The Energy to Transform
The energy in the room was electric on that rainy and humid morning in Washington, D.C. That energy was perhaps best captured by keynote speaker Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink, as he addressed attendees at the third annual Bridge Builders Summit.
“What are you willing to lose? When you fully love, you must be ready for loss. The work of liberation is going to bring heat,” he said.
Michael McAfee delivering keynote speech
A Gathering to Support Single Moms and End Childhood Hunger
On June 10 and 11, No Kid Hungry brought together a group of partners, philanthropists and leaders working to support single moms — many of whom are single moms themselves with lived experiences to share. The theme of the summit was Because of Moms, a New World is Emerging.
Through years of experience with the No Kid Hungry campaign, we understand what works to end childhood hunger. Programs like SNAP and school and summer meals are essential. But ensuring every child has the nutrition they need also requires strong systems and partnerships that support families beyond the meal itself.
We also know that mothers are decision-makers, advocates and policy change drivers, playing a critical role in shaping how kids are fed today — yet many face serious systemic barriers. When moms have access to stable housing, childcare, economic opportunity and strong support systems, children are more likely to have the resources they need to grow, learn and succeed. Supporting moms isn't separate from ending childhood hunger. It's one of the most powerful ways to address its root causes. In short, when moms thrive, kids thrive.
For Giselli Veloz, one of the moms with lived experience who was participating in the summit, ending childhood hunger means addressing the deeper challenges families face. “We are alleviating pain and suffering temporarily, like Tylenol to an infection,” she shared. “How do we have permanent change? We need to treat the infection.”
From left to right: Alecia Johnson, Giselli Veloz, Mayor Aliyah Gaskins and Reverend Shavon Arline-Bradley
For this reason, in 2022, we launched an effort to build economic mobility for single moms. Currently, we partner with 17 organizations nationwide to build solutions that help ensure moms have the support they need so they don't have to worry about putting food on the table for their kids.
A Bill of Rights for Moms and a Call to Be Radical
The conversations were emotional. The commitments were bold. And people left with a sense of purpose and a vision of a world where moms are respected and supported. A world where they are able to achieve their dreams for themselves, their kids and their communities, to quote Chastity Lord, president and CEO of the Jeremiah Program, a speaker and partner in this work.
The challenges that moms and especially single moms face are many. The high cost of food, discrimination in the workplace and when accessing social services, stigma and a lack of support force many moms to make huge sacrifices just to put food on the table for their kids. Recent cuts to safety-net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, along with rising food prices, will only bring more hardship.
“Opposition isn’t just a problem; it’s an opportunity to build,” shared Reverend Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women. She called on us to be radical in a way that disrupts the current infrastructure that we have for single moms and their kids. For her, it meant stepping out of our comfort zone.
Inspired by these words and by an idea from author Jamilah Lemieux — also a speaker at the event — in her book Black. Single. Mom., participants created a Bill of Rights for Moms.
They imagined a world where every mom has the right to time, stable care, economic security, voice and dignity. They explored what each right would require, from affordable childcare and fair wages to systems that treat moms with respect rather than suspicion.
Together, they identified actionable steps to help turn those rights into reality.
A World Class Coalition
In the third year of the Bridge Builders Summit, we saw a lot of familiar faces. People were happy to reconnect with each other, and first-time participants were welcomed right in.
Around the same tables sat advocates, philanthropists, coaches, childcare experts, elected officials and moms who have faced these barriers and overcome them through their own extraordinary resilience and with the support of the people who helped them along the way. Many came from different sectors, but all were united by a belief that supporting moms is essential to creating a future where every child can thrive.
Many left with new partnerships, practical tools and a renewed sense of purpose for the work ahead.
Notable participants included representatives from our 17 program partners, Mayor Aliya Gaskins of Alexandria, Virginia, Kyle Adefeninti, senior vice president at Citi, authors Sara Goldrick-Rab, Tamra Ryan and Jamilah Lemieux, among others. The event was emceed by award-winning cultural commentator Alecia Johnson.
Will You Join Us?
McAfee closed his keynote with a call to action: “Moms show extraordinary resilience. Don't we owe it to them to not require so much of that resilience?”
Our commitment to ensure all kids have the meals they need today, tomorrow and for generations only gets stronger each day. We can’t do this without you. Whether engaging with our content or donating, your support is essential for kids and families. To stay connected to our work supporting single moms, sign our Because of Moms Pledge and spread the word about this important work!
