Garcia headshot

Emerson Fellow

Nathan Garcia

28th Class, 2021-2022

Nathan Garcia has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years, on a range of issues from human rights to wildlife conservation. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he was first introduced to social justice work by local organizations combating human trafficking. After years of building grassroots marketing campaigns, and developing community outreach programs, he went on to become the first in his family to graduate from college; earning a degree in International Relations and Human Rights from the University of California, Davis. As a communication consultant, photographer, and filmmaker he has traveled throughout the United States and to over 20 countries, creating awareness campaigns, development strategies, and documentaries for organizations creating a more just and equitable world.

Field placement: Project Bread

Boston, Massachusetts

Nathan completed his field work at Project Bread in Boston, Massachusetts. His research examined the preparation, implementation, and success of school breakfast programs in districts with students affected by food insecurity. With a focus on alternative breakfast models, Nathan’s work looked at the effects and outcomes of breakfast after the bell on student participation in school meal programs.

Policy placement: Food Research & Action Center

Washington, D.C.

Nathan Garcia is working with Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) on policy and advocacy projects with the Child Nutrition and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) teams. While there, he is developing templates for Healthy School Meals For All (HSMFA) campaigns in states across the country, monitoring federal Congressional oversight and action on SNAP as well as analyzing participation data about SNAP trends to inform outreach strategies. In addition, he is also tracking approved state plans for Pandemic EBT, writing case studies on states that have successfully passed HSMFA legislation, and creating materials to support participation in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and the Summer Food Service Program.

Publications & Blog Posts