The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) is excited to offer a unique opportunity to be actively involved
in the movement to end hunger and poverty. CHC is a bi-partisan organization committed to making
access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food a national priority. Every year, we look
for promising young leaders who care about addressing the problems of hunger and poverty in
communities across the nation. Our national initiative, the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows
Program, trains, inspires and sustains a tight-knit community of emerging leaders committed to social
justice. The program provides Fellows with an opportunity to gain practical experience fighting hunger
and poverty, work with community-based and national leaders, deepen their analysis around poverty
and develop leadership skills. Each year, twenty Emerson National Hunger Fellows help shape and
implement local social justice programs all over the U.S. and then research and support national policy
initiatives in Washington, DC.
Participants are selected for this eleven-month program based on the criteria below. Fellows are placed
for five months with urban and rural community organizations involved in fighting hunger at the local
level, such as grassroots organizing groups, food banks, local advocacy groups, economic development
agencies, and faith-based organizations. They then move to Washington, D.C. to complete the year with
five months of work at advocacy and public policy organizations involved in anti-hunger and antipoverty work at the national level. This unique program allows Fellows to bridge community grassroots
efforts and national public policy. Applications are encouraged from candidates reflecting diverse
educational, cultural, personal and experiential backgrounds.
A living allowance of $14,500, health insurance, housing in the field, a housing stipend in D.C., travel
expenses, professional development training opportunities, and a $3,500 end of service award are
included.
Deadline
The application deadline for the 2010 – 2011 program is January 20, 2010.
Selection Criteria
● Commitment to social justice
● Demonstrated leadership qualities and skills
● Bachelor’s degree
● U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
● Flexibility and ability to adjust to new situations
● Creativity and initiative in problem solving
● Commitment to anti-racism
● Willingness to learn from experts in the field, and commitment to the search for new models in antihunger and anti-poverty work
Timeline
Semifinalist selection will be complete by mid-February; interviews will be scheduled in Washington, D.C.
in March; and final selection decisions will be made in April. Hunger Fellows arrive in D.C. for
Orientation and Field Training in September 2010.
For more information about the Program and for details on the application process, please visit our
website: www.hungercenter.org/national.
If you have questions, please email fellows@hungercenter.org or call (202) 547-7022 ext. 29