Texas Hunger Initiative to be featured in PBS documentary

“Feeding Minds: Texas Takes on Hunger and Obesity”

A Texas PBS production

February 2012

Texas PBS stations have launched the Texas Feeding Minds Project - an awareness effort about childhood obesity and hunger.  Project components include online outreach efforts as well as an on air production – all with the aim of increasing awareness about these overlapping issues as well as providing positive solutions addressing these issues across the state.

The on air production, entitled Feeding Minds: Texas Takes on Hunger and Obesity is currently in development and will air on Texas PBS stations in February 2012.  It is made possible by a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

Camille Miller, President/CEO of the Texas Health Institute, and Jeremy Everett, Director of the Texas Hunger Initiative, are serving as both program advisors and co-hosts.  Their advisement has directed Texas PBS stations to topics and solutions that will both bring awareness to these overlapping issues as well as direct viewers to solutions that can be emulated in various communities across the state.

Seven Texas PBS stations are producing individual, stand-alone documentary packages that will be woven together with our hosts’ narration and select state-wide expert interviews.  These seven stations are:  Austin/KLRU, Corpus Christi/KEDT, Dallas/KERA, El Paso/KCOS, Houston/KUHT, Lubbock/KTXT and San Antonio/KLRN.  Amarillo/KACV is serving as the program coordinator/producer.  Program content will address the following topics:

• Defining the overlapping issues of childhood obesity and hunger – how they co-exist and why we should care
• What is happening at the state level on these issues
• What is happening on a regional level on these issues (Rural and Urban Communities: Faith Based Community and Food Banks/Food Deserts)
• What is happening on a community level on these issues (Schools, Restaurants, Grocery Stores and Community Gardens/Fresh Foods/Nutrition Education)
• What can happen on an individual level on these issues (individual choices and accessing resources)

The specific air date in February 2012 will be determined in October 2011, once PBS spring programming schedules are shared with Texas PBS stations for planning purposes.