Continuing our series of profiles of Hunger Fellow alums, let’s catch up with Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines (pictured, above, with her fellow fellows in front of the William Penn House in Washington, D.C.). During her time as a fellow, Alexandra (Emerson ’05) … Read more
Hunger Fellows Present Briefing on “The State of Hunger in America”
On Friday, March 5, the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows presented findings from their field placements in a briefing entitled “The State of Hunger in America.” The briefing drew an online audience of over 100 policymakers, nonprofit and corporate leaders, … Read more
Focusing on the Long-Term: Food Security and Sustainable Growth
Above: Rhiley Allbee, 10th Class Leland Fellow. I grew up in a small rural community surrounded by the Manistee National Forest in Michigan. It was here that I first developed my love for the natural environment, and also here that I … Read more
Congressional Hunger Center’s Statement on Racism and Violence Against Asian Americans
The Congressional Hunger Center is saddened and angered to learn of the shootings in Georgia this Tuesday. We grieve for the families of the eight people who were murdered, and we condemn the increasing violence and racism targeted at Asian … Read more
Vital Programs for Unprecedented Times: Investigating Pandemic-EBT in California
Above: Rocio Perez, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. As a first-generation Latina from the Westlake/McArthur Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, I grew up in a low-income area with a predominantly immigrant community where I had to learn how to navigate legal, … Read more
Cultivating Tribal Sovereignty: Agriculture Departments in Indian Country
Above: Joel Anderson, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. When I first learned that I’d been placed with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I was eager to learn more about the work being done to promote tribal … Read more
Poor Diets are Not Just an “Education Problem”: The Role of Food Environment Studies in Creating Sustainable Behavior Change
Marisa Nowicki works with The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Nairobi, Kenya. The Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to create food systems that sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people. Marisa is part of the Food … Read more
Hunger Center Relocates to New Office Space
Above: the new home of the Congressional Hunger Center We’ve moved! The new home of the Congressional Hunger Center is at 200 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 Despite the change in address, the Hunger Center continues to … Read more
First-Day Feeling: Emergency Food Distribution in Oregon’s Migrant Communities
Above: Ally Hardebeck, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. On December 9, I found myself on apple duty: open bag, fill with 15 apples, tie it off. The methodical simplicity of this task was comforting. Months of remote work had left me … Read more
Join us for “The State of Hunger” on March 5
“The State of Hunger in America,” a briefing featuring field work presentations from the 27th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows, will be held online on Friday, March 5, 2021. This is a great opportunity to learn about the … Read more
Persistence and Pandemic Response: Getting the Word Out in Montgomery, Alabama
Above: Curtis Hills, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. Years ago, a buddy of mine and I worked as youth organizers with the Nollie Jenkins Family Center (NJFC), a social advocacy organization, in Lexington, Mississippi. We were the new kids on the … Read more
Laying Pathways for Success: Grantmaking and Native Agriculture in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Above: Sara Maillacheruvu, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. In a typical Emerson field placement blog, fellows often begin with a reflection that compares where they’ve come from—their hometown, where they went to school, where they’ve worked—and where they are now, or … Read more