We are delighted to announce the members of the 5th Class of Zero Hunger Interns. These developing leaders will spend 10 weeks over the summer expanding the impact of anti-hunger organizations in Washington, D.C.
Even as parts of the world began to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and ensuing economic fallout have sent rates of food insecurity rocketing up around the world. According to estimates from World Food Program USA, over a quarter of a Billion people worldwide are facing severe hunger. And in the United States, the lasting effects of racism and discrimination have driven an unequal economic recovery.
Zero Hunger Interns will support their host organizations as they respond to hunger crises, as well as developing the experience and skills necessary to become effective anti-hunger leaders in their communities. The interns’ subject matter and advocacy expertise will be augmented through participation in the 2022 Zero Hunger Summer Seminars.
The Zero Hunger Internship was launched in 2018 with support from the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation to build the knowledge and leadership skills of the next generation of young people who will end hunger by 2030. Along with our Hunger Fellowship programs and Zero Hunger Academy online learning platform, this internship supports our mission of developing, inspiring, and connecting leaders in the movement to end hunger, and to advocate for public policies that create a food secure world.
2022 Zero Hunger Interns
2022 Zero Hunger Internship Placements
Meet the Interns
Cristina Castillo
5th Class, 2022
Cristina Castillo is from Biglerville, Pennsylvania, and attends Gettysburg College where she studies Health Sciences. Her advocacy focuses on aiding those experiencing homelessness and poverty. She has volunteered for D.C Central Kitchen, The Patricia Handy Shelter, and Gettysburg College’s Campus Kitchen. She has also has volunteered for her local emergency weather shelter and works at a shelter for those experiencing homelessness.This past winter, she worked remotely with a physician in a rural low-income area in Kentucky to create patient education materials that suggested how to properly store food, read nutrition labels, and how to eat healthy on a budget. She hopes to gain knowledege on food assistance programs to navigate individuals in her community to appropriate resources. She is also interested in learning about how mental health is affected by food insecurity.
Read more about Cristina Castillo
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London DeJarnette
5th Class, 2022
London DeJarnette is from Oberlin, Ohio, and attends Allegheny College where they study Environmental Science and Sustainability and Community and Justice Studies. At Allegheny, London serves as a Bonner Scholar where they engage with food justice work at the Meadville Markethouse. At the Markethouse, London works with SNAP and WIC recipients to secure access to fresh foods. Additionally, London works at the Allegheny Carrden, where they use regenerative farming methods to grow fresh food for the broader community. At Allegheny, London holds leadership positions on the Bonner Advisory Board and QPOC Leadership Board. London is interested in advocating for localized agriculture and mutual aid initiatives as a means of supplementing communal nutrition needs. This summer, they hope to develop a stronger understanding of urban food apartheids and the systemic structures that contribute to them. London looks forward to applying their internship experiences to future anti-hunger endeavors.
Read more about London DeJarnette
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Ketty Eberepou
5th Class, 2022
"My name is Ketty Eberepou. I was born in the Central African Republic and moved to the United States when I was 11 years old. I am about to graduate from the University of the District of Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Concentration in Global Studies. During school, I was active in the African Students Association. I also worked at the US National Arboretum - Washington Youth Garden, where I served as a Green Ambassador on various efforts to promote access to fresh produce and healthy eating in poor sections of D.C. My post-college goal is to work in the policy arena to find ways to reduce poverty and inequality in my native Africa. This summer, I hope to gain the skills I need to advocate for people who experience hunger and poverty in Africa."
Read more about Ketty Eberepou
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Fernando Gaxiola
5th Class, 2022
Fernando Gaxiola is originally from Mexico City, but has been living in the DMV on and off for most of his life. He studies Communication and Social Influence, as well as Community Development at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is the president of Temple’s Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) chapter where he works on hunger and environmental issues. He is passionate about helping create a society that strives to provide basic human needs to everyone. This summer, he hopes to learn how to work effectively as part of an organization focused on addressing hunger issues.
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Sophia Iacona
5th Class, 2022
Sophia Iacona is a native of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and attends the University of California Los Angeles where she is majoring in Public Affairs and minoring in French language and culture. At UCLA, Sophia is a member of Bruin Shelter, a student-run shelter for college students in the L.A. area, and secretary of BuildOn at UCLA. She is also the secretary of her sorority and serves on her chapter's Sexual Assault Committee and the Panhellenic-wide Sexual Violence Committee. Sophia is interested in sustainable policy and advocacy approaches that center the voices of the community being impacted. This summer, she hopes to learn more about how to fight food insecurity so that she can better advocate for anti-hunger policies on her campus.
