Above: Rocio Perez, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. As a first-generation Latina from the Westlake/McArthur Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, I grew up in a low-income area with a predominantly immigrant community where I had to learn how to navigate legal, … Read more
Cultivating Tribal Sovereignty: Agriculture Departments in Indian Country
Above: Joel Anderson, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. When I first learned that I’d been placed with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I was eager to learn more about the work being done to promote tribal … Read more
First-Day Feeling: Emergency Food Distribution in Oregon’s Migrant Communities
Above: Ally Hardebeck, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. On December 9, I found myself on apple duty: open bag, fill with 15 apples, tie it off. The methodical simplicity of this task was comforting. Months of remote work had left me … Read more
Join us for “The State of Hunger” on March 5
“The State of Hunger in America,” a briefing featuring field work presentations from the 27th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows, will be held online on Friday, March 5, 2021. This is a great opportunity to learn about the … Read more
Persistence and Pandemic Response: Getting the Word Out in Montgomery, Alabama
Above: Curtis Hills, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. Years ago, a buddy of mine and I worked as youth organizers with the Nollie Jenkins Family Center (NJFC), a social advocacy organization, in Lexington, Mississippi. We were the new kids on the … Read more
Laying Pathways for Success: Grantmaking and Native Agriculture in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Above: Sara Maillacheruvu, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. In a typical Emerson field placement blog, fellows often begin with a reflection that compares where they’ve come from—their hometown, where they went to school, where they’ve worked—and where they are now, or … Read more
Policy Placements Announced for 27th Class Emerson National Hunger Fellows
The Hunger Center is pleased to announce the policy placements for the 27th Class Emerson National Hunger Fellows. From March 10th to July 29th, each fellow will work with one of sixteen host organizations, ranging from U.S. federal agencies to … Read more
Collaboration, Trust, and Agency: Community-Based Food Systems in Chicago
Above: Riani Carr, 27th Class Emerson Fellow. When I received the long-awaited email that contained my field placement, my eyes quickly found the part that read, “…your field placement is with the Chicago Food Policy Action Council!” In my excitement, … Read more
Serve the Line and Shorten the Line: Emergency Food and Equity in Houston
Above: Leslie Rios, 27th Class Emerson National Hunger Fellow, at her placement with the Houston Food Bank. I had only been to Houston a handful of times before I learned my field placement assignment would be the Houston Food Bank (HFB). … Read more
Space for Connection: Midfield Retreat with the Emerson Hunger Fellows
Each year, halfway through their field placements, Emerson Hunger Fellows gather from around country to a central point in the U.S. to participate in the annual Midfield Retreat. During this time fellows spend a week in rest, connection, laughter, and … Read more
Announcing the 27th Class of Emerson National Hunger Fellows
The Congressional Hunger Center is proud to announce the 19 members of its 27th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows. These dedicated young leaders will spend the next 11 months working to end hunger in the U.S. through community-based … Read more
Farewell to the 26th Class of Emerson National Hunger Fellows
The 26th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows celebrated a virtual commencement on July 22, 2020, marking the end of their 11-month fellowships. They were joined by over 100 friends, family, fellowship alums, Hunger Center staff, and supervisors and colleagues … Read more