Congressional Hunger Center Annual Report 2007

Fighting Hunger by Developing Leaders “Food as Medicine” offers vital information, viable solutions and brings hope into the lives of millions of people living with chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

— Fr a n k Ab d a l e, executive director o f the As s o c i at i o n o f Nutrition Services Agencies

Top: Assembly line of Project Open Hand in San Francisco, California. (ANSA photo) Right: Meal prepared by Mama’s Kitchen, San Diego, California. (ANSA photo) Left: Client enjoys meal prepared by Food Outreach, St. Louis, Missouri. (ANSA photo)

Cover photos, clockwise from top left: The 3rd class of Leland International Hunger Fellows meets Table of Contents with U.S. Ambassador Bost during their Country Policy 2 Letter from the Executive Director Study in South Africa. 3 Letter from the CHC Board Co-Chairs Megan Lent, 13th class Emerson fellow, gives a presentation 4 The Congressional Hunger Center Vision and Programs on her publication Mapping the World of Nutrition at the 14th Annual ANSA Conference. 5 Fighting Hunger at Home The quilt made by Christiane Meunier includes patches 6 Fighting Hunger Abroad representing ANSA member agencies, community partners, 8 CHC Partner Sites 1994–2007 and supporters. Both ANSA and CHC are funded by The 10 The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program UPS Foundation to educate lawmakers and academics 16 The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program about the “Food as Medicine” national campaign. 22 How CHC Funds Are Spent Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)–Shops during the Food Stamp Challenge. (The Hatcher Group Photo by 23 Contributors and Partners 2006–2007 Laura Hayes) 24 CHC Celebrates 15 Years! Our Mission: Food is often cited by people Fighting Hunger by Developing Leaders living with and affected by Our Vision: HIV/AIDS as their greatest and To raise up a new generation of leaders dedicated to most important need. ending hunger in the lives of over 36 million people — Elizabeth Mata k a , the UN Secretary-General’s Special En v o y f o r AIDS in Africa in the United States and 840 million men, women and children around the globe.

What Makes Us Unique: Since 1993, the Congressional Hunger Center has served as a nexus where those engaged in grassroots field operations can connect with policymakers to craft more effective solutions to end hunger. Over 500 leaders have graduated from our programs— young people who will spend their time, talents, and energy fighting hunger and poverty. These leaders have gained the skills, knowledge and experience to inspire hope and fight hunger in the United States and around the world.

Top: This boy and his sister, whom he is feeding, are both orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) cared for by ANSA’s Namibian partner agency, Hope Initiatives. (ANSA photo) Bottom: Breakfast provided to OVCs cared for by Ikamva Labantu in South Africa, an ANSA partner agency. (ANSA Photo)

CHC Annual Report 2007 1 Letter from the Executive Director

n 2007, CHC was “on the move” literally and figuratively – settling into new office space in the Hall Iof the States Building on Capitol Hill in March. Having this new facility will allow us to conduct our 60 days of training for the Emerson and Leland fellows in a new 40-seat state-of-the-art conference room. Our 14th class of Emerson National Hunger fellows and the 4th Class of Leland International Hunger Fellows have both received 10 days of field training in this new space. We now have 20 Emerson fellows in 10 states across the U.S. and 17 Leland fellows around the world (nine in Africa, five in Latin America, and three in Asia.) While many of our Emerson alumni have gone on to graduate schools or future study in the fields of law, education, agriculture, medicine, or public policy, several other fellows have been touched with Edward M. Cooney “Potomac Fever” and found employment in House or Senate offices, Congressional Committees, or the Executive Branch of government at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In recent years, a dozen fellows have found employment on Capitol Hill at the Senate Agriculture, Banking, and Budget Committees as well as the House Ways and Means Committee or the House Hunger Caucus. Most of our Leland fellows have secured employment overseas, many with their Leland host agencies. Fellows are working or have worked for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Haiti, World Food Program (WFP) in Guinea and Sudan, Save the Children in Tajikistan and Mozambique, or Catholic Relief Services in Malawi and Afghanistan. CHC’s staff and board have embarked on a 5-year strategic planning process. Margaret Zeigler, CHC’s deputy director, has led a spirited effort of board and staff, reviewing and revising CHC’s vision and mission, gov- CHC Staff in October 2007. (From Left to Right) Edward ernance and leadership, management and opera- Cooney, Joy Wiskin, Jose Ravano, Margaret Zeigler, Angelina tions, and program work plans. Pérez, Kristin Anderson, Elizabeth Whelan, Sherian Roggeband, I would like to thank Altria, Inc., The UPS Shana McDavis-Conway, Mohamed Gurey, and Aileen Carr. Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, General Mills Foundation, Sodexho Foundation, Kraft Foods, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and MARS, Inc. for their generous response to CHC in 2007. We are also grateful for core funding for our Emerson and Leland Fellowship Programs provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Cooney

2 CHC Annual Report 2007 Letter from the CHC Board Co-Chairs, Representative Jo Ann Emerson and Representative James P. McGovern

Honorable Jo Ann Emerson erving together as co-chairs of the Congressional Hunger Center Board of Directors gives us the Member of Congress CHC Board Co-Chair Sunique opportunity to work on a bipartisan basis with dedicated citizens to end hunger in the Honorable James P. McGovern Member of Congress United States and around the world. In May 2007, we both participated in the national Food Stamp CHC Board Co-Chair Challenge to raise awareness about hunger and the difficulty of feeding a family on the average food Honorable Byron Dorgan Member of Congress stamp benefit. While on the Food Stamp Challenge, we were allowed $3 per day or $21 per week for Honorable Dennis Hertel food, which is the average benefit per food stamp recipient. We thank Representative Jan Schakowsky Member of Congress (Retired) Attorney at Law (D-IL) and Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), who joined us in the Challenge as we learned firsthand The Livingston Group, L.L.P. Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee how difficult eating a nutritious diet can be with limited Member of Congress resources, even in a nation with such an Honorable Frank Wolf Member of Congress abundance of food. As a result of our week Ashley Aakesson on the Food Stamp Challenge, we introduced Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Executive Director Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti the Feeding America’s Families Act, which Rep. James P. McGovern, David Beckmann board co-chairs President mandates changes in the Food Stamp legisla- Bread for the World tion to increase the benefit amount for those Cal Dooley President and CEO who qualify and to make the program more GMA/FPA accessible for those who truly need it. Karen Coble Edwards Principal We also worked with many allies to KCE Public Affairs Association Elizabeth Emerson-Leger introduce legislation to authorize the George President McGovern-Robert Dole International Food The Leger Company, Inc. Vicki B. Escarra for Education and Child Nutrition Program President and CEO America’s Second Harvest–The Nation’s (McGovern-Dole Program), which has provided Food Bank Network nutritious school meals to 26 million children in 41 countries Brian Folkerts Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs since its inception in 2000. The legislation will expand funding, to Kraft Foods Al Franken allow for improved planning and efficiency, and will reach even Author/Comedian more of the world’s hungriest children by 2012. Lou Gerber Legislative Director We salute the work of the Emerson and Leland fellows who Communications Workers of America served in the Congressional Hunger Center’s programs in 2007. Emerson David Kantor President fellows served in 12 states – from Atlanta, Georgia to Seattle, Washington – in programs such Victory Wholesale Group Marshall Matz as Food Stamp Program outreach, migrant farm worker support, disaster preparedness, and child nutri- Partner tion. Around the world, Leland fellows worked in their policy placements in Washington, D.C. and Olsson, Frank and Weeda, P.C. Manly Molpus Rome, Italy, and in Cambodia, Benin, and Senegal to learn skills in anti-hunger advocacy and program President The Molpus Advisory Group, L.L.C. management. Their dedication and commitment to becoming effective anti-hunger leaders continues John R. Sander to inspire us and others with whom they work at their host organizations. We hope you are inspired by U.S. Department of State, (Retired) Management Consultant their work, which is highlighted in this report. Jim Scheibel As board co-chairs, we continue to work closely with CHC and the Congressional Hunger Caucus to Instructor Hamline University raise awareness about hunger and to find solutions to end it. We thank our fellow board members for Mary Catherine Toker VP, Government Relations their support of CHC and invite readers to join us in the coming years as we continue fighting hunger by General Mills, Inc. developing leaders.

