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Welcome
The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship is a unique leadership development opportunity for experienced, motivated individuals seeking to make a difference in the struggle to eliminate hunger and poverty worldwide. This two-year program begins with a one-year field placement in countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Fellows are assigned to national and international non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations. Fellows spend their second year in a policy environment, usually at the headquarters of the organizations where they served during their field placements. Field and policy assignments, closely coordinated, are designed to be complementary.
Welcome 4th class (2007-2009) of Fellows!
The selection of the 4th Class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows (2007-2009) is finalized. This cycle, the program received more applicants than ever. CHC received over 300 Fellowship applications for 18-20 Fellowship slots. See the bios of our new class of Fellows. The 4th Class of Leland Fellows will be working in a wide variety of countries on issues that impact upon hunger including food security, land rights, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, nutrition, network/coalition building and market access. See the list of Fellows and their field and policy placements (link to Fellows chart (see below).
Pre-field Retreat and Training
In late July and early August the 4th class of Leland Fellows participated in their inaugural pre-field retreat and training. The Fellows first gathered at the CHC office to learn about Mickey Leland’s legacy, as well as a discussion over lunch with CHC co-chairs, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jo-Ann Emerson (R-MO). The retreat was held at Virginia Crossings Resort in Richmond, Virginia. During the retreat, the training focused on advocacy and leadership, while giving the Fellows a chance to learn about each other and begin to forge relationships that will last throughout the two year Fellowship and beyond.
Current Fellow Carmen Jaquez and CHC co-chair, Rep. Jo-Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Following the retreat, the Fellows returned to Washington D.C. where they participated in a week of briefings, issue updates from current Host Organizations, Hill visits, a Hunger Caucus hearing on Food Insecurity, Nutrition and Global HIV/AIDS, and several opportunities to meet and connect with program alumni. Other training sessions included: “Hunger: Definitions and Overview,” “Evidence Based Information,” “Ending Hunger: Food for Thought,” as well as a discussion on leadership with Gene Dewey, CHC’s first Executive Director, and also the former Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
Patricia Johnson, friend of Mickey Leland, shares with the 4th Class Fellows her reflections on the late Representative from Texas
Several alumni also led sections of the training, such as a session on making practical and conceptual links between field and policy work, as well as a case study led by Chung Lai, a 2nd class alumna. The DC training focused on encouraging Fellows to begin thinking about and preparing for the second year, which is the policy year of the Fellowship. By being appraised of certain policy issues at the outset of the Fellowship, Fellows will be better equipped to bring lessons from the field to their policy institutions.
Farewell to the 3rd class of Fellows!
The Mickey Leland Class of 2005-2007 completed their service on May 31, 2007. During the two years, the Fellows made notable contributions to their host organizations and gained valuable skills and learning in the process. The Leland Class has joined our distinguished alumni as they move on to their respective careers in fighting hunger and addressing issues of international development and poverty. We thank them for their service and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
Brian Bogart has joined World Food Program in Chad. Amanda Rives Argeñal began her work as a Policy Advisor for Christian Chidren’s Fund, her previous host organization. Both Damiana Astudillo and Sylvie Doutriaux are now working for the Millennium Challenge Corporation as Program Officers for Agriculture. Both Todd Flower and Michaela Hackner have moved to Vermont; Todd Flower has accepted a job with ARD as their Staff Associate, while Michaela Hackner is working as the Director of Online Strategy for World Learning Center. Daniel Abbott (Save the Children), Peter Giampaoli (International Land Coalition) and Bapu Vaitla (Action Against Hunger) are currently staying on at their host sites as consultants. Other members of the Class of 2005-2007 have decided to pursue further studies in order to hone their skills in addressing issues of international hunger and poverty. Both Nathaniel Heller and Andrew Miller have decided to attend Business School to study social entrepreneurship and its role in international development. Nate will attend Yale Business School in the Fall of 2007, while Andrew will attend Instituto de Emprezo in Spain on a Fulbright scholarship.
3rd Class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Country Policy Study in South Africa
In April 2007, the 3rd class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows spent two weeks in South Africa for a Country Policy Study. Through briefings and site visits, the Fellows explored the challenges the country faces in meeting the needs of its poor and hungry in a post-apartheid era. In particular, the Country Policy Study focused on land rights and HIV/AIDS, two of the major issues that South Africa faces right now. From Johannesburg to Soweto to KwaZulu-Natal, Fellows met with multilateral, bilateral, government and local organizations. They received briefings from US embassy officials, including a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Eric Bost. From the United Nations, Fellows met with UN Development Program, World Food Program and Food and Agriculture Organization. From the United States, they met with USDA, USAID. Additionally, they attended briefings from the South African Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs and the Acting Country Director of Peace Corps. Two local organizations, The Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA), under the umbrella of the International Land Coalition, and the Church Agricultural Project led the Fellows on several site visits to communities that had been evicted from their land. Fellows also visited the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Farmers Support Group, a group that brings training, advice and project support to smallholder farmers. Fellows had the opportunity to visit Children in Distress (CINDI), a consortium of over 80 members (NGO’s, CBOs, permanent agencies and individuals) who collaborate to assist children affected and/or orphaned by AIDS in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Additionally, Fellows visited Total Control of the Epidemic, a grassroots organization that trains local health educators mobilize their community members to learn about HIV and how to combat it.
See the full trip report
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3rd Class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows w/ CHC Board Co-Chair Rep. McGovern |
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See profiles of the 3rd Class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows to view the work the Fellows were doing in their field and policy year: Host organizations for the 3rd class included:
- Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA): Bolivia
- Action Against Hunger: Ethiopia
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS): Benin
- Christian Children’s Fund (CCF): Honduras
- Counterpart International: Senegal
- Fewsnet/ USAID: Washington, DC
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Ghana
- Heifer International: Kenya
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Costa Rica and Ethiopia
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI): Bolivia
- Management Systems International (MSI): Morocco
- Pact: Cambodia
- Save the Children US: Uganda
- Uganda Land Alliance: Uganda
- World Food Program (WFP): Cambodia
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