National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Reportawareness of anti-hunger and related issues,...

Fighting Hunger by Developing Leaders

C O N G R E S S I O N A L H U N G E R C E N T E R

National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation ReportSeptember 2004

National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation ReportSeptember 2004

Submitted to:

Kristin Anderson, Co-DirectorNational Hunger Fellows ProgramCongressional Hunger Center2291⁄2 Pennsylvania Avenue, SEWashington, DC 20003

202-547-7022 ext. [email protected]

Patrick A. Corvington, Executive Director

Veena Pankaj, Project ManagerInnovation Network, Inc.1625 K Street, NW, 11th FloorWashington, DC 20006

[email protected] www.innonet.org

This project has been funded at least in part with funds from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organiztions imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

ii National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report

October 2004

Dear Congressional Hunger Center Supporters,It is my pleasure to share with you the attached Evaluation Report summarizing the highlights of

ten years of CHC’s National Hunger Fellows Program. This comprehensive evaluation was conduct-ed by Innovation Network, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit team of evaluators who provide their services to other nonprofits as a means of social change. This report includes input from 73% of the hunger fellow alumni, as well as many of our partners.

Without the participation of these parties—hunger fellows and alumni, field and policy site supervisors, program Advisory Board members, former program directors, CHC Board Members, and contributors, this evaluation could not have been a success. You have our gratitude for your involve-ment and support!

Those of us connected to the Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program are pleased that Innovation Network has concluded that the Hunger Fellowship is a “reputable, well-run program” that is “instrumental in developing young leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field.” In fact, 56% of hunger fellow alumni are currently employed in anti-hunger or social justice positions (while 24% are currently enrolled in graduate school). For example, a member of the 9th Class reports: “The Fellowship enabled me to gain experience in doing meaningful work with excellent organizations while si-multaneously exposing me to many leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field and challenging me to think about how I can address inequality in society.”

The combined experience of field and policy work that the Emerson Hunger Fellowship provides is unique, and this distinctiveness was captured by hunger fellow alumni in the program evalua-tion: “The exposure to real communities across the country along with the policy experience, it’s a great balance . . . important change must and does take place on the ground and on the Hill and I was honored to meet . . . people involved in both movements.” (Hunger Fellow, Class 7)

Of course, we owe thanks to our many private sector contributors, including General Mills, The UPS Foundation, Altria, Presbyterian Hunger Fund, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Victory Wholesale Grocers, Proctor and Gamble, Grocery Manufacturers of America, and Mr. Al Franken. In closing, I’d like to extend a special thank you to Ambassador Tony Hall, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Rep. James McGovern, the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for making it possible for more than 200 young people to increase access to food and a better life for thousands of poor individuals and families!

Sincerely,

Edward M. CooneyExecutive Director

Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Introduction and Evaluation Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Key Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Background and Historical Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Major Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Perceptions of the National Hunger Fellowship Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Evolution of the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Program Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Leadership Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Impact on the Fight Against Hunger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Value of Field and Policy Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Impact on Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Relatedness of Field and Policy Placements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Appendices

Appendix 1: Data Collection Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Appendix 2: Alumni Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Appendix 3: Current Fellows Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Appendix 4: Evaluation Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Table of Contents

iv National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report

The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) contracted with Innovation Network, Inc. to assess the overall impact of the National Hunger Fellowship Program on participating fellows as well as on the national fight against hunger. This report highlights evaluation results from Innovation Network’s comprehensive analysis of survey and interview data gathered from various stakeholders of the program. Key findings are framed in the context of the evaluation questions listed below.

What are the overall perceptions of the National Hunger Fellows Program? The fel-lowship program has evolved into a reputable, well-run program that has been instrumental in developing young leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field. In general, people have a posi-tive perception of the program, regardless of its initial growing pains. Not only has the fellowship program grown in reputation, but the number of people applying to the program has greatly increased, making the selection process highly competitive. The dedication and commitment of Congressional Hunger Center staff are credited with many program successes.

How has the program evolved over the past ten years? The fellowship program was initially funded through a Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) grant. The passing of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill in 2000 marked a watershed for the program, increasing the program’s flexibility. In the earlier years of the program there was more emphasis on fellows’ field experience; this emphasis has shifted over the years and the program is currently more focused on the policy experience. To staff the fellowship program, in the past, CHC mainly recruited recent graduates of the fellowship pro-gram who were looking for the next logical step after the fellowship. However, as program funding has become more stable, the Center has been able to invest in hiring more permanent staff members who view their positions as their careers.

Executive Summary

What are the primary benefits of the program experienced by the participants? Innovation Network’s analysis illustrates that the key benefits experienced by program participants include: professional development, an increased awareness of anti-hunger and related issues, increased number of connections and networking opportunities, bonds formed with other fellows, and leadership experience. Many Fellowship participants have had varying degrees of anti-hunger experience in the field and policy arenas; the program helps tie in both perspectives, giving participants a broader picture of how to combat hunger. The combination of both field and policy experience offers fellows a unique perspective that provides context and understanding of hunger in the United States.

To what extent has the program been suc-cessful in developing leaders in the field? The National Hunger Fellows Program has been instru-mental in grooming future leaders. Coming at an influential time in fellows’ lives, the program helps to sharpen fellows’ thinking and provides them with a real context that prepares them for life after the fellowship. Based on Innovation Network’s conversations with former program directors and fellows, the program opens up indi-vidual opportunities for work, growth and forma-tion that may not have previously existed. Survey results indicate that a majority of the fellows have been involved in some form of leadership activi-ties since completing the program. The fellowship is based on the premise that after completing the program, participants will continue working for social justice organizations. According to a report published by Independent Sector, nonprofit sec-tor employment represents 9.5 percent of total employment in the United States. It is interesting to note that approximately half of the individuals who participate in the fellowship experience are currently working in the nonprofit sector. While individuals applying to the fellowship program may have already had a propensity to work with

The fellowship program has evolved into a reputable, well-run program that has been instrumental in developing young leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field.

National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report v

nonprofits, Innovation Network’s analysis reveals that the fellowship program did inspire a commit-ment among participants to continue working for social justice.

What are the most valuable and least valuable aspects of the field and policy place-ments? The field and policy placements form the core of the fellowship experience, and helped create unique learning opportunities for partici-pants. Participants value many aspects of field placement, including:

● The experience of being immersed in local communities,

● Access to positive mentors/role models in the field, and

● The opportunity to take on leadership roles.

Some of the challenges fellows face in the field include:

● Poor working conditions within the host organization, and

● Difficulties that arose within the host site.

The most valuable aspects of the fellows’ policy experience are:

● Exposure to interactions between various government agencies,

● Increased opportunities to network, and

● The opportunity to practice skills sets that enhance professional development.

Participants also faced challenges in policy placement, notably a feeling of detachment between the work being done and its actual impact on hunger, and a lack of ownership over the work being completed.

To what degree has the National Hunger Fellows Program been successful in influenc-ing the career choices of individual fellows? One of the main theories behind the program is that young adults who are provided with an intense experience in both policy and fieldwork will have a better sense of what they want and

don’t want to pursue in their career. Innovation Network found that exposure to multiple approaches to solving hunger helps participants determine their own interests. Our findings illustrate that participating in this program helps fellows make educated decisions about what paths to follow after completing the fellowship.

Do the field and policy placements need to be more connected in content areas? One of the issues that the Congressional Hunger Center has struggled with is whether or not to form a more purposeful connection between field and policy placements by intentionally relating the subject matter of the two placements. A major-ity of the individuals interviewed for this evalu-ation indicated that they prefer no deliberate connection between the two placements, unless specifically requested by the fellow. One of the positive characteristics of the program is that it provides fellows with a broad understanding of how to fight hunger in the United States. The current structure allows participants the flexibility to work on a number of different hunger-related issues. Relating the content area of the two place-ments may cause fellows to miss out on a key experience.