Edward M. Cooney Executive Director Dr. Margaret M. Zeigler Deputy Director Ambassador Tony P. Hall Founder Ambassador Arthur E. (Gene) Dewey Founding Director Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Rep. James P. McGovern

CHC Annual Report 2007 3 The Congressional Hunger Center Vision and Programs

Fighting Hunger by Developing Leaders has organized and hosted numerous workshops, national and international hunger forums, and The Congressional Hunger Center has fought briefings for Members of Congress and policy- to make domestic and international hunger a makers. CHC’s many friends and partners include priority for leaders in the U.S. government and to Members of Congress, Congressional staff who train a new generation of leaders to fight hunger. focus on hunger and poverty, and hundreds of Its success in educating leaders to fight hunger anti-hunger organizations throughout the U.S. comes in part from its connection to the former and overseas. House Select Committee on Hunger. Founded in 1983 by Congressmen Benjamin Gilman, Training Leaders About the Causes Mickey Leland, and Tony Hall, the Select of and Solutions to Hunger Committee on Hunger was known for its efforts to find real solutions to national and interna- CHC also serves as a unique training center tional hunger and poverty. where over 500 young men and women have Congressman Mickey Leland (D-TX) chaired gained the skills, knowledge, and expertise the Select Committee until he lost his life dur- needed to become effective anti-hunger leaders. ing a humanitarian mission to Ethiopia in 1989. Our leadership training programs include the Bill Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) succeeded Leland Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program and as chairman of the Select Committee on Hunger the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows until the House of Representatives unexpect- Program. In 2007, we were proud to celebrate 14 edly voted to eliminate all its Select Committees years of fighting hunger by developing leaders. in 1993. Hall responded by launching a 22-day Each year 20 to 24 young leaders are chosen fast, an act that helped bring Republicans and from a large pool of applicants to participate in Democrats together to create the Congressional the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program. Emerson fellows are placed for 6 months through- Lilia Gerberg (3rd class Leland Hunger Center. In 1994, former Congressman out the United States with urban and rural fellow) in Southern Senegal Bill Emerson (R-MO) joined Tony Hall as the community-based organizations, such as food at the Ministry of Health in first co-chair of our bipartisan center. Today, CHC banks, community kitchens, and local advocacy Zinguinchor. is co-chaired by Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and James P. McGovern (D-MA). agencies. They then move to Washington, D.C. to In 2007 the Center received a major grant from complete the year-long program, with 6 months Altria Corporate Services to conduct a strategic of work at national policy organizations, includ- review and develop an organizational plan for ing think tanks, federal agencies, and national 2008-2012. The strategic planning process was for- advocacy institutes. Emerson fellows also receive mally launched in May. With the input of our host over 40 days of intensive training throughout organizations, board of directors, alumni, staff, the year, and national anti-hunger leaders serve and field and policy partners, we expect to refine as mentors and employers, both during and after and clarify CHC’s vision, mission, and programs of the fellowship. fighting hunger by developing leaders by March, 2008 CHC’s Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows when we will release the results of our work. Program provides exceptional individuals with ser- vice opportunities at the United Nations and U.S. Facilitating Collaborative Efforts government agencies and with nongovernmental between Grassroots Programs and and private sector organizations. The duration of National and International Policy the fellowship is 2 years, with a field placement in CHC’s programs and advocacy initiatives a developing country for the first year, followed emphasize the links among grassroots efforts, by a second year in a policy environment in either field-based solutions to hunger, and effective Washington, D.C. or the Rome, Italy food agency policy work. Since our founding in 1993, CHC continues at bottom of page 5

4 CHC Annual Report 2007 Fighting Hunger at Home National Policy Report

major focus of CHC’s domestic advocacy Aefforts this year was the authorization and appropriation status of the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships. Last year, CHC did not receive funding for the hunger fel- lowships because the programs were declared “earmarks” in the Farm Bill, their authorizing leg- islation. Ed Cooney and Margaret Zeigler worked with majority and minority staff of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, successfully advocating for removal of the “earmark” status of the Fellowships in the Farm Bill language. If a Farm Bill is enacted in 2008, the authorization of the Fellowship programs through the administra- tion of the Congressional Hunger Center will be secure. VAH Award winner, San CHC staff also worked to secure ongoing fund- Lifelong AIDS Alliance of Seattle Washington is presented with Antonio AIDS Foundation, ing for the Emerson and Leland Fellowships in VAH Award by Representative McDermott (D-WA) (center) at receives $1,000 check from the 2008 Agricultural Appropriations bill. On the annual Seattle AIDS Walk. Representative Gonzalez December 26th 2007 President Bush signed the (D-TX) (center). Omnibus Bill providing $2.5 million of core fund- deduction for certain households (thereby greatly ing for the Emerson increasing their food stamp benefits), raised the and Leland Fellowship minimum household benefit, eliminated the cap Programs. on dependant care deduction, and raised the Ed Cooney col- assets limits for participating households. CHC, laborated during the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), 2007 with a number America’s Second Harvest, The Center on Budget of groups to improve and Policy Priorities, and Bread for the World all food stamp benefits worked with Congressional staff to shape this and access to healthy legislation. foods in the Farm The Community Food Security Coalition made Bill. Representatives it possible for CHC to receive funding from the McGovern and W.K. Kellogg Foundation for work on improving Emerson introduced access to nutritious foods in the Farm Bill. Other legislation which partners in this effort included the Sustainable increased the standard continues at bottom of page 6

The Congressional headquarters of the United Nations. The field Emerson and Leland fellows continue to Hunger Center Vision placement allows each fellow to take part in grass- dedicate their time, talents, and energy to and Programs roots efforts to support a variety of anti-hunger ending hunger in the United States and over- initiatives, from agriculture to nutrition to school seas. They are living memorials to the late U.S. feeding projects and emergency food aid opera- Representatives Mickey Leland and Bill Emerson, tions. The subsequent policy placement allows two outstanding leaders who exemplified a bipar- fellows to use their field experience to influence tisan spirit of cooperation in the fight against policies and programs that end global hunger. hunger and poverty.

CHC Annual Report 2007 5 Fighting Hunger Abroad International Policy Report

hroughout the year, CHC staff worked in a on U.S. food aid programs in the World Trade Tconcerted effort with allied organizations Organization agricultural negotiations. to craft a more progressive food aid title in the CHC’s advocacy efforts in conjunction with 2007 Farm Bill. CHC Deputy Director Margaret the AFA for the Farm Bill resulted in a higher Zeigler gave made a presentation at the annual proportion of food aid being placed in a “safe- meeting in 2006 of the Alliance for Food Aid box,” restricted for use in long-term chronic (AFA) on the political climate in Congress and hunger programs, rather than being diverted the impact of other constituencies on U.S. food into humanitarian emergencies. In recent years, aid policies and programs. With the advent of despite provisions in the law, food aid has been the 2007 Farm Bill, CHC and allied organizations used increasingly for humanitarian emergen- such as AFA advocated for a series of reforms and cies at the expense of long-term development increased resources for food aid programs such programs that target child and maternal mal- as Food For Peace, Food for Progress, and the Bill nutrition, agricultural improvements for poor Emerson Humanitarian Trust. CHC also worked farmers, and overseas community food security to keep harmful limitations from being placed continues on page 7

Fighting Hunger Agriculture Coalition, Environmental Defense, at Home America Farmland Trust, and the Northeast Midwest Institute. In 2007 CHC also focused on our “Food as Medicine” campaign conducted jointly with the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies (ANSA). On June 19th, CHC and ANSA hosted a Capitol Hill Forum on the campaign for 60 members of Congressional staff. Guest speakers from FRAC and America’s Second Harvest, as well as our own Emerson fellows, gave presentations on how federal nutrition programs, food banks, and locally grown food projects can provide essential foods and nutrients for people with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. As a result of the briefing, six members of Congress asked to tour a Washington, D.C. AIDS program, Food & Friends. After briefings by people who received food and nutrition services at Food & Friends and now live a fuller and more meaningful life, these Quilt made by Christiane Meunier includes patches of ANSA’s six Members of Congress announced that they member agencies, community partners, and supporters. Both would seek to amend the Ryan White Legislation ANSA and CHC are funded by The UPS Foundation to educate and provide direct funding for food and nutrition lawmakers and academics about the “Food as Medicine” services for people with HIV/AIDS and other life- national campaign. threatening illnesses. CHC also made Food as Medicine the theme of to 22 local groups across the country for their this year’s Victory Against Hunger Awards (VAH) work. This award program raises the awareness of program. Thanks to the Victory Wholesale Group, Members of Congress about anti-hunger work in CHC was able to award $1,000 each in cash their districts or states.

