Nonpartisan · Washington, DC

Where people who care about health policy find their people.

Pastries & Policy is a nonpartisan discussion community — warm, evidence-first, and built for turning good conversation into action. In DC and online.

Join the community What to expect

Regular sessions · In person & virtual · Founded 2025

Core values

Data and evidenceHealth equityEmpowering the public health workforceTransparent sourcing and open dialogueRigorous, but friendly debateCommunity-driven action

Why We're Different

Evidence first

Every session is grounded in data and sourced analysis.

Open discussion

Sessions are structured for real debate. We welcome pushback, alternative interpretations, and “I'm not sure” as a legitimate answer.

Mixed vantage points

Our members come from the Hill, public health agencies, grassroots advocacy, policy shops, consulting, and classrooms. The range of backgrounds is part of what makes the analysis better.

Action-oriented

Our discussions are designed to mobilize communities toward systemic change that advances health for all.

A safe place to fail intelligently

We encourage innovation, and sometimes that means making mistakes in the process of learning. Disagree freely — just bring data and evidence, and do it with civility and respect.

What to Expect at a Session

Each session, we pick a topic that's timely, contested, or just underexplored, and dig in. Sessions are shaped by what the evidence shows and where reasonable people disagree.

✓A facilitated discussion, not a lecture
✓Pre-circulated readings or materials (when available)
✓Active Q&A and open, friendly debate
✓Pastries on the table when we gather in person

Jennifer Salach

Founder · Pastries & Policy

MPH, Health Policy — GWJD candidate — Maryland Carey LawBehavioral health systems research

Our Story

Jennifer Salach began Pastries & Policy in April 2025 to build an action-oriented health community with a strong respect for evidence. Her background is in behavioral health systems research and advocacy.

She holds an MPH in Health Policy from the George Washington University and has experience in federal, nonprofit, academic, and health care settings. She begins her JD at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law in 2026, with a focus on health law.

Join / Get Involved

Come think with us.

Pastries & Policy is open to anyone with a serious interest in health policy — Hill staff, public health officials, grassroots advocates, researchers, students, and practitioners at every stage of their careers, in DC and beyond. What we share is curiosity, a willingness to engage seriously with the evidence, and an itch to turn discussion into action. That's the whole ask.

Email the team

Thank you! We'll be in touch with details for an upcoming session.

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What membership looks like

Regular session invitations (in-person and virtual)
Pre-session reading materials
Access to session notes and resources
A growing community of people who take this stuff seriously

Co-Lead Opening

Help lead what comes next.

Pastries & Policy is looking for a (Co)Lead — someone to help shape topics, host sessions, and grow the community alongside our founder. You don't need a fancy title or decades of experience. You need curiosity, care, and a willingness to fail intelligently right alongside us.

✓Help choose topics and shape the discussion
✓Co-host sessions — in person, online, or both
✓Help the community grow beyond DC

Interested? Leave your details and we'll follow up.

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