Emerson Fellow
David Blount
21st Class, 2014-2015
David grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri and graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2013 with degrees in sociology and international studies. After graduation, David completed a year of service with City Year Chicago, an education non-profit dedicated to ending the high school dropout crisis. At Loyola, David led multicultural initiatives with the Office of Diversity & Multicultural Affairs to create sustainable support systems for underrepresented students. He worked with youth in Chicago through Youth Organization Umbrella Inc. as a mentor and tutor, coordinating youth development programming for middle and high school students. He also studied political and social formations in El Salvador, China, and Tunisia and was a Public Policy International Affairs Fellow at Princeton University in 2012.
Field placement: Just Harvest
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
David worked in Allegheney County schools to assess the impact of the new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows high poverty school districts to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students while eliminating the traditional school meal application process. He conducted research and engaged in outreach efforts to educate parents, schools, and partner organizations about CEP. He produced outreach materials and developed relationships with community partners and school districts to advocate for action on child nutrition, poverty, and education issues.
Policy placement: The Urban Institute
Washington, D.C.
David conducted research on the effects of food insecurity on adolescents. He also helped develop the Teen Centered Food Program as part of Urban’s Housing Opportunity & Services Together (HOST) Demonstration, which addresses issues related to food insecurity among teenagers living in public housing.