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Layne Johnson
5th Class, 2022
Layne Johnson is from Fairfax, Virginia, attends the University of Virginia, and is majoring in Political Philosophy, Policy, & Law, with minors in both History and Anthropology. At UVA, he is Vice President of the university’s Amnesty International chapter and serves as outreach chair of the Charlottesville Alliance for Refugees. Layne is passionate about engaging with law and public policy solutions to address systemic injustices, particularly poverty and food insecurity. This summer, he hopes to both deepen his knowledge about anti-hunger solutions, as well as further develop his policy research and advocacy skills to create a more just world.
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Nash Masinde
5th Class, 2022
Nash Masinde is a native of Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently residing in Ames, Iowa. She attends Iowa State University and is majoring in Global Resource Systems and Environmental Science and minoring in Global Health and Sustainability. She is the president of the Iowa State University Oxfam America club. Nash is interested in addressing hunger and poverty by advocating for better land rights and access to resources for marginalized people globally. This summer, she hopes to develop the leadership and advocacy skills that will enable her to be effective in doing so in the future.
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Deborah Nans
5th Class, 2022
"My name is Deborah Nans and I am a graduating senior at The University of Texas at Austin. My personal experience with the absence of accountability and health resource management planted the initial seeds of interest in medicine. This interest has been nurtured into a full-fledged pursuit for knowledge and experience in global (public) health, health systems design, health policy, nutrition and innovation in health delivery. Simply, I just want to help design, build, and manage health systems that value accountability, efficiency and innovation—especially in emerging economies!"
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Tiara Nourishad
5th Class, 2022
Tiara Nourishad is from Thousand Oaks, California, and is finishing her third year at UC San Diego as a Political Science Major and Human Rights Minor. Tiara serves as the President and founder of the Houselessness Service Org at UCSD, providing mutual aid to the unhoused in San Diego, while playing as an NCAA Division 1 tennis player for the Tritons. Tiara is interested in advocating for the most vulnerable members of her community in a manner that is human-centered. This summer, she is most excited to learn how to translate all of her hands-on work in the field into policy that can have a long-lasting effect on the communities she serves.
Read more about Tiara Nourishad
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Meghna Phalke
5th Class, 2022
Meghna Phalke is a sophomore at Northwestern University, originally from the Bay Area in California. At Northwestern, Meghna is studying economics and political science, and outside of class, she participates in collegiate Model United Nations and sings in a South Asian fusion a capella group. Meghna is passionate about protecting the interests of disadvantaged communities across the globe, specifically in the areas of hunger, education, and health. Having previously engaged in anti-hunger efforts in India, Meghna hopes to use this summer to target domestic advocacy and learn how to most effectively engage in anti-hunger efforts close to home.
Read more about Meghna Phalke
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Kyle Pico
5th Class, 2022
Kyle Pico is from Frederick, Maryland, and attends Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, majoring in Information Science with a minor in Law & Society. At Cornell, Kyle is a student manager at the student-led Cornell Food Pantry, the secretary for Cornell Hunger Relief, and the Alumni Relations chair for Cornell University’s Rugby Football Club. Kyle is interested in identifying hunger issues in the community and implementing meaningful change. This upcoming summer, he hopes to apply his skills in policy analysis and advocacy to alleviate hunger issues in his community.
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Kailey Wilkens
5th Class, 2022
Kailey Wilkens was born and raised in San Diego, California, and is currently attending UC San Diego for her Bachelor's in Computer Science. Kailey works at UCSD's Food Recovery Network, collaborating with her team to recover thousands of pounds of food every month and redistributing it to community members in need. Her work at FRN has ignited a passion for food justice and greater sustainability work. This summer, Kailey hopes to expand her food and hunger justice experience beyond hands-on and community work into a larger scale.
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Indya Woodfolk
5th Class, 2022
Indya Woodfolk is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and a recent graduate at the University of Richmond. There Indya double majored in environments studies and anthropology. Indya was the president of GreenUR, a Bonner scholar, and cheerleader. Indya’s focus has been environmental justice including hunger based issues such as food deserts. Next year, Indya will be attending Duke Law pursuing environmental law.
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James Ziegeweid
5th Class, 2022
James Ziegeweid is a native of Arcadia, Wisconsin, and attends Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minnesota, studying Business Management with minors in Spanish, Political Science, and Agriculture and Food Innovation. While studying at MNSU, James has been a member of the Maverick Cross Country and Track and Field teams, the Maverick Speech and Debate team, the Honors Program, and the Henze Ag Innovators. He also serves as the Meal Planner for the MNSU Campus Kitchen, helping spearhead the fight against food insecurity in the Mankato community. James is interested in continuous improvement, advocacy, and food recovery. This summer, he hopes to develop his leadership capabilities and become a catalyst for anti-hunger work within his community, specifically focusing on rural areas.
Read more about James Ziegeweid
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The Zero Hunger Internship is made possible through the generous support of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Kellogg Company Fund, and the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation.