6 CHC Annual Report 2007 Damian Astudillo

initiatives. The 2007 Farm Bill language reverses resulting in a high prevalence of chronic malnu- this trend, with the House and Senate Agriculture trition. Low consumption is due, in part, to the Committees approving $450 million and $600 difficulties involved in processing the grains or a million respectively for use in development reluctance to do so (particularly now that easier- food aid programs. Once the House and Senate to-prepare but less nutritious foods are available). versions of the Farm Bill are reconciled in confer- In addition, this traditional, labor-intensive work ence, we expect that a solid level of funding for leads to health problems, including respiratory Traditional method of the “safebox” will approach $500 to $600 million infections and joint, lower-back, and foot pain. processing quinoa is for development food aid. Other reforms include CHC provided funds to test quinoa process- labor intensive. measures to streamline the use of the Bill Emerson ing in 12 communities surrounding the Uyuni Humanitarian Trust, which is a reserve of cash Salt Flat in Bolivia using a machine developed and commodities available for emergency food by Rolando Copa, a local mechanic and quinoa aid needs. producer. Traditional processing requires 6 hours; CHC also collaborated with staff of the House Copa’s invention reduces that time to 8 minutes Hunger Caucus by providing guidance for a July and eliminates related health problems. In all 2007 policy briefing entitled “Food as Medicine: communities where PROINPA conducted testing, Global HIV/AIDS and Food Insecurity.” Staff from residents expressed hope that the machines would the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, soon be available. Congressional Committees, and representatives Following from CHC’s initial funding, from voluntary organizations and the private sec- Bioversity International channeled funds to tor attended the briefing, which was co-sponsored PROINPA to conduct further testing and to by CHC Board co-chairs Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and measure the impact of the machine on nutrition Rep. James P. McGovern. The panelists included and quinoa consumption. The machines were Geeta Rao Gupta, President, International Center placed in the communities by October; the users for Research on Women (ICRW); Dr. Tom Kenyan, pay a usage fee based on the amount of quinoa Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator; Dr. processed. The community elected two machine Bill Hammink, U.S. Agency for International operators and overseers. The money collected Development (USAID) Food for Peace Office; and is used to buy gas for the machine and create a Bruce Wilkinson, Vice President, World Vision. maintenance fund. Panelists outlined the need for food to be pro- Plans call for extending the use of this quinoa vided alongside the antiretroviral therapies within processing innovation to at least four more com- the President’s Emergency Program for Aids Relief munities in the Bolivian altiplano. An additional (PEPFAR). They explored how a funding mecha- new machine – a hojueladora – facilitates the nism might connect PEPFAR with other food aid consumption of quinoa by rolling the grains programs to enhance the impact of both HIV/ flat. When quinoa is rolled flat, cooking time is AIDS treatment and nutrition services. reduced from 30 to 5 minutes, enabling parents to make a morning hot drink for their children’s Assisting Allied Organizations breakfast. The hope is that residents of the Bolivian communities that grow and sell quinoa In 2006 and continuing in 2007, CHC pro- will begin to consume this highly nutritious food vided funding assistance to PROINPA (Foundation themselves and reap the full benefits of quinoa’s for Research and Promotion of Andean Products), rich potential. a Bolivian agriculture and food security organiza- tion, to test an innovative technological advance in processing the country’s staple crop, quinoa. The highly nutritious grain is scarcely consumed in the households of the producers themselves,

CHC Annual Report 2007 7 CHC Partner Sites 1994–2007 l 2007–2008 Bill Emerson Fellows’ Field Sites l 2006–2007 Bill Emerson Fellows’ Policy Sites n 2007–2009 Mickey Leland Fellows’ Field Sites l 2005–2007 Mickey Leland Fellows’ Policy Sites

Emerson National Michigan Hunger Action Coalition of Field Partners Human Services Coalition, Miami Michigan, Detroit Alabama South Florida Interfaith Committee Second Harvest Gleaners Food Alabama Coalition Against Hunger, for Worker Justice, Miami Bank, Grand Rapids Auburn Georgia Minnesota Alaska Atlanta Community Food Bank, St. Paul Second Harvest Food Food Bank of Alaska, Anchorage Atlanta Bank, St. Paul Arizona Hawaii Missouri Association of Arizona Food Banks, Full Plate, Inc., Kaneohe The Campus Kitchens Project at St. Puerto Rico Phoenix Hawaii Food Bank, Honolulu Louis University, St. Louis La Fondita De Jesus, Community Food Bank, Tucson Kauai District Health Office, Kauai Operation Food Search, Inc., St. Santurce Tohono O’odham Community Kauai Economic Opportunity, Louis Action, Sells Kauai Montana South Carolina Harvest Hope Food Bank, Westside Food Bank, Phoenix Idaho Missoula Food Bank, Inc., Missoula Columbia California Idaho Community Action Montana People’s Action, Missoula Alameda County Community Food Network, Boise Northern Cheyenne Food Bank, Texas End Hunger Network, Houston Bank, Oakland Illinois Lame Deer San Antonio Food Bank, San Alameda County Social Services Center for Economic Progress, Nebraska Antonio Agency, Oakland Chicago Appleseed Center for Law in the South Plains Food Bank, Lubbock California Association of Food Chicago Interfaith Committee on Public Interest, Lincoln Banks, Sacramento Worker Issues, Chicago Nevada Vermont California Emergency Food Link, Hyde Park-Kenwood Interfaith Project M.A.N.A., Incline Village Vermont Campaign to End Sacramento Childhood Hunger, Burlington Council, Chicago New Mexico California Department of Health Vermont Foodbank, Inc., South Logan Square Neighborhood Farm to Table, Santa Fe Services, Public Health Institute, Barre Association, Chicago* The Food Depot, Santa Fe Oakland* Virginia Iowa Second Harvest Roadrunner Food California Food Policy Advocates, Portsmouth Area Resources Los Angeles Drake University Law School, Bank, Albuquerque Agricultural Law Center, Coalition, Portsmouth Community Action Commission, New York Des Moines* Washington Santa Barbara Community Hunger Outreach Children’s Alliance, Seattle Foodlink of Tulare County, Visalia Indiana Warehouse, Binghamton The Fremont Public Association, Haven House Services, FoodChange, New York Fresno Community Food Bank, Seattle Fresno Jeffersonville Godian Fellowship Church, Solid Ground, Seattle* Fresno Metropolitan Ministry, Kansas Jamaica Washington Citizen’s Action Fresno Campaign to End Childhood New Yorkers Against Hunger Education and Research Fund, Hunger, Wichita Project at SENSES, Albany Homeless Garden Project, Santa Seattle Cruz Kentucky Nutrition Consortium of New York Washington Food Coalition, Community Farm Alliance, State, Albany Interfaith Hunger Coalition, Los Seattle Angeles Louisville North Carolina Washington, D.C. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Kentucky River Foothills Food Bank of North Carolina, Capital Area Food Bank Los Angeles Development Corp., Berea Raleigh Bread for the World Community Harvest Sacramento Hunger Commission, Louisiana Second Harvest Metrolina Food Call to Renewal Sacramento Hope House of New Orleans, Bank, Charlotte D.C. Central Kitchen Catholic Charities USA San Francisco Department of New Orleans North Dakota D.C. Hunger Solutions Center for American Progress Human Services, San Francisco National Policy and Advocacy Red River Valley Community Food and Friends Center for Community Change USDA Western Regional Office, Council on Homelessness, New Action, Grand Forks Wisconsin Center for Concern/Presbyterian San Francisco Orleans Ohio Fondy Food Center, Inc., Hunger Program Colorado Second Harvest Food Bank of Ohio Association of Second Milwaukee Center for Women’s Policy Studies USDA Mountain Plains Regional Greater New Orleans, New Orleans Harvest Food Banks, Columbus Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee Center on Budget and Policy Office, Denver Maine Operation Food Share, Dayton Priorities Connecticut Maine Coalition for Food Security, Southeastern Ohio Regional Food Emerson National CFED Connecticut Food Bank, New Portland Center, Logan Policy Partners Christian Children’s Fund Haven* Maryland Oklahoma Washington, DC Coalition on Human Needs End Hunger CT!, Hartford Project PLASE, Baltimore Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah Academy for Educational Community Action Partnership The Hartford Food System, Massachusetts Oregon Development Community Food Security Hartford Boston Medical Center, Children First of Oregon, Portland Alliance to End Hunger Coalition Department of Pediatrics, Boston Delaware FOOD for Lane County, Eugene Association for Career and Connect for Kids Boston Medical Center, Medical Teaching Health for Life Ministries, Oregon Faith Roundtable, Portland Technical Education Domestic Policy Council, The Wilmington Legal Partnership for Children, White House Oregon Food Bank, Portland Association of Nutrition Services Florida Boston Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, Agencies Food Bank of Western America Washington Office* Alliance for Fair Food, Immokalee Portland American Dietetic Association Massachusetts, Hatfield Families USA Farm Share, Florida City Pennsylvania American Public Human Services Florida Association for Community Massachusetts Law Reform Association Food Research and Action Center Institute, Boston Greater Pittsburgh Community Action, Gainesville American Red Cross General Board of Church and Worcester County Food Bank, Food Bank, Pittsburgh Florida Impact, Tallahassee America’s Second Harvest Society, United Methodist Church Worcester Just Harvest, Pittsburgh

