Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), has spent more than two decades shaping the policies that help millions of children access the nutrition they need to learn and thrive. As a national leader and policy expert in the anti-hunger movement, Crystal has helped make free, healthy school meals accessible to more students, improving attendance, academic success, and family stability along the way. This March, in honor of National Nutrition Month, we’re proud to honor Crystal as our Newmanitarian of the Month.
Crystal’s commitment to social justice took root in Toledo, Ohio, where she witnessed firsthand how deindustrialization and disinvestment in public services devastated families and communities. Before joining FRAC, she worked on affordable housing, equitable transportation, and child advocacy—experiences that shaped her belief that strong policy can change lives.
“Through research and coalition work, Crystal FitzSimons has shown that a healthy school meal is just as essential a school supply as pencils and notebooks. Her leadership has been instrumental in confirming expanding access to healthy school meals sets every child up to learn and thrive. We are proud to support her vital work to achieve food justice for kids.”
—Christina Chauvenet, Child Nutrition Officer
What is your “Recipe for Change”?
Partnerships, Principles, and Policies:
- Build Strong Partnerships: I’ve found that the only path to meaningful and lasting change is through strong partnerships with shared goals.
- Lean into your Principles: Your principles should guide your decision-making and strategy. For me, that means acting with integrity, being transparent with partners about goals and strategy, and maintaining accountability.
- Advocate for Impactful Policies: Federal and state policies such as healthy school meals for all or access to high quality afterschool and summer programming that provides nutritious and appealing meals, can have transformative impact on the lives of children throughout our nation. By advancing policies that make real impact through thoughtful and strategic advocacy, we can improve the health and well-being of our nation.
Photo courtesy of Food Research & Action Center.
Paul Newman was an actor, race car driver, activist, and a salad dressing philanthropist. In the spirit of Paul Newman, how are you “raising a little hell” in your community?
I don’t take no for an answer—not when children’s health and well-being are on the line. I also don’t play games or make compromises with policy decisions that impact children. I am authentic, transparent, and bold in my thinking about what is possible in our country.
This approach has allowed FRAC to make so much progress in moving forward solutions. I’m especially proud of helping to create a nationwide Summer EBT program, which reduces hunger and improves nutrition for families who lose access to school meals when school is out. And building the case for healthy school meals for all has meant that today, 60 percent of schools are offering free meals to every student—a transformational shift that gives kids the dignity, stability, and nourishment they need.
Our progress reminds me why raising our voices—and refusing to accept the status quo—is so important.
What’s something you wish more people knew about childhood nutrition?
Fourteen million children in the U.S. live in households that struggle to put food on the table and do not have access to an affordable, nutritious diet. Allowing children in our country to go hungry is a policy choice. We need to build the political will to ensure that every child has the nutrition they need to thrive.
What brings you joy in your work?
Knowing the positive impact that FRAC’s work has on the lives of children throughout the country. I am deeply honored to lead FRAC, and I find real joy working alongside my talented, thoughtful, and passionate colleagues who share the commitment to build a nation free from hunger.
How can people support your work?
Lift your voice in support of Healthy School Meals for All. FRAC’s resources make it easy to weigh in with your Members of Congress or to submit a Letter to the Editor to your local paper, and sign up for our e-newsletters to stay in the know.
A Newman’s Own Foundation grantee partner since 2011, Food Research and Action Center is the leading national anti-hunger organization, working to ensure that all students have access to free school meals. By convening local, state, and national partners, they help states and school districts adopt policies that provide free, healthy school meals for all children. To learn more about FRAC, visit FRAC.org.
Photo courtesy of Food Research & Action Center.