Improving Health and Resilience in New York City and Beyond with Rachel Atcheson

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, Adam speaks with Rachel Atcheson of Food Policy Pathways about her path from nonprofits to New York City government, including roles in the de Blasio and Adams’ administrations, and finally to founding an innovative new program for food systems leaders. Rachel describes how health experiences—including Mayor Adams’s experience reversing type 2 diabetes and her own health improvement —shaped their focus on healthier public food. She explains how coalition building and thinking strategically about New York City’s procurement power across schools, hospitals, jails, and older adult centers led to better health outcomes and dramatically reduced carbon emissions. She then talks about launching Food Policy Pathways to coach and place candidates into food-related government roles in order to expand effective policies nationwide.Links from the episode:Food Policy Pathways WebsiteA study showing 95% patient satisfaction after the new nutrition program in NYC Hospitals