8 CHC Annual Report 2007 El Salvador FUNDE Georgetown SHARE Foundation University Center for Ethiopia Maternal and Child Action Against Hunger Health IFPRI Heritage Foundation Niger Save the Children House Hunger Caucus* International Crops Research UN World Food Program Immigration and Refugee Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics* USAID, Office of Food for Peace Services of America Peru USAID, Office of Health, InterAction Peruvian Center for Social Population and Nutrition Joint Center for Political Study (CEPES) Ghana and Economic Studies* Senegal UNFAO Lutheran Office for Counterpart Governmental Affairs Guatemala International Lutheran Services in America Counterpart International Helen Keller March of Dimes Haiti International Migrant Legal Action Program U.S. Department of Partners and Health* South Africa National Coalition for the Justice, Executive Office of Honduras Association for Homeless Weed and Seed Christian Children’s Fund Rural Advancement* National Conference of State Volunteers of America India UN World Food Program Legislatures Welfare Information Network Akshaya Patra Foundation* Sudan National Council of La Raza Welfare to Work Indonesia Catholic Relief Services National Head Start Association Workforce Alliance Mercy Corps International International Land Coalition Uganda National Immigration Law Center National Family Farm Coalition Land O’ Lakes Physicians for Human Rights* National Law Center on PACT Leland International Save the Children Homelessness & Poverty Kenya Save the Children Field Partners Uganda Land Alliance National League of Cities AMREF Scripps Howard News Service Bangladesh UN World Food Program National Network for Youth Catholic Relief Services USAID, Africa Bureau Land O’ Lakes (LOL) USAID National Security Council, The International Service for the USAID, Office of Food for Peace UN World Food Program Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Washington, DC White House Dakar, Senegal Benin Applications Partnership to Cut Hunger and National Women’s Law Center* Helen Keller International Catholic Relief Services Land O’Lakes* Poverty in Africa* NETWORK Nairobi, Kenya Bolivia PACT Zambia New America Foundation PACT Northeast-Midwest Institute Adventist Development and Relief Malawi Christian Children’s Fund* Agency CARE Coutounou, Benin Office of U.S. Senator Blanche Catholic Relief Services Lincoln Bioversity International (formerly United Nations Development Leland International Cambodia Oxfam America IPGRI) Programme* Policy Partners PROINPA Mali UN World Food Program Partners for Livable Communities Washington, DC Region Save the Children Helen Keller International* London, United Kingdom Poverty and Race Research Action Adventist Development and Relief Millennium Challenge Action Against Hunger Council Cambodia Agency Corporation* Presbyterian Church USA PACT American Red Cross Ethiopia Mexico RESULTS, Inc. UN World Food Program Bread for the World IFPRI CIMMYT Rural Coalition Chad CARE Rome, Italy The News School Nutrition Association Catholic Relief Services Catholic Relief Services International Land Coalition Share Our Strength Chile Mongolia Christian Children’s Fund IPGRI Sojourners UN Food and Agriculture Mercy Corps Counterpart International UN Food and Agriculture The Urban Institute Organization (UNFAO)* Morocco FANTA Organization U.S. Conference of Mayors Costa Rica Management Systems IFPRI UN International Fund for Agriculture Development U.S. Department of Agriculture International Food Policy Research International Land O’Lakes UN World Food Program U.S. Department of Health and Institute (IFPRI) Management Systems Human Services International * New site in 2007

CHC Annual Report 2007 9 The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program

About the Program The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program is a unique leadership development opportunity for young professionals seeking to eliminate domestic hunger and poverty. The program includes substantial training, an empha- sis on fellowship, and access to superb partner organizations. Through their year-long effort, Emerson Fellows: l Develop as effective leaders in the anti-hunger movement by bridging community grassroots efforts and national public policy. l Gain practical experience at both the grass- roots and national level. l Graduate with direct training in program development, research analysis, and public policy related to hunger and poverty issues. The fellowship is divided into two 6-month Fellows and alumni volunteer together at the Capital Area Food periods: fellows are placed in community-based Bank in Washington, D.C. during August field training and organizations in 10 U.S. cities, and then with orientation. national policy organizations in Washington, D.C. throughout the fellowship year. Training oppor- Training and Leadership Development: tunities include field training and orientation, Special Program Initiative mid-field retreat, policy training, mid-policy To prepare fellows for their field and policy retreat, and professional development days. 14th class Emerson fellows work, the Emerson National Hunger Fellows Training topics include federal feeding programs, celebrate at the U.S. Capitol. Program provides comprehensive training the emergency food system, root causes of hunger and poverty, creative solutions to ending hunger, community organizing, public policy, community building, and skills development. Quality training is an integral part of the fel- lowship experience, and CHC strives to provide fellows with the knowledge and skills they need to make concrete contributions to their field and policy sites. Over the last year, the Emerson program staff worked closely with training expert Nicole Johnson, to develop an integrated training protocol for the annual program of field training, policy training, professional development days, and retreats. The team worked to institutionalize the training program by establishing clear goals and sound methodology, documenting successful strategies, and tracking trainers for easier replica- tion in the future. Throughout this 18-month process, the program team sought and received

10 CHC Annual Report 2007 14th class Emerson fellows at the 2007 World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa.

input from CHC management, various Emerson program advisory board members and trainers, and alumni in designing the new training pro- gram. The goals of the Emerson fellowship train- the best ing program are to: methods for closing l Equip fellows with the skills and a knowledge the gap between food bank resources base on a range of issues related to hunger and and the need for emergency food in Connecticut. poverty that will enable them to make mean- Using research and Geographic Information ingful contributions to their field and policy Systems (GIS) technology, JoEllen mapped the organizations and the people they serve. need for emergency food programs throughout l Create and promote a community environ- Connecticut and recommended strategies to the ment for fellows to make personal and profes- Food Bank for better addressing ongoing food sional connections during the program year insecurity in Connecticut communities. JoEllen’s and share resources and best practices. gap analysis will be used to inform the Food l Integrate fellows into CHC, the Emerson pro- Julie Ferreira, 14th class Bank’s targeting of food delivery to communities gram, and the larger fellowship community Emerson fellow, at the Tucson in need. During her field work, JoEllen grappled and promote fellows and their work to CHC Community Food Bank’s with the complexity of the problem of hunger. partners and stakeholders. farmers’ market. “Single answers are not going to end hunger, not l Examine approaches to change within the in Connecticut, not anywhere,” she said. anti-hunger and anti-poverty movements; For the Food Security for Seniors Project at challenge fellows to reflect on their personal Solid Ground (formerly the Fremont Public aspirations, values and contribution to social Association) in Seattle, Washington, Brad change efforts. Johnson conducted a community food security l Begin to explore the connections between assessment of low-income seniors and persons hunger and other manifestations of social with disabilities living in public housing. Through inequality, particularly racism. surveys, focus groups, and interviews, Brad documented the degree to which public housing Spotlight on the Fellows: 2007 Field residents experience hunger, identified contrib- Work Highlights (14th Class) uting factors that cause hunger, and developed During her field placement at Logan Square strategies to increase access to emergency food Neighborhood Association in Chicago, Elizabeth for isolated and vulnerable adults. Brad’s work in Oquendo worked with parents, school staff, and the community enabled policymakers to hear the community partners to create a wellness coun- actual voices of those most affected. “Listening cil that would advocate for nutrition programs creates effective policy. Effective policy creates and physical education activities at McAuliffe lasting change,” he observed. Elementary School. Elizabeth also supported the At Drake University Law School’s Agricultural universal implementation of school breakfast in Law Center in Des Moines, Iowa, Isha Plynton the classroom at McAuliffe: “I felt a part of the developed an assessment tool for legal clinics to process and got a small taste of what it feels like determine the food needs of children in foster to advocate for something I was truly passionate care and the juvenile justice system. Isha was “sur- Elizabeth Oquendo, 14th about,” she said. In addition, Elizabeth promoted prised that no one had previously asked questions class Emerson fellow, and child nutrition and wellness initiatives through- about food insecurity among this population.” Shana McDavis-Conway, out the Logan Square community by coordinating She trained law students at Drake University’s Emerson Program co-director, workshops and special events. Middleton Center for Children’s Rights to use the at McAuliffe Elementary JoEllen Pederson worked with the assessment tool, prepared a report on its impact, School in Chicago, Illinois. Connecticut Food Bank in New Haven to assess and developed a resource guide for distribution to

