Michelle Tweardy, Family and Consumer Sciences Education program coordinator and faculty member, represented the Pennsylvania Association of Family and Consumer Sciences at the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences National Leadership Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, September 20–23, 2024. Tweardy currently serves as president-elect for the association and was sponsored by PAFCS to attend the event.
Leaders from over 25 states participated in full-day workshops and networking opportunities. Conference attendees learned from Charlie’s House, an established resource for families seeking information on safety and injury prevention; Pete’s Garden, a nonprofit that repurposes unwanted restaurant foods to help feed local food-insecure communities; and Kids Feeding Kids, an organization that engages foods and culinary students to feed families with thoughtfully prepared meals. Attendees also participated in multiple industry-related training and a Real Colors professional development workshop where they learned practical communication strategies while building capacity for emotionally intelligent interactions.