The evaluation report that follows illustrates the above findings with data from Innovation Network’s evaluation surveys and interviews. Innovation Network gathered data from program alumni, current fellows, former program direc-tors, staff members, site supervisors, and a board member to highlight the successes and challenges of the program and to form a basis for making recommendations for improving program impact.

Executive Summary

The National Hunger Fellows Program has been instrumental in grooming future leaders. Coming at an influential time in fellows’ lives, the program helps to sharpen fellows’ thinking and provides them with a real context that prepares them for life after the fellowship.

vi National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report

The Congressional Hunger Center is celebrat-ing the ten-year anniversary of its National Hunger Fellows Program. This program’s goal is to develop hunger-fighting leaders with an in-depth understanding of hunger and poverty at both the local and national level. Each year, the organiza-tion recruits 20–24 young adults to take part in a year-long leadership program. Fellows undergo a six-month field placement where they work di-rectly with a grassroots organization in the United States. During this time, fellows have the opportu-nity to gain first-hand knowledge of community-level hunger problems affecting many parts of the country. Following the field placement, each fellow is given the chance to spend six months in Washington, D.C., working with a national orga-nization involved in the anti-hunger/anti-poverty policy arena. The premise of this program is that with the combined field and policy experience, fellows will be better positioned to find innova-tive solutions and create the political will to end hunger.

Introduction and Evaluation Focus

In the fall of 2003, the Congressional Hunger Center contracted with Innovation Network, Inc., to assess the overall impact of the National Hunger Fellowship Program on participating fellows and on the national fight against hunger. This evaluation report presents a comprehensive analysis of interview and survey data gathered from program alumni, current fellows, former program directors, site supervisors, Board mem-bers, and Congressional Hunger Center staff. This report highlights the structural nature of the program and includes suggestions on how to improve the overall fellowship experience for participants. The principal goal of this report is to inform the following questions:

● What are the overall perceptions of the National Hunger Fellows Program?

● How has the Program evolved over the past ten years?

● What are the primary benefits of the program experienced by participants?

● To what extent has the program been success-ful in developing leaders in the field?

● What are the most valuable and least valuable aspects of the field and policy placements?

● To what degree has the National Hunger Fellows Program been successful in influencing the career choices of individual Fellows?

● Do the field and policy placements need to be more connected in content areas?

The level of responsibility and unique combination of field and policy experiences offered by the program provides participants with the skills and confidence necessary to be a leader in the field.

Current Hunger Fellows and

Alumni come together at

Washington, D.C.’s Capital

Area Food Bank

National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report 1

Innovation Network’s analysis reveals that the fellowship program has made a very strong impact on those who participate.

The program is specifically geared towards developing leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice area. Participants who have gone through the fellowship program have been able to dem-onstrate elements of leadership as evidenced by the type of work and volunteer activities they continue to be involved in. Many fellows have pursued graduate degrees and have taken on leadership roles in the organizations with which they work. Over the course of their fellowship, participants are engaged in hunger-related issues at both the community and national level. The level of responsibility and unique combination of field and policy experiences offered by the program provides participants with the skills and confidence necessary to be a leader in the field.

The program has been instrumental in in-fluencing the career choices of participating fellows. The opportunity to work in local commu-nities and at the national level provides partici-pants with a better understanding of where their interests lie. Many fellows form a strong prefer-ence for either the community or the national level of work by the completion of the program. During their policy placement, fellows have the opportunity to meet with even more profession-als in the anti-hunger/anti-poverty field through the Professional Development Days, designed specifically to help fellows learn about available career options. Few leadership programs are able to provide such diverse experiences in a one-year time frame.

A majority of the participating fellows stay involved in the social justice field, even after completing the program. Fifty-six percent of the 122 alumni surveyed indicated that their current job addresses anti-hunger or related social justice issues. Most fellows leave the program with a strong desire to stay connected to the field, bolstered by a network of professional connec-tions that can help guide their careers. With the supportive experience of the program to get them started, many fellows devote their professional lives to social causes—years after the program is over.

The fellowship program has been successful in creating and expanding the fellows’ profes-sional network. Over the course of their partici-pation, fellows have access to a wide array of contacts from their field and policy placements, Professional Development Days, and the com-munity of peers they form over the course of their fellowship. Innovation Network’s analysis reveals that many of the fellows continue to stay in touch with their peers and professional contacts after completing the program.

Fellows are having a positive impact on the communities they serve. Community impact is most directly demonstrated through the projects accomplished during the field placement, when fellows work directly in communities where people are affected by hunger. This experience allows fellows to see first-hand the impact of their work.

Key Findings

With the supportive experience of the program to get them started, many fellows devote their professional lives to social causes—years after the program is over.

Hunger Fellow Darcy O’Brien and friends in Idaho

2 National Hunger Fellows Program Evaluation Report

In 1984 the United States Congress estab-lished the Select Committee on Hunger to help address both international and domestic hunger issues. The Committee was founded by Representatives Ben Gilman (NY), Mickey Leland (TX), and Bill Emerson (MO), and was fi rst chaired by Rep. Leland. Following the death of Rep. Leland in 1989, the committee was chaired by Rep. Tony P. Hall of Ohio. During this time, hundreds of hearings were held and legislation passed that strengthened U.S. efforts to mitigate and eliminate the worldwide problem of hunger.

In 1993, the 103rd Congress eliminated the Select Committee on Hunger, along with sev-eral other select committees, as a cost-cutting measure. In response to this act and to draw

attention to the worldwide problem of hunger, Chairman Hall went on a 22-day hunger fast, generating publicity that resulted in the forma-tion of two new anti-hunger establishments: the Congressional Hunger Caucus in the House of Representatives, later eliminated by the 104th Congress, and the Congressional Hunger Center (“CHC”), established by Representatives Hall and Emerson as a charitable and educational 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.

In 1994 CHC initiated a challenge grant from VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) to estab-lish a model anti-hunger leadership program. This program has endured and evolved over the years, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2004.

The Co-Chairs of the CHC Board are Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Rep. James McGovern (D-MA). The Board includes other Members of Congress, representatives of private industry, and members of the advocacy commu-nity. Currently the Congressional Hunger Center has a staff of ten.

Background and Historical Context


Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and

Rep. James P. McGovern,

Board Co-Chairs

For this evaluation, Innovation Network gath-ered information from multiple stakeholders. Data was collected using the methods illustrated in Table 1 below.

Innovation Network administered the elec-tronic survey to 168 program alumni, with a seventy-three percent response rate (122 com-pleted surveys). In addition, the current class of 24 Hunger Fellows was surveyed, with a ninety-six percent response rate (23 completed surveys). These surveys helped Innovation Network iden-tify general trends and themes among the fellows who have participated in the program. Please refer to Appendix 1-A for the survey instruments.

Following up on trends that appeared in the survey data, Innovation Network interviewed key stakeholders. Speaking to a variety of peo-ple—people who were involved in the program in various roles and at different points over the years—helped Innovation Network build a com-prehensive understanding of the National Hunger Fellows Program. Please see Appendix 1-B for cop-ies of the interview protocols. The combination of the data obtained from the surveys and key-infor-mant interviews provided multiple perspectives to help inform this evaluation.

Who Completed the Survey?

Innovation Network received completed sur-veys from both current fellows and alumni.

AlumniAs expected, the response rate from the first

class was low,1 but all other classes showed a fairly even span of results. Table 2 is a breakdown of the alumni who completed the survey by class.

What did alumni do immediately after the Program?Sixty-four percent of the alumni who com-

pleted the survey obtained employment within the first year of completing the National Hunger Fellowship Program. Eighteen percent attended graduate school; nine percent did both.2

Methodology

Table 1: Sources of Data: Breakdown by MethodSource of Data Number of Respondents

Electronic Surveys

Alumni (Class 1 through 9) 122

Current Hunger Fellows (Class 10) 23

Key Informant Interviews

Alumni 7

Site Supervisors 3

Former Program Directors 3

CHC Staff 4

Board Members 1

Table 2: Survey Respondents by Fellowship ClassNumber of Alumni Percentage of Class

Class 1 (Year ’94-’95) 7 6%

Class 2 (Year ’95-’96) 12 10%

Class 3 (Year ’96-’97) 16 13%

Class 4 (Year ’97-’98) 9 7%

Class 5 (Year ’98-’99) 12 10%

Class 6 (Year ’99-’00) 12 10%

Class 7 (Year ’00-’01) 19 16%

Class 8 (Year ’01-’02) 19 16%

Class 9 (Year ’02-’03) 16 13%

Total 122 100%N=122 Percentages have been rounded

Number of Current Fellows

Percentage of Current Fellows

Class 10 (Year ’03-’04) 23 96%N=23

1 We expected a low response rate from the first class because they are ten years removed from the program.

2 Thirteen percent indicated that they did something other than at-tending graduate school or obtaining employment after completing the fellowship program. Refer to Table 8 in Appendix 2.


Sixty-seven percent of those alumni who obtained employment within the first year of completing the program indicated that their posi-tion addressed anti-hunger or other related social justice issues “a great deal”.3

Among those alumni who pursued a job within the first year after completing the fellow-ship, seventy-five percent worked in the nonprofit sector.4 Seventy-two percent of the alumni who took part in this survey pursued a graduate degree at some point after completing the fellowship program.5 Twenty percent of the respondents went to graduate school within one year after completing the program, while forty-nine percent are currently enrolled in a graduate program. Table 3 is a breakdown of the type of degrees pursued by program alumni.

Among those that pursued graduate school, sixty-nine percent indicated that the National Hunger Fellows Program influenced their decision to pursue their chosen degree.6

Since graduating from the Fellowship Program, fifty-two percent of the alumni indicated that they worked in the nonprofit sector; nine percent indicated they have worked in the public sector; and thirty-one percent have worked in both the public and nonprofit sectors.7

This data illustrates that the fellowship experi-ence influences next steps taken by participants after the program is over. Since many of the fel-lows had a strong preference towards social justice and anti-hunger work before applying to the pro-gram, the assumption that the fellowship alone influenced individuals to pursue this line of work cannot be made. However, it can certainly be inferred that the fellowship experience broadened participants’ understanding, opened up options, and strengthened their desire to continue in the field.

3 Refer to Table 11 in Appendix 2 for more details.4 Refer to Table 9 in Appendix 2. Percentage sited in text of report uses

a sample size of n=87 (only looking at those alumni who pursued a job within the first year after completing the program).

5 Refer to Table 2 in Appendix 2.6 Refer to Table 5 in Appendix 2. Sixty nine percent of the 72 fellows

who attended graduate school indicated that the fellows program influenced their decision to pursue a graduate degree.

7 Refer to Table 6 in Appendix 2.

Figure 1. Relatedness of First Job to Anti-Hunger/Social Justice

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Table 3. Graduate Degrees Pursued by FellowsDegree Number Percentage

JD 15 21%

MD 8 11%

MPP/MPA 9 13%

MSW 6 8%

MPH 8 11%

Other 24 34%

Total 70 98%N=71 Percentages are rounded


Current FellowsCurrent fellows were surveyed to gauge their

plans after the program is over.8 While the survey results were informative, Innovation Network did not rely on it as strongly in this evaluation, because the survey was administered when the current fellows were only halfway through the program. The true impact of the program on this group is yet to be seen.

The survey asked the current fellows what they plan to do immediately after the program. Forty-eight percent plan on obtaining employment and 30 percent plan on attending graduate school (Table 4).

Among those who would like to attend graduate school:

● Fifty-seven percent would like to pursue a JD,

● Twenty-nine percent would like to pursue an MD, and

● Fourteen percent would like to pursue an MPH.

Among current Fellows who plan on obtaining employment in the fi rst year:

● Seventy-three percent would like to work in the nonprofi t sector

● Eighteen percent would like to work in the public sector

● Nine percent would like to work in the private sector

All of the Current Fellows who responded to the survey indicated that they believe they will continue to be involved in anti-hunger/poverty issues after the completion of the program.

Table 4: Current Fellows’ Plans After Completing FellowshipFrequency Percent

Attend Graduate School 7 30

Obtain Employment 11 48

Attend Graduate School and Obtain Employment 3 13

Other 2 9

Total 23 100

8 See Table 2 of Appendix 3 for more details.

Methodology

All of the Current Fellows who responded to the survey indicated that they believe they will continue to be involved in anti-hunger/poverty issues after the completion of the program.

8 See Table 2 of Appendix 3 for more details.

Hunger Fellows (in disguise)

and friends in Tucson, AZ


The major themes identified below reflect the structure of Innovation Network’s Evaluation Plan. The evaluation questions were designed to shed light on each of the areas below.

Perceptions of the National Hunger Fellowship Program

In general, people have a positive perception of the National Hunger Fellows Program. Data gathered from program alumni, site supervi-sors and former program directors indicate that although the program experienced some initial structural problems, it has improved with each class. Fellows, especially from earlier classes, report that the program has overcome its initial growing pains. From what they know of the pro-gram today, they feel that fellows are having very positive experiences.

In addition to improved program quality, the caliber and quantity of applicants has also increased. Now, with over 200 applicants apply-ing for the program annually, there is a highly competitive selection process. Recent alumni also feel that the level of experience obtained through the program is distinctive from other types of pro-grams. As mentioned earlier, the balance between field and policy experience is seldom seen in other leadership programs.

Many respondents feel that the success of the program can be largely attributed to the staff of the Congressional Hunger Center. Site supervisors emphasize the diligence with which CHC trains fellows so they are ready to get to work immedi-ately after arriving at the host site. While much of the current success of the program can be accred-ited to the current staff, it will be important for the Hunger Center to institutionalize the program so that its success can be carried forward, even with new staff members.

Program stakeholders also had positive com-ments about the commitment and drive of the Congressional Hunger Center’s staff, best illus-trated by the following comment from a current fellow:

The Congressional Hunger Center is incredible. I’m moved and impressed by the scope and depth of their commitment, and by the program staff. They do an incredible job of exposing us to interesting and helpful people and opportunities. The program is well structured, organized and it inspires as well as it teaches. CURRENT FELLOW

Site supervisors and program alumni expressed that the willingness and openness of the staff to hear new ideas and listen to suggestions has helped improve the quality of the program over time.

Staff are listening to our suggestions, they are open to our suggestions. They aren’t defensive about constructive criticism. They are 150% committed to this program and consistently trying to make it better. Because of their hard work . . . it has be-come a much better program. Every time I’ve given a speech, the Center staff have been there. Whether it’s talking to college groups, the national student campaign against homelessness and hunger, to just improving projects. They are all over it. SITE SUPERVISOR

Comments from individuals that have been involved in the program, either as site super-visors or as fellows, indicate a high degree of overall satisfaction with the program outcomes. These contributors and participants feel that the National Hunger Fellows Program is one of the best leadership development programs that pro-vide anti-hunger field and policy experience.

Evolution of the Program

The National Hunger Fellows Program has undergone a few structural changes over the past ten years. During the first six years, the program was funded by VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). The passing of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill in 2000 marked a watershed for the program.

Major Themes

Many respondents feel that the success of the program can be largely attributed to the staff of the Congressional Hunger Center. Site supervisors emphasize the diligence with which CHC trains fellows so they are ready to get to work immediately after arriving at the host site.


The changeover from VISTA funding freed up the program to do different things. There were a lot of strings that came with VISTA funding . . . I think being free of VISTA funding allows the program to go in directions that they weren’t able to go before. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

The Congressional Hunger Center was no longer required to follow the strict requirements imposed by VISTA, and had more freedom to make changes to the program to help enhance the overall fellowship experience. As the program switched over from VISTA funding, the adminis-tration of the program gradually changed. Some of the more notable shifts in the program include:

A shift in focus from the field to policy experience. One of the initial assumptions of the program was that fellows would benefit more from direct service experience. In the program’s earlier years, there was more emphasis placed on the field experience: approximately seventy percent of the fellows were placed at food banks. This focus has gradually shifted over the years, to a greater emphasis on the policy experi-ence. Conversations with current staff members indicate that this field-to-policy shift may have resulted from new staff who took a new, more systemic approach to addressing hunger issues. The attributes of the program’s applicants also changed over the years: many prospective fellows had already gained direct service experience in college, and were looking for a fellowship experi-ence that would enable them to better engage in the policy process.

Fellows return from their field experience in February of each program year and receive exten-sive training on policy issues. This training, which lasts roughly eleven days, includes discussion of important policy issues and processes. Highlights include:

● Expert policy briefings on the reauthorization of important anti-hunger/anti-poverty poli-cies (such as TANF and the Child Nutrition Programs);

● An overview of the federal budget process and a refresher course on “U.S. Government 101”;

● Participation in the national Anti-Hunger Policy Conference sponsored by the Food Research and Action Center, America’s Second Harvest, and the National CACFP Forum;

● A tour of the Capitol Complex;

● Meetings with Representatives, Senators, and other Capitol Hill staff representing field site host communities; and

● An opportunity to connect with policy experts and former hunger fellows.

An increased ability to hire more perma-nent staff. In the earlier program years, the Hunger Center hired alumni. While this proved to be effective in recruiting staff members with a solid understanding of the program and also served as an opportunity for recently graduated fellows to continue their learning, program direc-tors didn’t stay long because of the low compen-sation levels and an interest in pursing a graduate degree. This made it challenging to build institu-tional knowledge within the organization. With the changes to the organization’s funding streams in 2000, the Hunger Center was able to invest the necessary funds to hire more permanent staff members who viewed their position as a career, rather than as an extension of the fellowship. This has helped create program consistency over time.

A marked change in recruitment strate-gies. Initially CHC staff recruited individuals from different backgrounds into the program. VISTA did not require that fellows have a college degree. In the early years, program applicants included individuals of more diverse ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The year that I was a fellow was probably the most ethnically diverse year. [Also] Each year we had an older person who in both those cases had been formerly homeless people. One of the things we realized was that the program was not necessarily equipped to deal with this group. Their problems were unique. The two people who were formerly homeless had a lot of social work issues to be dealt with and we just didn’t have the capacity. FELLOW, CLASS 3, FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Major Themes


Since the program’s inception, recruiting strategies have been modified in several ways. The most obvious change in recruiting can be seen in the places where the recruitment happens. While the focus used to be small liberal arts colleges, there has been a shift towards larger state uni-versities and Historically Black Colleges. This has created a small demographic shift in the pool of applicants.

In addition to changes in direct recruitment activities, the use of the Web has enhanced recruiting by making information available to a wider audience.

Finally, recruiting has also changed the type of fellows that are being sought. In the past, fellows that were interested in direct service experience were recruited. More recently, the focus has been on policy experience: many of the new fellows en-tering the program are seeking an experience that will enhance and bolster their policy training, having completed direct service work in college.

An increase in suitability of applicants due to increased popularity of program. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of individuals applying to the program.9 More and more individuals with specific knowledge and experience in anti-hunger issues are applying to the program, making the selection process

more competitive. Over the same time period, the experiential and socioeconomic diversity of program applicants has dramatically declined. The program’s tendency to attract white, upper middle class individuals is endemic to fellowship programs in general. Usually the low pay involved with these programs deters individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds from applying. Now that more people are applying to the program, CHC staff will have to redouble their efforts to ensure that a diverse group of fellows is recruited for each class.

Enhanced ability to build program infra-structure. In the early years, Program Directors focused on sustaining the program. As funding has become more secure, CHC staff has been able to concentrate more time and resources on building the program infrastructure and laying the necessary foundations for established program processes.