CHC Annual Report 2007 11 The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program

judges, attorneys, and child Spotlight on the Fellows: 2007 advocates statewide. While in Washington, D.C. Policy Work Iowa, Isha also helped create Highlights (13th Class) a nonpartisan voter educa- During her policy placement with the House tion guide on the hunger Hunger Caucus, Kate Mitchell worked to and food security plat- expand its membership and educate Members and form of each of the 2008 their Congressional staff on hunger-related issues. Presidential candidates. Kate’s projects included organizing educational Cody Fischer activities and briefings related to the reauthoriza- restructured the Greater tion of the Farm Bill and highlighting ways for Pittsburgh Community Members to get involved in anti-hunger efforts Food Bank’s Farm Stand in their local districts. She supported Members Project to increase of Congress – including CHC board co-chairs access to fresh produce Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and in low-income com- Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) – munities. He also as they undertook the Food Stamp Challenge (see worked to expand the Page 3 Letter from the CHC Board Co-Chairs).The project’s scope and efficacy by coordinating experience helped Representatives Emerson and with new partner organizations and using GIS Cody Fischer, 14th class McGovern educate their colleagues, constituents, technology to map socioeconomic and grocery Emerson fellow, gleaning and the public about hunger in America and the access data in the greater Pittsburgh area. Cody’s at the Greater Pittsburgh Food Stamp Program. experience at the Food Bank made him realize Community Food Bank’s Nick Maryns updated a Food Research and that “fighting hunger and food insecurity isn’t a farm. Action Center publication Food Stamp Access in thing you do from 9 to 5; it’s a lifestyle. It’s not Urban America: A City by City Snapshot that tracks just about ending hunger; it’s about making the food stamp access in 25 of the nation’s biggest conscious choice everyday to stand in solidarity cities. The results of the report were featured with those who need it most.” in an article by Reuters called Anti-Hunger Help During her tenure with the California Misses 3 Million in Big Cities: Study. Nick also Association of Food Banks in Oakland, developed a web-based research tool highlighting Katherine Moos conducted food stamp out- the impact of the practices of local food stamp reach projects with California’s diverse Latino offices and customer services on food stamp populations. She collaborated with bilingual and participation. bicultural food stamp outreach providers to sup- Eric Ares worked at the National Law Center port best practices and created a Spanish language on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), where food stamp outreach website, www.misalimentos. he focused on homeless people’s access to food org. Through key informant interviews and focus and nutrition. He analyzed federal policies to groups, Katherine examined the food security improve access to food stamps, wrote a white issues of the indigenous Mexican migrant popula- paper on food insecurity within the homeless tion in California and the potential for reaching community, and updated and disseminated this population through food stamp outreach. materials on nutrition programs for those expe- Working with outreach providers and community riencing homelessness. Eric also contributed to a organizers inspired Katherine to “think about cross-program report on best practices to alleviate serving the needs of a community as a dynamic homelessness and collaborated with NLCHP staff and productive process that can draw on the on a report about homelessness 20 years after strengths of many.” the enactment of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

12 CHC Annual Report 2007 the World of Nutrition has already reached a wide audience. “The response from the field has also been enthusiastic. We continue to receive numer- ous requests for copies from national, state, and 13th class Emerson fellows Jamillah Jordan worked with the Joint community-based organizations throughout the (from left) Kate Mitchell, Center for Political and Economic Studies’ Health United States,” Abdale said. Kathleen Wood, Nicholas Policy Institute on an initiative called “Place Megan presented her findings at ANSA’sMapping Maryns, Kaitlin Gravitt, Amrit Matters” that identifies and addresses social deter- the World of Nutrition Pre-Conference Institute, Mehra, Megan Lent, and minants of health disparities at the local level. where national nutrition experts, advocates, and CHC Staffer Angelina Pérez at Jamillah created food security and poverty profiles participants from member agencies, foundations, the Food Stamp Fair 2007, in for select counties throughout the nation and and partners met to craft ANSA’s advocacy plat- the U.S. Capitol. developed a training toolkit called Discovering the form. The publication can be downloaded from the Local Food Environment. The toolkit was designed CHC’s webpage: http://www.hungercenter.org/ to provide “Place Matters” teams and their con- chc/food_as_medicine2.htm and from ANSA’s stituents with necessary resources to understand website: http://www.aidsnutrition.org/ local hunger and poverty issues and suggest inno- vative ways to address those problems. Fellows Conduct Food as During her policy placement at RESULTS Medicine Research Education Fund, a nonprofit grassroots advocacy Food & Friends is a nutrition services organiza- organization committed to creating the politi- tion that provides dietary counseling, prepared cal will to end hunger and the worst aspects of meals, and groceries to individuals living with poverty, Eliberty Jiménez worked to increase life-challenging illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and participation among youth, people of color, and cancer. Lindsey Baker and David Tian, 14th low-income people in the RESULTS grassroots class Emerson fellows, focused on the intersec- network. She developed diversity training sessions tions between HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and for the RESULTS International Conference and nutrition. David explained, “Increasingly, medical conducted outreach in targeted communities in professionals have recognized the folly of viewing New York, Kentucky, and New Jersey.

“Mapping the World of Nutrition” Lindsey Baker and David Tian, 14th class Emerson fellows at Food & Friends. Megan Lent, a 13th class Emerson fellow, talked about her recent publication Mapping the World of Nutrition at the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies’ 2007 annual conference in August. Megan’s research for ANSA led her to pro- duce a “map” that connects all the major sources of federal funding for nutrition programs with the populations they serve and the legislative commit- tees and federal agencies charged with oversight. It identifies the national, state, and local stakehold- ers for each funding stream and the communities that receive the services. Frank Abdale, executive director of ANSA, praised Megan’s work. “Once again, our work with an Emerson Hunger Fellow has resulted in a stellar publication of value to the field of nutrition for years to come.”Mapping

CHC Annual Report 2007 13 The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program

Members of the 13th Class of Members of the 14th Class of Emerson National Hunger Fellows Emerson National Hunger Fellows Nicole Alvarado Takhani Kromah Adrienne Alexander Elizabeth Oquendo Eric Ares Megan Lent Lindsey Baker JoEllen Pederson Nikita Barai Nicholas Maryns Fatima Carson Will Perreault David Coffman Sindri McDonald Katherine Chen Isha Plynton Anyu Fang Amrit Mehra Julie Ferreira Bianca Pullen Kaitlin Gravitt Katharine Mitchell Cody Fischer David Tian Toni Holness Jimmy Purvis Gagan Gupta Alexander Villaverde J.P. Howard Sarah Sibley Amber Herman Rachel Winch Eliberty Jiménez Shanique Streete Brad Johnson Corey Yarbrough Jamillah Jordan Srinidhi Vijaykumar David Kane Amelia Kaye Kathleen Wood Katherine Moos

chronic conditions in isolation. Our study seeks Focus on Alumni to approach health promotion holistically.” Fellows carry the rich experiences gained in During their tenure at Food & Friends, Lindsey the Emerson Program’s training and in field and and David worked together to assess the unique policy work as they move on to make an impact needs of clients living with both diabetes and on academia, government, and social justice orga- HIV/AIDS or cancer. nizations. Meet two of our amazing 272 national Through a series of home visits and focus program alumni! groups, Lindsey and David assessed the services that Food & Friends currently provides to its Eric Steiner, United States Department of diabetic clients and made recommendations for Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service improvements. In addition, the fellows researched As an Emerson fellow, Eric worked at the local and national diabetes prevention efforts and Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, community needs through surveys of certified and at Population Action International in diabetes educators and nutritional services agen- Washington, D.C. During his 2002-2003 fellow- cies. Lindsey anticipates that their research will ship, Eric published a report to improve participa- shape the direction of Food & Friends programs tion in the USDA Summer Food Service Program for clients with diabetes. “Interacting with Food in Milwaukee County and presented an analysis & Friends’ clients has been especially meaning- of the links between global population growth, ful because we are working to improve diabetes agricultural production, and potable water as management for people already bravely fighting basic measures of global food security. HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses,” In describing his fellowship experience, Eric she said. says, “I am thankful to have been selected for a Lindsey and David’s work built upon the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship. The experience work of Nikita Barai, a 12th class Emerson broadened my perspectives on the spectrum of fellow, who conducted a pilot study designed nonprofit advocacy and policy objectives. The to demonstrate the positive impact of nutrition program facilitates ideas and personal growth; the support on managing disease. Nikita’s publication people make a positive difference.” “When Medicine Isn’t Enough: The Benefits of For four years after his Emerson year, Eric Providing Nutrition Support to People Living with served on the professional staff of the U.S. Life-Challenging Illnesses” can be downloaded Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and at: http://www.hungercenter.org/chc/food_as_​ Forestry, under the leadership of then-Chairman medicine4.htm Thad Cochran of Mississippi and under the Committee’s current ranking Republican member, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. In August 2007, Eric was appointed associ- ate administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service’s

