Conference Session

Alyson Foote is Project Manager of Food Systems and Access and a practicing registered dietitian nutritionist with 20 years of experience. A strong proponent of food access programs that ensure food equity in all communities, Foote applies her beliefs and values to the work she manages, including the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies that impact collaborative groups such as Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California, California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative and food access programs such as federal school meals, summer meals and WIC. Foote is deeply committed to creating opportunities for all families to live healthier lifestyles. She firmly believes that providing nutrition education in the classroom and cafeteria, along with increasing access to nutritious foods, allows children to develop the knowledge and skills needed to establish lifelong healthy eating patterns. Foote earned a B.S. in biochemistry and dietetics from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, and completed her dietetic internship at the Health Care Corporation of St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada.

Phoebe Petersen, Community Nutrition Adviser Supervisor, provides leadership, mentoring and support to a team of community nutrition advisers across the state. Petersen is committed to helping her team not only reach their regional and organization goals, but also elevate the health of children and families.In addition to leading her team of community nutrition advisers, she is part of the food access team, working with partners across California to support key food access programs, like school meals, summer meals and Smarter Lunchroom Movement, that ensure students are nourished and supported to grow healthfully. She believes that access to healthy food and nutrition education play a pivotal role in the health and academic outcomes of children. Petersen earned a B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis.