Above: Amira Iwuala (left) and Morgan McKinney, 28th Class Emerson Fellows. Born and raised in Boston, I have unfortunately been blinded to the realities that Black farmers have faced in the U.S. Accustomed to urban poverty and food insecurity due to my … Read more
No One Develops Equitable Policies Alone: Researching Senior Hunger in Washington, D.C.
Above: Fleurian Filkins, 28th Class Emerson Fellow. When I first learned that I would be working with the DC Office of Planning Food Policy Division and DC Food Policy Council for my field placement, I was excited and nervous. For … Read more
Emerson Fellows Present A Snapshot of Hunger in Online Briefing
On Thursday, February 17, the 28th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows presented findings from their field placements in a briefing entitled “A Snapshot of Hunger in America.” Presentations showcased innovative strategies and approaches for ending hunger at the … Read more
Stopgaps into Systems: Pandemic Adaptations for Treating Acute Malnutrition
Above: Maria Wrabel, 10th Class Leland Fellow, and a health clinic in South Sudan. It was a typical Tuesday morning in December. My colleague and I were conducting a supervisory visit to one of Action Against Hunger USA’s nutrition sites in … Read more
RSVP for “A Snapshot of Hunger in America”
“A Snapshot of Hunger in America: Lessons Learned from Emerging Anti-Hunger Leaders in the Field,” a briefing featuring field work presentations from the 28th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows, will be held online on Thursday, February 17, 2022 … Read more
2022 Policy Placements Announced for Emerson Fellows
The Hunger Center is pleased to announce the policy placements for the 28th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows. From March to July, 2022, each fellow will be placed with one of 17 different host organizations, working on projects … Read more
Assessing Community Needs: Food and Gardening School Programs in Washington, D.C.
Above: Robbie Economou, 28th Class Emerson Fellow. I’ve learned an essential lesson about nonprofits from Alex Boyd, my supervisor at Kid Power, Inc.: “Sometimes you’re so busy doing the work,” he says, “that you don’t have the time to think … Read more
Aren’t We All Eaters?: Creating an Equitable Food Policy Agenda in Central New York
Above: Paige Clay, 28th Class Emerson Fellow. Being a true Coloradoan I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I found out I’d be moving to Syracuse, New York, for my field placement. Having never been to Syracuse or New … Read more
Hunger and the Homelessness Crisis: Researching Affordable Housing in Oregon
Above: Nitan Shanas, 28th Class Emerson Fellow. I remember how it felt when I heard that I would be working with the Welcome Home Coalition in Portland, Oregon. I alternated between being nervous about being so far away from my … Read more
We are Witnessing the Institutionalization of Race in Food Advocacy: Analyzing Approaches to Equity in Maryland
Above: Sofia Charlot, 28th Class Emerson Fellow. In the words of Director Michael J. Wilson, “at Maryland Hunger Solutions (MDHS), we don’t touch food; but we do touch systems, policy, and people.” MDHS pride themselves in doing work that goes … Read more
Alum Profile: Dr. Melissa Zook
An alum from the first class of National Hunger Fellows, Dr. Melissa Zook (‘95) does not hesitate to give credit to the Congressional Hunger Center for how the fellowship experience influenced her career trajectory. Not only did her field placement bring … Read more
The Power of Abundance: Engaging Youth in Political Change
Above: Jacquelyn Sullivan, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. There is a moment in every student’s life where the academic meets reality. I began my undergraduate career at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, with an intent to study political science. I … Read more