National School Food Advocate Chef Ann Cooper Coming to Sullivan County

Community conversation about healthier school meals and student wellbeing.

[Liberty, N.Y.] Sullivan 180 will welcome nationally recognized chef and school food advocate Chef Ann Cooper for An Evening with Chef Ann Cooper: A Conversation with the Renegade Lunch Lady on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Michael Ritchie Big Barn at The Center for Discovery.

This first talk in the Sullivan 180 Speaker Series will explore how fresh, scratch-made school meals can improve children's health, support academic success, and strengthen connections between schools, families, and local agriculture.

For more than two decades, Chef Ann has helped transform school meal programs across the country, inspiring schools and communities to embrace fresh, nutritious food that supports student health and success.

"Chef Ann's message aligns with Sullivan 180’s commitment to prevention and empowering a healthier generation,” said Meghan Stalter, Special Projects Manager at Sullivan 180. “We are excited to bring this important conversation to educators, parents, community members, and anyone who believes food has the power to shape healthier futures for our children."

Nearly 30 million children eat school meals five days a week, that's more than half of all school-aged kids in the U.S. In Sullivan County the number is close to 10,000. By making sure school meals are healthy and cooked from scratch using real ingredients, we can help tens of millions of kids feel better and succeed in and beyond the classroom. (Chef Ann Foundation)

Attendees will hear Chef Ann's story, learn about innovative school nutrition initiatives, and explore how we can work together to improve children's access to healthy food.

Community members, educators, school administrators, parents, caregivers, students, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in improving children's health through better nutrition are encouraged to attend.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. For additional event information and registration, visit Sullivan 180's website or follow Sullivan 180 on social media.