14 CHC Annual Report 2007 Special Nutrition Programs. Eric is responsible During her Washington, D.C. policy place- for overseeing the administration of 14 of the ment with the Food Research and Action Center, nation’s nutrition assistance programs, including Madina conducted key-informant interviews and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast site visits to identify best practices for decreasing Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition barriers to participation in the Women, Infants, Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Children Program for hard-to-reach popula- and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In tions, including immigrants and women of color. his new role, Eric is also responsible for managing Serving as an Emerson hunger fellow played an 140 employees and a budget of $20 billion. Eric essential role in shaping Madina’s current interest frequently travels across the country to speak at in the relationships among public health, social conferences, address program challenges, and policy, and poverty. “Public health? It’s not just listen to new ideas on how to improve program what I study, or what I do. It’s not just what I’ll services. have my degree in. Or what my career will be. It’s Of his work at USDA, Eric says, “I am living what I love. It’s my passion. It’s my life. Focusing Eric Steiner, Emerson Program one of my versions of the American Dream. on the social and economic aspects of health is alumnus, 9th class. Perhaps only in America can a farm kid from the best way I’ve found to make sure that all of us Indiana grow up to serve low-income populations can have a better life,” she explains. nationwide through nutrition assistance programs Today, Madina works as a research assistant on behalf of the President of the United States. at the Center for the Health of Urban Minorities Education, mentors, and a little elbow grease (CHUM) where she focuses on the impact of wel- open doors to many opportunities. I am honored, fare reform policies on the reproductive health of humbled, and proud to serve our country in this women receiving cash assistance. In the future, capacity.” Madina hopes to help shape evidence-based Eric earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in public policies that promote the health and social Agricultural Education from Purdue University well-being of poor and low-income women of and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree color in the U.S. from the George Mason University School of Law. “I really see my role in public health as shed- Eric Steiner was a member of the 9th class of the ding light onto the social policies and inequalities Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program. that make people – especially those who are poor or otherwise marginalized because of their race, Madina Agénor, Mailman School of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, nationality – sick. Public Health, Columbia University My goal is to ultimately use this knowledge to As a fellow in 2005-2006, Madina worked move policymakers and other key stakeholders to at Boston Medical Center with the Children’s action, so that we can begin to change the factors Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP). in our society that make some more sick than Madina wrote a report on the impact of food others.” Madina Agénor, Emerson insecurity on the development of young black Madina earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Program alumna, 12th class. and Latino children living in poor and near-poor Community Health and Gender Studies from households. The report, published by the Joint Brown University and is currently pursuing a Center for Political and Economic Studies, argues Masters Degree in Public Health in Sociomedical that federal safety-net programs can help mitigate Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health the effect of food insecurity on children’s develop- at Columbia University. ment and school readiness. Madina also initiated Madina Agénor was a member of the 12th class of lasting relationships with advocacy organiza- the Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program. tions working on children’s health, hunger, and poverty.

CHC Annual Report 2007 15 The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program

ince 2001, the Mickey Leland International also occur among fellows working at their various SHunger Fellows Program has provided a unique host organizations. opportunity for talented individuals to work on In 2007, the third class of Mickey Leland international hunger and food security issues at International Hunger Fellows completed their ser- both field and policy levels. The Leland program vice while the fourth class of Leland fellows began is a 2-year placement where fellows spend their the program. The third class of fellows gained first year with partner organizations in countries skills in policy and program administration and throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America, learn- received pre-field training. Upon completion of ing and working firsthand on country-specific the program, they embarked on a broad range of issues that have an impact on hunger. During the career opportunities. When the fourth class of second year, fellows take the field experience and Leland fellows completes its work, the Program learning from their first year to assist in the policy will have graduated 58 talented leaders to partici- formulation and advocacy efforts of their host pate in the fight against global hunger. organization, but this time at the headquarters or regional levels. During the course of the program, Third Class Mickey Leland fellows ensure that appropriate hunger and pov- International Hunger Fellows: Country erty policies are closely linked to field work and Policy Study – South Africa information. In April 2007, the third class of Mickey The partner organizations where fellows work Leland international hunger fellows spent 2 include multilateral institutions and bilateral weeks in South Africa for a Country Policy agencies, as well as international and national Study. In briefings and site visits, the fellows organizations. The placements of fellows per- explored the challenges the country faces in mit the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and meeting the needs of its poor and hungry in the approaches that organizations at various levels postapartheid era. In particular, the Country take to address the root causes of hunger. While Policy Study focused on land reform, agriculture, leadership development and learning within the and HIV, some of the major issues that South Leland program occur with field and policy work, Africa faces right now. additional opportunities for the exchange of ideas From Johannesburg to Soweto to KwaZulu- Natal, fellows met with multilateral, bilateral, government, and local organizations. They received briefings from U.S. embassy officials, including U.S. Ambassador Eric Bost (see photo left). Fellows also met with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and learned about agriculture and food aid pro- grams operated in the southern Africa region. They attended briefings from the South African Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs and the Acting Director of Peace Corps. From the United Nations, fellows met with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Food Program (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Two South African organizations, the Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) and

16 CHC Annual Report 2007 Members of the 3rd Class of Members of the 4th Class of Leland International Hunger Fellows Leland International Hunger Fellows Daniel Abbott Michaela Hackner Emily Bancroft Meagan Keefe Damiana Astudillo Nathaniel Heller Rachel Bingham Alder Keleman Yodit Beyene Michael Manske Kurt Burja Meaghan Murphy Brian Bogart Andrew miller Francisco Del Pozo Adam Norikane Sylvie Doutriaux Amanda Rives-Argeñal Ira Frydman Daniele Nyirandutiye Dalia Emara Akilou Seibou Eric Haglund Michelle Petrotta Todd Flower Bapu Vaitla Anne-Claire Hervy Erica Phillips Lilia Gerberg Carmen Jaquez Nicole Woo Peter Giampaoli Alexis Jones

the Church Agricultural Project (CAP) led the Fund, also her previous host organization. Both Fellows on several site visits to communities that Dan Abbott and Bapu Vaitla are consulting have been evicted from their land. Fellows also for their host organizations, Save the Children visited the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Farmers and Action Against Hunger, respectively. Fellows Support Group, a group that brings training, Dalia Emara, Todd Flower, and Michaela advice, and project support to smallholder farm- Hackner continue their work on global hun- ers. Fellows had the opportunity to visit Children ger and development issues with International in Distress (CINDI), a consortium of over 80 Relief and Development; ARD, Inc.; and World members (nongovernmental organizations, com- Learning, respectively. munity-based organizations, permanent agen- Two fellows in the third class, Nathaniel cies, and individuals) who collaborate to assist Heller and Andrew Miller, were accepted by children affected and/or orphaned by AIDS in business schools to study social entrepreneur- the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Also, fellows visited ship and its role in international development. Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE), a grassroots Andrew Miller began an MBA program this year organization that trains local health educators at IE Business School (IE) with full funding as a Young girl in Soweto to mobilize community members to learn about U.S. Fulbright Scholar. The Madrid-based school township, South Africa. HIV/AIDS and how to combat it. is ranked among the best in Europe and enjoys a strong reputation in entrepreneurship and inter- Commencement of Third Class of Mickey national business. The school brings together a Leland International Hunger Fellows diverse set of perspectives and integrates social issues and environmental stewardship into the In May 2007, the third class of Leland fellows curriculum; 57 countries are represented by completed their 2 years of service in the Leland students in Andrew’s class. Andrew’s principal program. Fellows began the transition from their objective in pursuing an MBA is to acquire the fellowship experience to jobs, or in some cases, Leland alumnus Andrew skills needed to build a successful social enter- graduate school. Damiana Astudillo accepted a Miller, U.S. Fulbright Scholar prise. In particular, he will be exploring the job with the Millennium (center right), at IE Business potential of carbon credits to boost rural incomes Challenge Corporation School in Madrid. and improve natural resource management. He as a Program Officer intends to develop a business plan set in Latin for Agriculture. Sylvie America around sustainable agro-forestry. With 35 Doutriaux also percent of IE’s student body coming from Latin joined the Millennium America, Andrew hopes to use the networking Challenge opportunity to identify partners from the region Corporation after who can assist in planning, financing, and imple- completing a con- menting such a project. He will have the chance sultancy with her to pitch his idea to potential investors at the former host orga- conclusion of the academic year. nization, Mercy Nate Heller started work on his MBA at the Corps. Amanda Yale School of Management (SOM) in September, Rives Argeñal with a focus on social entrepreneurship and began her work as nonprofit management. During his fellowship, a Policy Advisor Nate spent a year in Ghana with the UN Food for Christian and Agriculture Organization (FAO) investigating Children’s

