Over 1 million of our neighbors in DC are experiencing food insecurity, and of those residents, 1 in 10 are children. This startling statistic is one of the many reasons that the Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI) launched an advocacy and service-learning experience at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). Intern Advocacy Day (IAD) is a unique opportunity for all of our interns (first-year pediatric resident physicians) here at Children’s National to understand how advocacy can fit into their current and future career, what food insecurity looks like in our region, and how community organizations serve their members. A unique aspect of this program is that while it is primarily geared towards our interns, the program welcomes more senior residents who would like another opportunity to participate, as well as all faculty and staff across the Children’s National community. Teams from primary care, dental, nursing, nephrology, social work and many more have participated in this day of learning and community service. This interprofessional setting promotes cross-collaboration and relationship building, in the setting of community engagement.
Intern Advocacy Day at CAFB has been a long-standing program sponsored by CHAI since its inception in 2017, and it occurs 7-8 times per year. Most days begin with a volunteer shift in the CAFB warehouse or the community garden. In the warehouse, the activities involve sorting, boxing, or preparing food for delivery, while in the garden participants work to harvest food or on overall garden upkeep. Following the volunteer activity is a tour of the facility from a CAFB staff member who provides a deeper understanding of the role of CAFB within the community.
What is that delicious (and economical!) smell?
Following the volunteer work and the tour, IAD participants engage in a cooking demonstration in the CAFB teaching kitchen. The participants work in teams to create 4-5 tasty dishes that cost a nominal amount per serving. All IAD participants eat their creations together as a family meal. Learning to cook these healthy, affordable recipes offers participants a tool for educating their patients, many of whom might have limited means, equipment, time, or the ability to cook. Moreover, all recipes are available online for easy distribution throughout the community. After lunch is a didactic session about the CAFB and food insecurity in the region. This sets the stage for the Face Hunger simulation, a simulation in which participants walk through a day in the life of a DC community member who is facing several barriers obtaining affordable, nutritious food.
The final portion of the day is a call to action. The participants discuss the assigned readings and reflect on their own advocacy interests and potential aspirations. The program facilitators, either Dr. Tamara Gayle or Dr. Matt Magyar, alongside other CHAI or CHAI Affiliate Faculty members, share their own advocacy journeys in the hope of inspiring the next generation of physician advocates. Interested in learning about the CAFB firsthand? We would love to see you at one of our remaining IADs for the academic year: February 12, April 23, April 30, or June 4 – sign up here: Intern Advocacy Day at Capital Area Food Bank (cri-datacap.org)!
Residents and faculty participants alike have commented on how critical the day has been to energize them about community engagement and spark their own advocacy journey. One intern noted:
“I really enjoyed volunteering at both locations, I appreciated actually being put to work in a way that seemed meaningful to the function of each organization. Having a large portion of the day focused on actual volunteering made it feel more like service learning and less like observing/tourism.”
This day is a valuable resource to our interns, residents, faculty, and staff alike.
