For four decades, NWA has been the voice and network for the WIC community, uniting local agencies, state leaders, advocates, and participants to strengthen WIC and serve millions of families.
As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect and ask: Who are our members? They are truly the heart of WIC—clinic staff who welcome families daily, participants who become advocates, and leaders shaping national policy.
As Ginger Roberts Scott, Director of WIC at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, shared: “Our families are the most important thing, and NWA uplifts our voices to Congress and makes sure the issues that matter most are heard.”
The People Behind WIC
Every NWA member— from Local Agency representatives to the Board of Directors— plays a role in advancing WIC. Each brings unique perspectives, helping to strengthen maternal and child health resources. Here are a few member profiles:
1. Participant Advocate: Martha Meza, a Los Angeles WIC Employee and former participant turned advocate, recalls how WIC staff once made her feel cared for as a young mother. At just 16, Meza turned to WIC, where staff made her feel cared for and welcome as a young mother— an experience that shaped her advocacy today.
2. Local Agency Staff: Kimberly Williams, a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in North Carolina, draws from her own motherhood journey to support families. As a mother herself, Kimberly brings empathy and understanding to the participants she serves every day.
3. State Leader: Samar McGregor, California’s State Deputy Director of WIC and the Secretary of the Executive Committee on the NWA Board, uses her platform to connect policymakers with participants' real-life experiences. She highlights participants' stories to policymakers, making WIC’s impact both personal and relatable.
4. NWA Committee Member: Rachel August, the Breastfeeding Section Standing Committee Chair and a Peer Counselor Consultant and Breast Pump SME Leader at the Washington State WIC Agency, highlights the power of joint committee efforts. Through her leadership, Rachel advances collaboration that elevates national breastfeeding initiatives.
(Note: She is a member of the Breastfeeding Section Standing Committee. The Breastfeeding Outreach Committee she refers to is a separate volunteer committee, now called the Breastfeeding Promotion Committee.)
The Impact of Our Members
Every month, more than 6 million families rely on WIC, and it's our members who make that possible. The 12,000 WIC agencies represented in NWA form a powerful network dedicated to ensuring every family has the support they deserve.
Our members strengthen WIC by:
Expanding Access: Helping families enroll and navigate services
Advocacy: Meeting with Congressional leaders during the NWA’s annual National Policy Conferences.
Learning & Growing: Engaging in webinars and trainings to share the latest research and best practices.
Shaping NWA’s Work: Serving on committees focused on breastfeeding, technology, innovation, and more.
Renew Your Membership: This impact is only possible because of our members. Renew today to ensure WIC families and staff continue to have a strong national voice.