CONGRESSIONAL HUNGER CENTER July 2009 Vol. 6, No. 1 The Congressional Hunger Center Newsletter CHC Pays Tribute to Mickey Leland HC honored the fleeing from conflict in and in the United States. Next, with The Mickey Leland Cmemory of former Sudan. Congressional staff the legendary civil rights Hunger Leader Award by CHC Representative Mickey members, State Department leader, Representative John Founder, Ambassador Tony Leland at the beautiful U.S. officials, USAID and Peace Lewis, delivered a moving P. Hall; and Botanic Garden, on May 19, Corps personnel and tribute speech honoring l Senator Thad 2009. Representative Leland Ethiopian nationals were with Mickey Leland. Cochran was presented with was a Member of the U.S. him on the flight that day. We then proudly honored The Mickey Leland Hunger House of Representatives from At the event, CHC’s 275 four outstanding national Leader Award by CHC board Houston, Texas. During six guests included Members leaders who have dedicated co-chair, Representative terms in the Congress and five of Congress, senior officials their lives and their work to James P. McGovern. years as a Texas state legislator from the U.S. Department fighting hunger and poverty Alison Leland joined us and Democratic Party offi- of Agriculture, and corpo- in the U.S. and across the that evening from Houston, cial he successfully brought rate and nonprofit leaders, globe: Texas. Staff from the former attention to human rights as well as current Emerson House Select Committee issues and rallied support that and Leland Hunger Fellows on Hunger were present, resulted in both public and and alumni, and CHC board including Marty Rendon, private action. Together with members and staff. Patricia Johnson, Ray Representative Benjamin Master of Ceremonies, Boshara, and Marty LaVor. Gilman, Leland founded the CHC executive director A highlight of the evening House Select Committee on Edward M. Cooney, wel- was a videotaped message Hunger in 1984. comed the guests and paid from Chris Matthews of tribute to the Emerson and MSNBC/Hardball. Matthews Leland Fellows and alumni Odom Sonny (Left to Right) Mickey Leland now serving throughout the International Hunger Fellow Adam United States and in over 20 Norikanel Representative Donald M. countries around the world. Payne; Representative Sheila Jackson Dr. Kathleen Merrigan, Lee; Alison Leland; Bill Emerson the USDA Deputy Secretary National Hunger Fellows Veronica of Agriculture, gave a special Conti and Sarah Custer address about hunger overseas Sonny Odom Sonny l Representative (Left to Right) Bill Emerson National Odom Sonny Donald Payne was pre- Hunger Fellow Ayanna Williams; (Left to Right) Deputy Director Representative Jo Ann Emerson; sented with The Mickey Margaret Zeigler; Hunter Moorhead of Senator Herb Kohl and Jon Janowski of Leland Hunger Leader Award the Office of Senator Thad Cochran, Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee by CHC board member, and Representative Jim McGovern Representative Sheila August 7, 2009 marks the Jackson Lee; traveled with Mickey Leland 20th anniversary of the tragic l Senator Herb Kohl on one of his humanitarian plane crash that occurred was presented with The missions to Africa in the Sonny Odom Sonny during a famine mission Mickey Leland Hunger Leader (Left to Right) Deputy Director 1980’s, and his videotaped in Ethiopia. Leland was on Margaret Zeigler; Ambassador Tony Award by CHC board co-chair, message at the event vividly the plane and was lead- Hall; Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.; Bill Representative Jo Ann captured their experiences ing a mission to a refugee Emerson National Hunger Fellow Nikki Emerson; as they encountered hungry camp, which sheltered Mosuro and Mickey Leland International l Senator Robert P. refugees, militant warlords, thousands of civilians Hunger Fellow Meaghan Murphy Casey, Jr. was presented continued on page 3 Fighting Hunger by Developing Leaders Greetings from the Executive Director By Edward M. Cooney n July 22nd, we proudly Kathleen Merrigan Stamp) program in the I have been an active mem- Ocelebrated the 15th class greeted our guests and the economic stimulus legisla- ber of the Community Food of Emerson National Hunger USDA Food, Nutrition, tion. We also highlighted Security board of directors. Fellows at their commence- and Consumer Service the importance of including The board is nearing comple- ment ceremony, held at the Deputy Under Secretary funding for expansion and tion of its strategic plan for Phoenix Park Hotel. Senator Janey Thornton and improvements for child nutri- the next five years. Some of Robert P. Casey, Jr. of USDA Food and Nutrition tion in the President’s 2010 the key policy objectives that Pennsylvania joined members Service Administrator budget. We are very pleased we will address are expanding of the “Witnesses to Hunger Julie Paradis were in that the President accepted direct participation of farmers Project” from Philadelphia in attendance. John Kelly, the recommendations of and farm products to supply celebrating