CHC Annual Report 2007 17 The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program

relationships that will last throughout the 2-year fellowship and beyond. Following the retreat, the fellows returned to Washington D.C. where they participated in a week of briefings, updates on issues by host organizations, Capitol Hill visits, a Hunger Caucus forum on “ Food as Medicine: Global HIV/AIDS and Food Insecurity,” and several opportunities to meet and connect with program alumni. Other training sessions included: “Hunger: Definitions and Overview,” “Evidence Based Information,” and “Ending Hunger: Food for Thought,” as well as a discussion on leadership with Gene Dewey, CHC’s first Executive Director and former Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Several alumni led sections of the training, such as a session on making practical and con- ceptual links between field and policy work. Consideration of a case study was led by Chung Lai, a second class alumna. The training encour- aged fellows to begin preparing for the policy year Leland Fellows Rachel how organizations could better use information of the fellowship. Learning about policy issues at Bingham (left), Anne Claire and communications technology to alleviate the outset of the program better equips the fel- Hervey (right) and Leland rural poverty. Nate chose Yale SOM because of its lows to bring lessons from the field to their policy Program Associate Director, focus on mission and leadership and its commit- institutions. Elizabeth Whelan (center) ment to building socially responsible leaders. In with Senator George January 2009, he will travel to India to meet with Spotlight on Fellows McGovern at a Friends of top leaders in business and government. Nate Across the world, Leland fellows work on a the World Food Program also will participate in a semester-long consulting wide variety of issues that have an impact on Reception in September 2007. project with social ventures in Bogota, Colombia global hunger. Their efforts include work on land Senator Harkin (back center) as part of the Yale SOM Global Social Enterprise rights, nutrition, food security and agriculture, Chairman of the Senate Group. ensuring the availability of water, disaster risk Committee on Agriculture. reduction, market access, and value chain analy- Training and Leadership Development sis, as well as health worker retention. In late July and August 2007, the fourth class of Leland fellows participated in their inaugural Kurt Burja, World Food Program (WFP), Cambodia pre-field retreat and training at Virginia Crossings Kurt works for the WFP in Cambodia, support- in Richmond, Virginia. The fellows first learned ing and strengthening the organization’s monitor- about Mickey Leland’s legacy and held discussions ing and evaluation activities, particularly within over lunch with CHC co-chairs, Representatives the realm of food distribution and community James P. McGovern and Jo Ann Emerson. During asset construction. He also provides technical the retreat, the training focused on advocacy and support for evaluations and general methodology leadership, while also giving the fellows a chance in WFP’s data collection efforts. In his first few to learn about each other and begin to forge months with WFP, Kurt has monitored 13 food

18 CHC Annual Report 2007 distributions and provided technical support for The home visits and focus groups have centered three baseline surveys. on learning about agricultural systems, dietary In addition to his regular activities, Kurt also habits, and practices used to feed young children. has contributed content and co-edited several CHC co-chair, Rep. Jo Ann documents and publications on maternal and Michelle Petrotta, SHARE Foundation, El Salvador Emerson (R-MO) and her child health, school feeding programs, and the Within the advocacy program of the SHARE constituent, current fellow Cambodian Food Security Atlas. Foundation, Michelle studies and moni- Carmen Jaquez from Zanoni, tors the impact of the Millennium Challenge Missouri. Erica Phillips, Partners in Health (PIH), Haiti Corporation’s (MCC) compact in El Salvador. The Erica works on the Agriculture Program of PIH, MCC, an initiative of the Bush Administration, which aims to reduce undernutrition in children provides development funds to selected countries under 5 though increased agricultural output of in the form of a compact, or agreement, between households. The program currently distributes the MCC and the host country. In El Salvador, seeds, tools, and goats to each of the families in MCC funds are being used primarily to contruct the program and provides general extension ser- a transnational highway. Michelle is investigating vices to families. the impact on management of natural resources, In her few months in Haiti, Erica has partici- land rights, access to water, and forced displace- ment of people due to the compact. Adam Norikane, 4th class pated in many program activities, such as a train- ing session for community agriculture agents and Leland fellow, stands with Adam Norikane, Christian Children’s families. She has met with agronomists to review youth group members and Fund (CCF), Zambia the program’s details, conducted focus groups Christian Children’s Fund The main component of Adam’s work since with families from the area where the program (CCF) staff in front of a he arrived in Zambia has been the implementa- operates, and performed numerous home visits. chicken coop in Zambia. tion of CCF’s Youth, Agriculture and Marketing Project (YAMP). The predominance of youth- headed households and orphans in Zambia make the successful introduction of a youth-oriented program very important. The goal is to improve the income-generating abilities of youth to enable them to meet their basic needs. Through train- ings and the promotion of income-generating activities, YAMP builds the skills of the youth and provides agricultural livelihood activities that they can be involved in year-round. YAMP also seeks to build and strengthen the organizational capacity of the youth groups in order to create sustainable and autonomous organizations. In order to instill ownership in these organizations, YAMP focuses on advocacy training to urge youth to campaign and petition for access to resources and opportunities. While improving the food security of the youths and their families, this project also provides income through the building of micro- finance and micro-enterprise activities. Through the use of water-harvesting technology alongside sustainable agriculture techniques, YAMP will

CHC Annual Report 2007 19 increase agricultural productivity and sustainable within all organizations, donors must streamline their land use techniques. policies to direct funds and other assistance in the quickest manner possible. I gained a more realistic Eric Haglund, Bioversity International/ perspective on the ‘cogs’ that turn the development International Crops Research for the machine on both sides, and I try to make sure, at least Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Niger in the work that I do, that that machine works as Eric is based in a consortium of three organiza- smoothly as possible. I approach my work at USAID tions – Bioversity, the world’s largest international with a focus on the end result of the support we are research organization dedicated solely to the providing, rather than the semantics of packaging that conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity; assistance.” ICRISAT, a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization While a fellow in Ethiopia, Robert Oliver that does innovative research and capacity build- (first Leland class) helped expand a school feeding ing for sustainable development in the dry tropics program and trained more than 600 school direc- through better agriculture; and World Vision―to tors and 75 district education officers on World research three agro-forestry systems in Niger. Food Program reporting. He initiated an HIV/ These systems aim to increase the agricultural AIDS pilot project in Guinea which will become a productivity of rural farmers by improving local fully supported activity in the UN’s next Country soil conditions, making better use of scarce and Program. Most recently, Robert transferred to the erratic rainfall, increasing local biodiversity, and Mali Country office of the World Food Program to maximizing the benefits to farmers who adopt the serve as the country deputy director. systems. “My time as a fellow helped me understand that Two of the three systems are new and still hunger problems in certain countries are influenced or under development by agricultural scientists. Eric caused by region instability. You don’t have to be poor will estimate the expected costs and benefits to to be hungry. Guinea is a good example. Because of Melody Mc Neil and farmers who adopt the new systems. Eric also is regional conflicts, which date back 15 years, the influx coworker, Catholic Relief developing a protocol for future monitoring and of refugees and displaced­ individuals has weakened the Services, Afghanistan. evaluation of the systems. country as local resources have been heavily taxed.” The third system has a much longer history in Niger and has been widely adopted. Eric will Robert Oliver in Conakry, New Guinea, conduct a survey to: (1) understand why farmers running a WFP food distribution. adopt the system, (2) gain access farmers’ opin- ions about the system, and (3) determine the sys- tem’s impact on household security. Information from his survey will be useful in analyzing the two newer systems for agro-forestry in Niger.

