Reflecting on 2023 and looking ahead
December 15, 2023
As 2023 comes to an end, let’s take a moment to reflect on and celebrate our collective accomplishments this past year. By working together, there’s evidence that we’re all truly transforming Colorado’s food systems through community engagement and investments, policy and advocacy, data and evaluation, and increased public awareness and political will.
The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger began as an idea in 2016, realized as a formal roadmap in 2018, and transformed into a collective impact organization with a program office in 2019. Since then, we have made significant progress towards the plan’s original goals as well as evolved with our statewide network of partners.
Here’s a snapshot of some of our collective achievements over the past 12 months:
Distributed $4.05 million to 245 grantees across the state through Colorado’s Food Pantry Assistance Grants program
Hosted our largest state legislative platform to date, with the majority of supported bills passed
Supported the implementation of Healthy School Meals for All in Colorado public schools by coordinating a collaborative, statewide campaign, which included $370,000 in grants to 40 community-based organizations for local outreach and marketing
Co-led the passage of the Summer EBT bill with Hunger Free Colorado during the recent special legislative session
Launched a new BIPOC-led microgrant program to increase healthy food access in local communities
Released a new data dashboard, consolidating an array of publicly available data about hunger in Colorado
Added two new project teams to Workgroup 4: SNAP & WIC Enrollment to better connect food and health as well as reduce access barriers for those who are houseless
Ensured language justice in all public communications from the Blueprint
Elevated our visibility and community wins through expanded news coverage and more community partner spotlights
And this is only a sampling of what has been done. We should all be proud of our shared efforts. You can read more about the progress made during 2023 and past years in our recently released four-year impact report.
None of this would be possible without your ongoing support, dedication, and enthusiasm as stakeholders in helping advance the Blueprint’s shared vision and goals.
While it’s important to pause and celebrate, we also recognize that there’s so much more work to be done if we want to create a more equitable, well-fed future where everyone in Colorado can thrive. The Blueprint’s transformation, informed by community and network input, will help move that needle even further as we strive for food justice in all Colorado communities. We’re excited to continue this journey in early 2024 and to unveil our new framework and plan in the spring.
Thank you for all that you do in your local communities – and for coming together with us at the Blueprint to work towards a Colorado where everyone who lives here can access the food they choose, where they want it, and when they need it.
Sincerely,
LaQuetta Walker and Mark Kling
Governing Council Co-chairs