibrant network of practitioners interested in collaborating on projects to address challenges with food insecurity, access and more. The symposium was held on April 24 and was hosted by Penn State in collaboration with the Helping Harvest Food Bank. Above, Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems at Penn State Berks, helps a table of attendees working in a co-creation session.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Over 80 researchers, data experts and representatives from community organizations gathered to identify and explore Pennsylvania state and regional food distribution needs and challenges, create a network of researchers and collaborate on next steps at the Food Security and Access for Healthy Futures Symposium on April 24. The event was hosted by Penn State in collaboration with the Helping Harvest Food Bank.
Organized by Abdullah Konak, distinguished professor of information systems and technology, and Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems, both of Penn State Berks, the event built upon previous research with the goal of developing data-driven pathways and tools for strengthening local food access within charitable food distribution systems like food banks.
“The symposium centered on a simple, but powerful belief: Meaningful solutions emerge when we bring diverse voices together and create a space for dialogue,” Kulturel-Konak said. “One theme that came through and through again was that the symposium created a space where practitioners, community leaders and academics didn’t just come together to share ideas, but truly engaged with one another, leading to conversations that were more candid, more grounded in reality and, ultimately, far more actionable.”
Researchers and community partners shared their findings on common challenges faced by state residents, specific needs in different regions, food insecurity and ensuring food accessibility in distribution via two rounds of lightning talks and a community panel discussion.
This is the kind of ecosystem we need to build — one where collaboration is not performative, but deeply rooted in trust, mutual learning and shared response.—Sadan Kulturel-Konak , professor of management information systems, Penn State Berks
During two co-creation sessions, participants were split into groups to collaborate on potential action items. Each group was tasked with defining a problem, community needs and priorities, building possible solutions, collaboration pathways, and proposal concepts for future projects.
“The Food Security and Access for Healthy Futures Symposium created an energizing space for charitable food system leaders to explore innovative solutions for addressing hunger and food insecurity in our communities. I’m excited to see where these connections lead,” said Julie Bancroft, chief executive officer of FeedPensylvania.
The overall goal was to develop data-driven projects that improve food distribution and make food more accessible to residents across the state.
"This is the kind of ecosystem we need to build — one where collaboration is not performative, but deeply rooted in trust, mutual learning and shared response,” Kulturel-Konak said.
Symposium participants included representatives from Clark Atlanta University, North Carolina A&T State University, University of Michigan, University of Alabama, Northern Illinois University, Feeding Pennsylvania, State College Food Bank, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, VentureWell, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest PA, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Share Food Program / Philly Food Rescue, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue and more.
"The symposium provided a fantastic forum for community engagement,” said Lauren Davis, professor of industrial and systems engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, who presented one of the keynote addresses. “We learned how to develop more effective academic community collaborations and jointly identified key challenges and possible solutions to improve food access for vulnerable populations."
The symposium is part of and funded by the “Food Bank Operations Optimization: Data-driven Societal Impact Approach” (FOODSIA) project within the Inter-Institutional Partnerships for Diversifying Research program within the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences. The event was also supported by the Penn State Office of Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, the Center for Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry, Invent Penn State and VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship.
Guido Cervone, Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) director, stands at the front of the room providing welcoming remarks at the Food Security and Access for Healthy Futures Symposium.
Researchers at the Food Security and Access for Healthy Futures Symposium work together during a co-creation session where they listed regional needs and challenges, possible next steps and efforts for collaboration.
