Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship

Applications are open for Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program that develops effective leaders with a deep understanding of hunger and poverty at both the local and national level that enables them to find innovative solutions and create the political will to end hunger.

Each year, 16-20 participants are selected from around the country for this year long program. This is a social justice program that trains, inspires, and sustains leaders. They support a diversity of local and national approaches to eliminate hunger, poverty and oppression and nurture an innovative national network of creative and inspiring change agents who share our vision of a just world.

Benefits

The Congressional Hunger Center will provide Emerson Fellows with a total financial package of no less than $36,000 over the duration of the fellowship. Emerson Fellows also gain:

Membership in a dynamic learning community of Fellows

Connection to an extensive network of alumni, partners, and experts

Experience working with community and policy leaders

Training / mentoring / leadership development

Project management experience

Eligibility Criteria

Emerson Fellows will:

• Actively work to end hunger, poverty, and oppression both during and after the Fellowship
• Gain an understanding of and commitment to their role as social justice leaders
• Contribute their expertise, knowledge and energy to their field and policy projects
• Be a positive force for change in their host communities
• Develop in a supportive environment where curiosity and teamwork are valued
• Have opportunities to collaborate with diverse people, communities, and institutions
• Share resources and ideas with each other and Emerson Program Partners
• Build a Fellow, Alumni and Partner network for now and the future

Emerson Partner Organizations will:

• Represent varied approaches and strategies to ending hunger and poverty
• Be supported as they develop projects that meet the needs of their communities and organizational missions
• Actively work to eliminate oppression and injustice
• Provide opportunities for Fellows to develop their leadership potential
• Link efforts to fight the symptoms of hunger with strategies to eliminate root causes
• Build partnerships with individuals and communities directly impacted by hunger and poverty

Selection Criteria

• Commitment to racial equity and social justice
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and skills
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Flexibility and ability to adjust to new situations
• Creativity and initiative in problem solving
• Enthusiasm for learning from experts in the field, and searching for new models in anti-hunger and anti-poverty work
• Experience working in low-income communities
• Excitement about peer learning in a tight-knit community of Fellow

For more information please check the Link