Emerson Fellow
Clara Pitt
29th Class, 2022-2023
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Clara recently graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor’s of Arts and honors in Environmental Studies. While at Vassar, she spent her time exploring the intersection between visual arts, environmentalism, and behavioral science as means of creating climate action accessibility. In 2021, inspired to move intellectually past her history of disordered eating and dietary restrictions, Clara worked with a team of researchers and local residents to study how to make the New York City food system more affordable, equitable, just, and sustainable. She and a peer wrote a cookbook based on their research titled "A Bite of the Big Apple: A Food Justice Cookbook." As an Emerson Fellow, Clara hopes to work at the intersection of climate and food justice and support making healthy foods accessible while building more sustainable and equitable food systems.
Field placement: About Fresh
Boston, Massachusetts
Clara is working at About Fresh in Boston, Massachusetts. She primarily focuses on expanding About Fresh's social action plan to build and implement a strategy for ongoing pop-up events. These events will focus on intersectional food justice and equity through educational programing and advocacy to broaden the reach of Fresh Trucks’ existing programs.
Policy placement: Feeding America
Washington, D.C.
Clara Pitt is working with Feeding America to strengthen their federal and network facing communications regarding TEFAP through administrative rulemaking, webinars, and informational resource creation. Clara is leading a group of Food Bankers and Food Bank Associations who have received a grant from Feeding America to expand their TEFAP programs. While working closely with the grantees, Clara is leading the update of Feeding America's TEFAP State by State Guide. This guide is a resource that helps food banks compare TEFAP requirements in their state and other states while learning about best practices for improving their TEFAP operations.