About the Series
The “Meet the Board” series highlights the dedicated leaders behind the National WIC Association. Each spotlight offers a glimpse into the journeys, passions, and perspectives of our Board members, showcasing the people who help guide our mission to support and strengthen WIC across the country.
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Filomena Ahlefeld, Local Agency WIC Program Director, The Foundation for Delaware County | Local Agency Section Representative
With more than 32 years of service in WIC, Filomena has dedicated her career to strengthening communities and advancing WIC’s mission. As Local Agency WIC Program Director at The Foundation for Delaware County, she brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, leadership, and passion for supporting families. Her commitment to elevating WIC’s voice began at the state level as President of the Pennsylvania WIC Association (PWA), where she helped rebrand and strengthen advocacy for Pennsylvania’s local agencies. As the Local Agency Representative on the National WIC Association Board, she continues to champion collaboration, innovation, and policy advancement for WIC nationwide.
In the Q&A below, Filomena reflects on their experience in WIC, their goals for the board, and why they’re passionate about the program's future.
Tell us about your journey to the National WIC Association Board. How did you get involved, and what inspired you to engage?
I began taking a more active role at the national level in 2019 when the National WIC office recognized my leadership in Pennsylvania, as President of PWA. Under my leadership, our organization was rebranding and developing a stronger voice for our membership in Pennsylvania. NWA offered an opportunity to work as part of a special work group to promote growth and new development of state local agency associations nationwide. In 2020, I joined the WIC HUB advisory committee, which provides an online presence for WIC communities to access the most up-to-date research and advocacy tools. In 2022, I was asked to join the NWA Board as the local agency MID-Atlantic Representative. In this role, I work with local membership from states in this region to raise awareness of legislative change and development of the WIC Program at a national level. I have really enjoyed these opportunities to work with such dedicated peers throughout the nation. We learn so much from each other, networking professionally while building long-term friendships.
What’s a goal or initiative you're particularly excited about this year?
I am particularly interested in NWA’s goal around advancing WIC technology and innovation. NWA received USDA funding to modernize WIC Management Information Systems. I am excited to work with the Board’s Local Agency Standing Section, Nava, and Code for America under a USDA cooperative agreement to provide feedback from the local agency perspective. I enjoy reviewing the summative and analytic research that NWA provides through its grant projects, and I am always amazed at how vastly different the operating processes are across the nation and local levels. I also look forward to learning more about the MIS processes and best practices that will come from this effort.
What impact do you hope the National WIC Association will have in the next five years?
Over the next five years, I look forward to NWA's continued efforts to build and sustain bipartisan support for WIC Program funding and for NWA to be a strong voice in policy, keeping WIC issues in the forefront. I am confident that the NWA team will continue to play a vital role in educating legislators, the White House, and our community membership as a whole, rallying behind NWA’s mission.
If you're looking to learn more about WIC and to network with peers across the nation, I encourage you to join an NWA committee and eventually consider serving on the NWA board. It is truly a rewarding experience!
Coming out of the recent NWA Board meeting, what inspired or energized you most, and how do you hope to carry that momentum into the year ahead?
I’m excited that NWA is exploring new avenues to engage the WIC community as a whole and encourage participation from WIC staff and participants. I’m very proud of the work we have done over the past year to strengthen the board, identify our roles, and improve communication across the nation. I value our commitment to see continued involvement, especially from local agencies. I enjoy listening and learning from my colleagues. Each of us brings unique expertise from our different experiences, and this helps to foster support as we continue to support the families in our communities!
What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
Friends and family often mention that they enjoy my baking and cooking skills, which is influenced by my Italian-American heritage and Southern Oklahoman influences. I had a friend give me a bushel of hot peppers one year and said, “You’re a good cook; I’m sure you’ll figure out what to do with them. Well, what do you do with a bushel of hot peppers? You make 100 jars of sweet-pepper jam! And I’ve been making this jam for about 10 years now!
Want to learn more about Filomena and the rest of the Board?
Explore the full Board of Directors at https://www.nwica.org/about-nwa#tab_governance and see how members like Filomena are helping shape the future of WIC.
We thank Filomena for participating in this series and for her ongoing contributions to the WIC community. Visit our blog to find other “Meet the Board” blog posts. To connect with Filomena and learn more about her background and experience, feel free to reach out to her in the NWA Online Community.