Emerson Fellow
Daniel Burke
16th Class, 2009-2010
Hailing from Monee, Illinois, Danny graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2009 with a double major in Spanish and environmental studies. He studied in Spain, ran cross-country and track and field, and received two fellowships to fund his work in environmental and food justice. He also completed a senior thesis on food justice and interned at the Bloomington Farmers Market to help the market transition to accepting SNAP/food stamps benefits.
Field placement: Community Farm Alliance
Louisville, Kentucky
Danny helped to increase healthy food access for West Louisville residents. He designed a program for a local food distribution center owned by Kentucky family farmers that allowed the center to accept SNAP/food stamp benefits. He also provided technical assistance to two Louisville farmers’ markets in their efforts to accept SNAP/food stamps.
Policy placement: Food Research & Action Center
Washington, D.C.
Danny researched and updated an annual report on SNAP/food stamps access in U.S. urban centers. He also contributed to a SNAP outreach and access toolkit and prepared a priority policy report on SNAP outreach to homeless persons.