Gen Z Food and Hunger Summit with Jessica Reth

Jessica posing with the US Capital in the background

On July 14th and 15th, I was given the opportunity by the Kansas Food Action Network to travel to Washington, D.C., and represent the great state of Kansas at the 2026 Gen Z Food and Hunger Summit, hosted by the Congressional Hunger Center and the Food Systems Collaborative.

Day 1: Learning, Networking, and Prepping for Meetings

Arriving on the first day of the Summit, I could immediately feel the excitement in the room. Young people ages 18 to 29 from across the country had all gathered in one place with the same goal: to advocate for our national food system.

As I spoke with those at my table, I was amazed as I heard their stories and learned about what they were already doing in their own communities. It was exciting to see so many young people already making an impact in the food system.

Throughout the day, we heard from young advocates working at both the national and international level, networked with a variety of food system organizations, and got down to the nitty-gritty of researching with our groups and preparing for the congressional meetings we would have the following day.

What We Advocated For

My group focused our advocacy on H.R. 777, the Closing the College Hunger Gap Act, which would help make college students with high financial need aware that they may be eligible for SNAP benefits. This one felt especially meaningful to me because, as a college student, I experienced food insecurity myself. Knowing how difficult it can be to balance school while also worrying about something as basic as having enough food made this an issue I was excited to speak up about.

Our goal at the Summit was to encourage more legislators to sign on as cosponsors of the bill. Following the Summit, four additional legislators did just that. While they were not legislators my group met with personally, it was still exciting to see more support for something we had all spent time advocating for.

Day 2: Speaking With Legislators

As our group headed into Day Two of the Summit, we felt all sorts of emotions: excitement, anticipation, and a little bit of anxiety too. Today would be the day we met with several national legislators. For some in the group, it would be the first time speaking with a lawmaker of any kind, let alone one at the national level.

Yet, as we sat down for our first meeting, a lot of that nervousness started to fade. It quickly became clear that the main concern of the office was understanding our stories, why we were there, and how they could best serve us. It was reassuring to feel like we were actually being listened to, and it was a breath of fresh air to have a conversation that felt so personal.

Each meeting flowed the same way, and by the end of Day Two, we all reflected on how much we had learned from the experience. More than anything, each conversation showed us that speaking up as a young professional really does matter, and that our voices and opinions are valued.

Jessica shaking hands outside Ron Estes office.

Call to Action

As a young person in the Kansas Food Action Network, I sometimes struggle to recognize the power of my own voice. With so much expertise and experience in the field, I often find myself looking to others to speak up about the importance of our food system. However, my experience at the Gen Z Food and Hunger Summit taught me an unforgettable lesson: every voice matters, and if we hope to see change in our communities, we have to be willing to speak up.

Whether it is at a city commission meeting, a day at the Capitol, or simply over lunch with friends and family, I urge you to recognize the value of making your voice heard. We all have a part to play in creating stronger, safer communities, and change often starts with someone like us choosing to speak up.

Jessica posing with other attendees of the Gen Z Hunger and Food Summit in DC