Written by: Nancy Easton

20 Years. It’s interesting how I remember those initial years so well — principals and parents and teachers by our side, encouraging us to advocate for salad bars and more fresh entrees on school lunch menus; more time for recess and play; and nutrition and fitness education in the classroom. We became the engine for change because we had a vision for something better for our kids. We were driven, we had a force behind us and we knew that school districts needed significant resources and support to be examples for health and well-being. We were going to change the world! 

It was so different then. We were learning in real time, implementing and developing programming all at once. I was an educator, a parent and a bit of a social justice advocate. I knew our children, all children, deserved better, and while I didn’t have a roadmap, I had a fire and lots of fellow parents and principals who wanted change. And, I knew food service directors and school personnel needed much more support and systemic change to see their goals come to life.

I was raising three young children who were growing up alongside Wellness in the Schools. I remember so vividly working all day at an elementary school, then spending hours in the playground with my kids, strategizing with other parents while our kids went up and down the slide 1,000 times, then finally working late into the evening once my kids were asleep to design our Wellness in the Schools programming. Good thing one of our most ardent and influential advocates was Chef Bill Telepan, and his restaurant hours mimicked our late-night, babies-in-bed hours.

Before we knew it, Michelle Obama was our First Lady and she was advocating for our very vision! Jamie Oliver was talking about school meals on U.S. television. Ann Cooper was making waves as the Renegade Lunch Lady. We had a platform. We were no longer the crazy moms, breastfeeding our babies on the playgrounds of NYC; we were suddenly on a mission that aligned with the First Lady of the United States of America! 

The remaining years are a blur. My kids were now 8, 5 and 2, and districts were knocking on our door. They wanted more scratch-cooked items on their menus, they wanted nutrition education, they wanted more movement in their schools, and more fitness education. We put our heads down, developed programming to meet the needs and the goals of our districts, and before we knew it, we were the experts — speaking on panels, leading efforts to advocate in Washington, D.C. for increased funding for the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. And we were beginning to see our hard work pay off with changes on school menus and movement on the recess yards.

I liken this period to raising my kids — all of a sudden, those long exhausting days turn into a blur of school and playdates and sports events and music lessons and suddenly they grow up and turn into these amazing, thriving young humans. It’s an emotional time for me. As Wellness in the Schools turns 20, I turn 60, and I watch my babies (all of them) turn into adults. I once again learn to become comfortable with the unknown. I am in some ways more uncertain than ever as to what the future brings for our space, as I am uncertain as to what each of my children will become and will contribute to this world.

As I reflect on 20 years of our success, there is absolutely zero question in my mind that we are here today because of the many people who believed in us, who pushed us to be the change agents for the better. There is so much truth to the statement that it takes a village. Our village was (and still is) just so incredibly bold and broad and diverse and committed. This note is a bit of a love letter to all of those who have inspired and supported us over the years. First, those early “crazy” moms and principals, then those early districts and donors who took a chance, and finally the team members and chefs and coaches who have worked for the organization over the 20 years – many of whom are still with us today. It is all of these relationships that define the beauty and the layers of who we are. So many of our donors and board members have been with us from the very beginning, believing in us even before we were sure we believed in ourselves. They continue to be our most ardent supporters, sharing our work in a ripple effect outward. I am truly so indebted to you all, and I won’t mention names here as I would be significantly beyond my allotted word count. There are so many of you, and you have taught me so much about the power of partnership and trust and belief.

We have a damn long way to go. While in many ways it feels like we are suddenly reversing so much progress, we have to hold on to the small victories. As one of our chefs recently shared on a group call — we cannot battle what is beyond our control, but we can help one school cook learn how to prepare a grab-and-go salad with leftover ingredients, and feel extremely proud of the work she is doing to feed children real food. And that is what matters. People talking to people, and people working together to make lasting change.