Mayor Gaskins to help lead national fight against childhood hunger
Gaskins to serve as vice chair of 550-mayor alliance; announces grant for city
Mayor Alyia Gaskins will take on a national leadership role as incoming vice chair of the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, a coalition of more than 550 mayors partnering with the No Kid Hungry campaign to expand children’s access to nutritious food.
Gaskins previewed the appointment at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting, telling colleagues the alliance is “really focused on how do we end hunger and food insecurity in our communities.”
She also revealed that Alexandria will receive a grant to support hunger-related initiatives through the Department of Community and Human Services and partnerships with local organizations like ALIVE.
Gaskins announced the vice chair role publicly on Instagram last week, writing that she would “join more than 550 mayors from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in the fight to ensure kids in our cities have the food they need to thrive.”
In her new position, Gaskins will work alongside Chair Mayor Daniel Rickenmann to advance policies aimed at boosting participation in school and summer meal programs, protecting federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC, and promoting local solutions to childhood hunger.
For Gaskins, the appointment carries personal significance.
“Having experienced food insecurity firsthand as a child, I am deeply committed to ensuring that kids in Alexandria and beyond have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” she said in a statement.
Sarah Steely, director of No Kid Hungry Virginia, praised the selection, noting that Gaskins “brings an important personal perspective to the Mayors Alliance that will no doubt strengthen its impact.”
Gaskins joins 10 other Virginia mayors in the nonpartisan coalition, including Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, Virginia Beach Mayor Robert M. Dyer, and Roanoke Mayor Joseph L. Cobb.
The Mayors Alliance launched in 2022 and works at the local, stat,e and national levels to expand access to meals and raise awareness of childhood hunger.