Youth Symposium Tackles Food and Hunger in Tallahassee

Dozens of young people gathered at FAMU Developmental Research School for the 17th annual event hosted by the Tallahassee Food Network.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Healthy Food

Mature live oaks draped in Spanish moss beside a pale-brick mid-century school building under soft morning light, a quiet campus setting. — Dozens of young people gathered at FAMU Developmental Research School in Tallahassee for the 17th annual Youth Symposium on Food and Hunger, hosted by the Tallahassee Food Network. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust Tallahassee local government to act on youth concerns about food insecurity?

Dozens of children and young adults attended the 17th annual Youth Symposium on Food and Hunger, hosted by the Tallahassee Food Network at FAMU Developmental Research School. The symposium, themed "Sankofa: Go Back and Get It," gave participants a platform to share experiences, voice concerns, and help shape solutions.

Why it matters

The symposium gives local youth a direct channel to raise food insecurity and related concerns that affect their communities. Organizers plan to carry students' ideas to city leaders, linking youth voices to local policy discussions.

The event marks the 17th consecutive year of the symposium, with dozens of children and young adults in attendance. No specific attendance total or measured outcomes were reported.

The players

Tallahassee Food Network

A local nonprofit organization that hosts community programs addressing food access and hunger in Tallahassee, Florida.

Dr. P. Qasimah Boston

President of the Tallahassee Food Network and co-director of Tallahassee Youth for Change, a community leader focused on youth engagement in Tallahassee.

The details

Participants explored mental health and violence through a keynote speaker, art, and interactive activities at the symposium. Partners included the Greater Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Citizens for a Sustainable Future, and Earthjustice.

• October 31, 2026: Article on the Youth Symposium on Food and Hunger published.

Season Trajectory

The symposium's 17-year run places it among long-standing youth-led food advocacy efforts in Tallahassee. Its focus on connecting students with city government mirrors the community-engagement model the Tallahassee Food Network has sustained since the event began.

Tallahassee families and students can engage with food-access discussions through community events like this symposium. Students' concerns raised here are intended to reach city officials, which may shape local youth programming.

The takeaway

Youth-led forums like this one give young residents a structured way to influence how their city addresses hunger. Participation in local food-access programs can help strengthen community responses to food insecurity.