Leading the Fight Against Childhood Hunger in Maryland
Posted by Billy Shore on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In today’s State of the State address, Maryland Governor O’Malley reiterated his commitment to ending childhood hunger in Maryland. He was the first governor in the country to make this a priority and it is gratifying to see just how far Maryland has come as a result.
“Leadership” is a label too often and too casually bestowed, but in Gov. O’Malley’s case it’s warranted. Lecturing once at West Point, the scholar William Deresiewicz, told the plebe class that “leadership means finding a new direction, not simply putting yourself at the front of the herd that’s heading toward the cliff.” Gov. O’Malley helped forge a new direction for the nation based on his often-articulated belief that while ending poverty may be complex, feeding a child is not. Governors in Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado and more than a dozen other states have followed his lead and inaugurated No Kid Hungry campaigns of their own.
Our children are hungry not because we lack food, or even because we lack food and nutrition programs, but because they lack access to programs that we know work, ranging from school breakfast and summer meals to SNAP. With the commitment to measuring results that has been the hallmark of his Administration, Gov. O’Malley has enabled the No Kid Hungry campaign to add tens of thousands of Maryland’s children to these programs. The result: More children who come to class ready to learn, stronger educational performances, and ultimately, a more competitive state economy.
For Billy’s thoughts about the rest of Governor O’Malley’s State of the State address, check out his post titled, “The Political Courage of A Governor and No Kid Hungry Champion.”
February 1, 2012 | 0 comment(s) | Tags: Governor O'Malley, maryland, no kid hungry
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