Dragonfly Tales: It's nice to meet you, Gini

Gini,

I am delighted to join Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) as the new President and CEO, and I look forward to building on the incredible legacy of this powerful organization and the work of the dedicated staff.

My North Star over my entire professional journey has been to ensure access to nutritious food as a human right for all. Food and health are inextricably connected, especially in determining good health outcomes when access to nourishing food is not equitably available across our country.

Far too often, healthy food is not within reach or affordable to many Americans resulting in diets that drive chronic illness and daily struggles with good health. Nourishing food should not be a luxury. We all need good food to learn, grow, and thrive.

Before joining PHA, my entire life's work was with WhyHunger — focused on providing critical resources to support grassroots movements to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in more than 30 countries. This critical work exposed the root causes of hunger while investing in solutions that would transform and last, heralding the power of people in communities who understand the interconnectedness of hunger with food sovereignty, food justice, and health equity.

I am a mother, worker, advocate, healthy food-eater, and active exerciser. My three decades of experience in working to end hunger will be put to good use at PHA. I value the work of the staff and board and see them as partners along with our array of important donors and supporters. I'm skilled at building long-term strategic partnerships that create positive social impact.

My four grandparents were Irish immigrants who came to America for better opportunities and to escape the lingering legacy of the Irish famine that caused massive starvation and severe malnutrition. The history of what is known as "the Great Hunger" imparted important insights to me through my grandparents' eyes.

Lack of access to nourishing food threatens health and limits opportunity; it marginalizes communities; and forces migration. I believe all Americans should be able to enjoy the abundance of nourishing food in their lives as a reliable means to advancing good health. I am embracing my new role at PHA with great enthusiasm and drive.

PHA is uniquely positioned to work with partners across sectors to transform the food landscape. PHA's leadership in the Food Equity movement is an opportunity for me to continue ensuring that every American is able to access good food and not just empty calories to meet the need in the moment.

We have exciting work in front of us including meeting PHA's commitment of adding 100 million servings of vegetables and fruits to the marketplace by 2025 and standing together to expand the fight for Food Equity at every level of the food system. I'm looking forward to elevating our goals around nutrition security and creating a new frontier in food action and public health.

Thanks for welcoming me so warmly!

Headshot of PHA's incoming President and CEO, Noreen Springstead