Focus on Alumni Michael Johnson (first Leland class) has moved to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to serve as the Deputy Program Officer with USAID/Haiti. He is spearheading the mission’s donor coordination efforts, among other important functions. “The fellowship taught me that there is too much bureaucratic ‘red tape’ on the part of the donor community when giving assistance. While I fully understand that a certain level of bureaucracy exists

20 CHC Annual Report 2007 “The fellowship provided me with the opportunity to design and carry out one of the most rewarding projects that I have ever worked on – namely, the creation of a photo essay related to my research on the impact of NAFTA on maize and wheat farmers in Mexico. The leeway that I had working as a fellow allowed me to combine photography and research with farmers in a way that challenged and developed my creative and research skills at the same time.” Charlie Ehle (second Leland class) currently serves as an emergency response specialist, for Catholic Relief Services, her host organization during the fellowship. Charlie received the “Outstanding Alumnus” Award in 2005 from her alma mater, Wright State University. “The great thing about the Leland Fellowship was that it taught me that hunger and poverty are cross-cutting themes throughout the development and humanitarian sectors. Although they can certainly be stand-alone issues, they are also very much integrated with other areas such as water and sanitation, health, protection, and emergency response.” Like Charlie, Andrew Fuys (second Leland class) joined his host organization, the Amanda King with the After working in Afghanistan as a Manager for International Land Coalition, after completing Rehabilitation Support and the Women’s Programs of Catholic Relief Services his service in the Leland program. He currently Recovery Unit of FAO in (CRS), Melody Mc Neil (first Leland class) is now serves as a policy officer for the organization. Banda Aceh, Indonesia. with CRS in South Sudan. Andrew coauthored a report honored in the “Best “The fellowship was very helpful in enabling me to Paper-Policy Category” at the 2006 International meet people in international development, build a net- Association for Study of the Commons (IASCP) work, and gain invaluable experience. It also helped Biennial Conference. me to focus more clearly on my interests as well as “My fellowship gave me the opportunity to pursue introducing me to people who have been instrumental work in a field in which I had some background (land to my professional (and personal) growth.” rights) but no global perspective (i.e., my experience While Amanda King (second Leland class) was limited to Indonesia) or sense of how it related to was a fellow, the International Center for Maize the policies and programs of global institutions. The and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) published fellowship gave me a chance to build my understand- a special report based on her fellowship research ing of land tenure and its relationship with hunger on livelihood strategies in Veracruz, Mexico. and poverty, as well as other key development issues In December 2005, Amanda published another such as conflict prevention and resolution and envi- article in Agriculture and Human Values, an online ronmental sustainability and how these intersect with journal. After her fellowship, she stayed on with hunger.” the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for another 6 months as a research analyst. She moved to Indonesia in 2006 and is currently conducting research through a Fulbright grant.

CHC Annual Report 2007 21 How CHC Funds Are Spent

2007 Source of Funds Statements of Financial Position September 30, 2007 and 2006 n Grant $ 2,682,346 n Interest from Investment $ 116,625 ASSETS 2007 2006 Cash—unrestricted $ 19,788 $ 47,528 n Foundation $ 171,695 Cash—temporarily restricted 3,632,626 6,114,264 n Corporation $ 60,550 Accounts receivable 42,361 66,526 Prepaid expenses 19,429 19,429 n Individual $ 7,501 Property and equipment 128,691 50,266 n Site matches $ 69,000 Total assets $ 3,865,445 $ 6,298,013

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS Current Liabilities 86.3% Accounts payable $ 40,610 $ 27,781 Deferred revenue 2,596,492 2,792,923 3.8% Obligation under capital leases 20,219 828 Total current liabilities 2,657,321 2,821,532 5.5% Long term liabilities 1.9% Deferred revenue 827,781 3,170,557 0.2% Obligation under capital leases 46,677 0 2.2% Total long term liabilities 874,458 3,170,557 Total liabilities 3,531,779 5,992,089 Net Assets Unrestricted 152,149 170,695 Temporarily restricted 181,517 135,229 Total net assets 333,666 305,924 2007 Application of Funds Total liabilities and net assets $ 3,865,445 $ 6,298,013 n Emerson National Hunger Fellows $ 1,404,545 n Leland International Hunger Fellows $ 1,386,709 n General and Administration $ 278,365 n Fundraising $ 2,380 n Lobbying $ 7,976

45.0%

9.0%

0.1% 0.3%

32.4%

22 CHC Annual Report 2007 Contributors and Partners 2006–2007

Thank You! The work of the Congressional Hunger Center would not move forward without the support of our friends, corporations, foundations and government partners. A very special note of thanks goes to our contributors over the last year:

Organizations, Foundations, Kraft Foods Max & Katherine Reed Finberg and Corporations Land O’Lakes Edward L. Fink Alliance for Food Aid The Macon Edwards Company Al & Frances Franken Altria Group, Inc. Mars Incorporated Daniel R. Glickman America’s Second Harvest-The MAZON: A Jewish Response to Alison D. Goldberg Nation’s Food Bank Network Hunger Amanda S. Harrod American Beverage Association Monsanto Company Samia N. Hojaiban American Farm Bureau North American Millers’ Timothy A. & Eleanor L. Krieger Federation Association Robert Krzewinski American Frozen Food Institute Philip & Linda Lesourd Lader John Kelly Archer Daniels Midland Foundation David P. Lambert Company Roll Call Robert B. Lester AT&T Snack Food Association Sally Allen Lunn Bread for the World Sodexo Foundation Michael D. & Linda Locke Campbell Soup Company South Plains Food Bank Andrea Maresca CareFirst, BCBS Students Team Up to Fight Deborah & Marshall Matz Center on Budget & Policy Hunger Manly Molpus Priorities The UPS Foundation Benjamin & Magdalene Cornerstone Government U.S. Department of Agriculture Palumbo Affairs Victory Wholesale Group Sara Lynn Parker C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. W.K. Kellogg Foundation Debby Schwaber Petasky Darden Restaurants Stacy Nicole Roen East Side Entrees, Inc. Individuals Danielle R. Romanetti Food Research and Action David and Patricia Anderson Lisa & Larry Sablosky Center Kristin Anderson Sharon Block & Roger A. Friends of the World Food Virginia M. & Walter L. Schwartz Program Anderson David Thompson Grocery Manufacturers Bill Ayers James D. Weill Association Barbara S. Belmont Kevin White General Mills Foundation Ann W. & Robert J. Bittman Mark Winne General Motors Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Krue Brock Barry & Sandra Yatt Goozman, Bernstein & Markuski Mary T. & Dean T. Chambliss Diana H. Zeigler Heifer International Katherine L. Clancy Richard Zeigler International Dairy Foods Edward M. Cooney Association Natalie D’Aubermont International Fund for David D. Dennis Agricultural Development Samuel Dennis International Relief Karen Coble Edwards Development Vernon J. & Johanna Ehlers

CHC Annual Report 2007 23 CHC Celebrates 15 Years!

he Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) cel- Tebrated its 15th Anniversary on February 27, 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. We honored those who continue to fight hunger and poverty in our communities and throughout the world; celebrated the invaluable intellectual and professional contributions our current and former fellows continue to make; and highlighted more than fifteen years of accom- plishments by CHC in its mission to fight hunger by developing leaders. At the reception, CHC presented awards to three leading policymakers who have fought hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Congratulations to our honorees, CHC founding board member Representative Frank Wolf, and Representative Rosa DeLauro and Senator Tom Harkin! Stay tuned for our Spring 2008 Sustenance newsletter covering this wonderful event! Congressional Hunger Center’s 15th Anniversary Gala

&EBRUARYTH s53"OTANIC'ARDEN

24 CHC Annual Report 2007 CHC’s Open House Photo Gallery

To welcome our many friends and partners to our new office space at the Hall of the States Building, CHC hosted over 200 friends, alumni, and Emerson and Leland fellows at our June 12 open house.

Above: Ed Cooney greets realtors Above: 13th class Emerson fellows and CHC Sandy Weiss and Ben Plaisted of staffer Joy Wiskin (far right). CRESA Partners at CHC’s open house; Left: Vicki B. Escarra, President and CEO of Weiss and Plaisted secured CHC’s America’s Second Harvest-The Nation’s Food new offices. Bank Network and CHC board member.

From the left: Robert Egger, President of D.C. Central Kitchen, CHC board member Lou Gerber, Legislative Director of Communications Workers of America, and Ed Cooney.

Far right: Special thanks go to Jeff and Sharon Bernstein for their gift of artwork for CHC’s new location.

The 3rd class of international hunger fellows meet with Lynn Parker from FRAC.

Far right: From the left: Rep. Jackson-Lee Staffer Nina Besser, CHC Executive Director Ed Cooney, CHC board member Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, and Mohamed Gurey, CHC Director of Finance Congressional Hunger Center Hall of the States Building 400 North Capitol Street, NW Suite G100 Washington, DC 20001 202-547-7022 www.hungercenter.org