the success of the Director of Faith Based and CHC and other National school lunch programs (Farm Emerson Fellows that eve- Community Initiatives Anti Hunger Organizations to School) and expanding the ning. Our 4th class of Leland Office at the Corporation for (NAHO) regarding these legis- availability and use of locally International Hunger Fellows National and Community lative priorities. grown foods for the commu- completed their two year Service, and Max Finberg, CHC has worked along- nity as a whole. fellowship in June. We will Director of Faith Based and side members of the Child CHC proudly welcomes have 35 new Emerson/Leland Neighborhood Partnerships Nutrition Forum on the two new board members! Fellows in 2009/2010 working Office at USDA, were in 2009 Child Nutrition Kimberly Perry, Kid’s on five continents in 16 coun- the audience as well. Both Reauthorization. We have met Movement Director of the tries and in 10 U.S. States. John and Max were former with the key White House Clinton Foundation’s Alliance There were 540 applicants for Directors of CHC’s National staff on the Domestic Policy for a Healthier Generation, these 35 fellowships. Hunger Fellowship program. Council and the Office of and Alejandra Lopez- Several new U.S. CHC has been actively Management and Budget to Fernandini of the New Department of Agriculture engaging with the Obama express our views on how to America Foundation, com- staff helped CHC celebrate Administration on a number improve access to and the menced their board service in the life and legacy of former of food security initiatives. nutritional quality of meals June, 2009. We look forward U.S. Representative Mickey We met with the Agriculture served to children in school, to working closely with them Leland at the U.S. Botanic Transition Team regarding after school, in the summer in the coming years as we Garden on May 19th. the need to include increased and in pre-school child care ‘fight hunger by developing USDA Deputy Secretary funding for the SNAP (Food programs. leaders.’ l CHC hosts lunch for Witnesses to Hunger Participants and Emerson Fellows Forty mothers. Forty cam- Drexel University School of then recorded. By using exhibit, shared lunch with eras. One purpose: to end Public Health, acknowledges this technique, known as the Witnesses and project child hunger. “Witnesses to that policies and programs are “Photovoice,” the project has staff, and left inspired by Hunger” is a project featuring often created without par- given the women a voice with their accomplishments and photographs of Philadelphia ticipation by people who are a message that is now being goals. CHC is honored to have women who are working to most affected. Who better to heard. Senator Robert hosted this lunch, and we create better lives for their speak on poverty and mater- P. Casey, Jr. invited the look forward to the continued children. On Thursday May 7, nal and child health than Witnesses to Hunger Exhibit success of the Witnesses to these powerful Philadelphia mothers of young children? and participants to Capitol Hunger project. To learn mothers joined Emerson fel- Each participant was given Hill. From May 4-8, the Russell more about the project and lows and CHC staff in our a digital camera, and asked Rotunda featured the compel- view the photos, visit: www. office for lunch and conversa- to take pictures of what ling pictures and stories of witnessestohunger.org l tion. The project, begun by poverty and hunger meant these strong women. CHC Dr. Mariana Chilton of the to them. Their stories were staff and fellows viewed the 2 Sustenance ˙ July 2009 Tribute to Mickey Leland continued from page 1 and abandoned children in Sudan and Ethiopia. Corporate, foundation, and individual contributions for the Tribute event totaled over $300,000 to benefit our Odom Sonny Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and Mickey Leland International Alesha Black with the Bill & Melinda Hunger Fellows and our Bill Gates Foundation. Emerson National Hunger Fellows. A special thank you to all of our contributors who Bunge North America, Inc. made this event possible! Friends of the World Food Program Harvester ($25,000) Grocery Manufacturers Mickey Leland’s Life and American Airlines, Inc. Association Bill & Melinda Gates International Dairy Foods Legacy Tribute Evening Foundation Association General Mills Foundation International Fund for Kraft Foods On Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 the Congressional Hunger Agricultural Development Monsanto Company Center (CHC) paid tribute to Mickey Leland, former (IFAD) Representative from Houston, Texas, with a reception at Sodexo Inc./Sodexo Roll Call the U.S. Botanic Garden. Mickey Leland and 15 other Foundation Service Employees humanitarians lost their lives in a tragic plane crash on August Wal-Mart 7, 1989 during a famine mission to Ethiopia. His dedication International Union (SEIU) to the fi ght against hunger serves as an inspiration and as a Cultivator ($15,000) Share Our Strength foundation for CHC’s anti-hunger work.