**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 4TH ANNUAL 1890S MULTI-STATE COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON MAY 15 - 16, 2024. THE CONFERENCE WILL BE PRESENTED BY SEVEN 1890S LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES: ALABAMA A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE, TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY, AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, WITH EACH INSTITUTION GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE EVENT ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE IS THE HOSTING UNIVERSITY.THE PRIMARY CONFERENCE OBJECTIVE IS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROGRAMS WITHIN COMMUNITIES WHILE EMPHASIZING THE MULTI-STATE EFFORT THAT INVOLVES THESE UNIVERSITIES. LAST YEAR, OUR THEME FOCUSED ON PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. WE AIM TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EACH UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMUNITIES ANNUALLY BY ADDING A NEW PIECE TO THE PUZZLE. THE CONFERENCE WILL ADDRESS TOPICS SUCH AS HEARING FROM EDUCATORS AND THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, VIRTUAL PANELS, BREAKOUT SESSIONS, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND MORE.FOR THE FOURTH YEAR, WE ARE ORGANIZING THE WALK ACROSS THE 1890S, A 10-WEEK PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT ENCOURAGING PARTICIPANTS TO BE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WALK THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SEVEN UNIVERSITIES INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A TEAM.WE ALSO HOLD A SILENT AUCTION DURING THE CONFERENCE. INSTEAD OF A REGISTRATION FEE, REGISTRANTS ARE ASKED TO DONATE TO THE HOSTING UNIVERSITY FOOD PANTRY, WHICH IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. WE HAVE PROVIDED OVER 20,000 MEALS IN WEST TENNESSEE, ALABAMA, AND ARKANSAS.THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING FOR THE AFRI CONFERENCE GRANT IS TO HELP THE CONFERENCE GROW AND REACH MORE EDUCATORS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, UNIVERSITIES, AND COMMUNITIES. THE EDUCATORS HAVE GARNERED EXPERIENCE IN PRESENTING, HOSTING, AND MODERATING A NATIONAL CONFERENCE. OUR BUDGET DETAILS THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH HIRING AN EVALUATION CONSULTANT TO ASSIST THE 1890S INSTITUTIONS IN COLLECTING DATA ON THE CONFERENCE AND CREATING LITERATURE ON THE BEST METHODS FOR PROMOTING EQUITY IN COLLABORATIVE IMPACT AND ENHANCING THE SKILLS OF THE 1890S COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION WORKFORCE. IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW SPEAKERS, INCLUDING KEYNOTE, CAP NOTES, BREAKOUTS, LIGHTNING TALKS, AND FITNESS BREAKS, WILL BE COMPENSATED THROUGH STIPENDS. THESE SPEAKERS WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE 1890S COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS REPRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS PROGRAM PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO OPERATE IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE FOUR PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE CONFERENCE WILL RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, AND THE STIPENDS FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS WILL ALSO BE COVERED BY AFRI CONFERENCE GRANT FUNDS (A1344- DIET, NUTRITION, AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAM).