Who We Are

Founded in 1993 by a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, we are a global nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle that access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food is a basic human right. We develop, inspire, and connect leaders in the movement to end hunger, and advocate for public policies that will create a food secure world.

Our Mission

We develop, inspire, and connect leaders in the movement to end hunger, and advocate for public policies to create a food-secure world.

Learn why we focus on leadership

Leader In Action

Emerson Fellow De’Sean Weber gives an interview to local media on his work for the Health Corners initiative in Jersey City, N.J.

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Our Board

1 McGovern headshot

Representative James P. McGovern
Member of Congress, Hunger Center Board Chair

2 Jackson headshot

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee
Member of Congress

Coble headshot

Karen Coble Edwards
Principal at KCE Public Affairs Associates, Hunger Center Board Vice Chair

Emerson headshot

Katharine Emerson
Chief of Staff, World Food Program USA, Hunger Center Board Secretary

Folkerts headshot

Brian Folkerts
Gerber headshot

Lou Gerber
Senior Fellow at the Food Research & Action Center

Hertel headshot

Dennis Hertel
Member of Congress (Retired), Distinguished Professor at National Defense University

Houston headshot

Kate Houston
Martinez headshot

Alfonso Martinez
Mason Hall headshot

Gerri Mason Hall
VP Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, NetApp

Perry headshot

Kimberly Perry
Executive Director, DC Action for Children

Sarasin headshot

Leslie Sarasin
President and CEO at Food Marketing Institute

Scheibel headshot

Jim Scheibel
Professor of Practice, Hamline University

Shah headshot

Ria Shah
Principal at Athira Solutions, Hunger Center Board Treasurer

Silva headshot

Eric Silva
Founding Principal at North South Government Strategies

Steiner headshot

Eric J. Steiner
Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Forest & Paper Association

Toker headshot

Mary Catherine Toker

Our HisTory

Bill & Mickey

Mickey Leland and Bill Emerson. Photo credit: Marty LaVor

In 1983, U.S. Representatives Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), Mickey Leland (D-Texas) and Tony Hall (D-Ohio) formed the House Select Committee on Hunger to find sustainable solutions to national and international hunger and poverty. Rep. Leland chaired the committee until his death during a famine relief mission to the Horn of Africa in 1989.

In 1993, the House allowed a number of select committees to expire including the House Select Committee on Hunger. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Hall, responded by embarking on a 22-day fast, an act that garnered bipartisan support to form the Congressional Hunger Center as a nonprofit organization to help ensure Congress continued to address hunger. Representative Bill Emerson (R-Mo.) joined Rep. Hall as the first co-chairs of the Congressional Hunger Center's Board of Directors.

our supporters

We couldn’t do our work alone. We’re grateful to our funders for the generous financial and in-kind support that makes our work possible.

 
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USAID logo
 
C&S Wholesale Grocers logo
General Mills logo
Kroger Foundation logo
Pepsico
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation logo