The Hunger Center is pleased to announce the members of the inaugural cohort of our new Legacy Leaders program. These leaders, all alums from our Hunger Fellowships and Internships, will convene next week in Washington, D.C., for a two-day intensive professional development session, where they will explore how to create effective change through nonprofit board service.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our alums back to Washington for this inaugural cohort,” said Executive Director Shannon Maynard (Emerson Hunger Fellow ’98). “Since completing their fellowships and internships these 13 leaders have taken different career paths, but they still have in common a shared dedication to building a hunger-free world. We’re proud to be able to offer this program for alums looking for ways to expand their impact in fighting hunger and poverty.”
According to a 2017 survey, fully 75% of Hunger Fellows pursue a career working for the public good. Legacy Leaders builds on our initial investment in these promising change-makers by providing them with tools and resources to grow their professional capacity and find new ways to have an impact in the movement against hunger.
Each annual cohort of Legacy Leaders will focus on a different on critical topic that is mission relevant and advances alums’ professional goals as change agents. This inaugural class will focus on nonprofit board service as a lever for social change. After the initial two-day gathering the cohort will form a community of practice and peer support group for the next six to 12 months to help one other achieve their professional goals around board service.
“Organizations large and small are examining their systems and practices to promote racial equity, and in some cases to reallocate power to people who have been historically marginalized,” continued Maynard. “Now especially, service on a nonprofit board can be a potent lever for social change. I’m excited to see what creative ways this group of alums will find to use what they’ve learned through this program and from each other to have an even greater impact on food security for their communities and for the world.”
Legacy Leaders Inaugural Cohort
| Name | Affiliation | Alum of |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Blair | Director of Operations and Finance, Chicago Votes | Emerson ’12 |
| Beth Brockland | Vice President, Workplace Solutions, Financial Health Network | Emerson ’01 |
| Cara Brumfield | Director of Income and Work Supports, Center for Law and Social Policy | Emerson ’11 |
| Danny Burke | Director of Development, Students Run Philly Style | Emerson ’10 |
| Riani Carr | Senior Research Coordinator, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program | Emerson ’21 |
| Jonathan Dabel | Student, University of Mississippi | Zero Hunger ’21 |
| Michelle Fausto | Business Counselor, Los Angeles Food Policy Council | Emerson ’22 |
| Nathan Garcia | Lead Associate, Policy and Advocacy Communications, Save the Children | Emerson ’22 |
| Laura Harker | Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | Emerson ’13 |
| Nesreen Abu Khalaf | Medical Student, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine | Zero Hunger Intern ’18 |
| Emma Peterson | Student, Lindsey Wilson College | Zero Hunger Intern ’20 |
| Michael Richardson | Director of Worker and Student Voices, National Skills Coalition | Emerson ’09 |
| Kat Vang | Senior Consultant, Open Impact | Emerson ’19 |
The Inaugural Cohort of Legacy Leaders is made possible with the generous support of the Kroger Co. Foundation