When I first started, the Hunger Center was young, a nonprofit struggling, there wasn’t very good structure in the organization. There was no admin-istrative support for the work being done. It was a challenging program to run. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

The increased resources have allowed program staff to enhance the quality of the training fellows undergo as part of their experience. For both the field and policy placements, the trainings have become considerably more intense and have focused on the specifics of what fellows will be doing once they are at their placement agencies. These changes have resulted in smoother and more successful program implementation.

Program Benefits

Innovation Network’s evaluation found six key benefits to participating in the National Hunger Fellows Program:

Professional development experience. The opportunity to work at the community level during the field placement, coupled with the chance to gain policy experience in Washington,

9 This information is based on conversations with program staff.

Hunger Fellow Patience Butler

gleaning corn in western

Pennsylvania


D.C., provided fellows with a unique exposure to anti-hunger issues at both the local and national level. Fellows were able to apply what they were learning in the field to what was going on in their policy placement.

The exposure to real communities across the country along with the policy experience, it’s a great balance. I walked about knowing that important change must and does take place on the ground and on the Hill and I was honored to meet . . . people involved in both movements. FELLOW, CLASS 7

Participants gained multi-faceted experience: by the program’s end, fellows understand the fundamentals of working in an organization, and have a solid grasp of the challenge of maintaining multiple (sometimes conflicting) interests within the hunger community while keeping the overall goal of alleviating hunger in mind. Since many individuals participating in the fellowship have had varying degrees of anti-hunger experience ei-ther at the field or policy level, the program helps to tie in both perspectives, giving individuals a broader picture of how to combat hunger in the United States. This type of professional develop-ment experience is not typical of most one-year programs, and is enhanced by the quantity and caliber of training provided to participants throughout the year.

As a complement to the policy training detailed above, fellows are provided with exten-sive field training throughout their fellowship. In August, prior to reporting to their field site organizations, fellows participate in an eleven-

day field training that focuses on the realities of domestic hunger, the emergency food system, and the federal programs designed to alleviate hunger in the United States. Midway through the field site placement, fellows participate in a retreat to reflect on their learning so far. In addition, two or three times a month during the policy train-ing phase, fellows have the opportunity to attend Professional Development Days (PDDs). PDDs serve as an opportunity for fellows to connect with professionals in the Washington, D.C., area; hone their leadership skills (as they design and implement most PDDs themselves); and explore topics related to hunger, such as the U.S. Agriculture System, Tax Policy and Class, Race and Racism, and International Hunger.

Increased awareness of anti-hunger and related issues. The combination of the field and policy experiences provides fellows with an in-creased understanding of anti-hunger issues. Over ninety percent of the alumni who participated in the survey agreed or strongly agreed that partici-pating in the fellowship provided them with an understanding of hunger and poverty at the local and national level. The direct experience of work-ing at the community and national level enabled participants to witness first-hand the role of the government in addressing hunger-related issues. A few comments are listed below:

I look at the National Hunger Fellows Program as giving me a chance to see the bigger picture of the role of government and public policy on disadvan-taged people. FELLOW, CLASS 6

The combination of fieldwork and policy place-ment gave me perspective on the seriousness of the hunger/poverty problem, and the lack of programs through the federal government to adequately address those problems. FELLOW, CLASS 5

Direct exposure to communities impacted by hunger and poverty. The fellowship experi-ence provided a unique opportunity for partici-pants to expand their knowledge of hunger and poverty and how it can impact a community. By working directly with individuals and communi-

Major Themes

The exposure to real communities across the country along with the policy experience, it’s a great balance. I walked about knowing that important change must and does take place on the ground and on the Hill and I was honored to meet . . . people involved in both movements. Fellow, Class 7

Hunger Fellows Corina

Bullock, Rachel Clay, Rajiv

Magge, and Heather Axford

Celebrate Commencement


ties living in poverty, Fellows were able to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the far reaching implications of hunger in the U.S.

The most important part for me, was [getting] to know the people in the community. My friends were low-income people that were living in a rural, east-ern Kentucky community. . . . I certainly learned a lot about hunger, communities and what the issues were. FELLOW, CLASS 8

It was so exciting to go into rural communities and figure out the infrastructure that exists and figure out how to help hungry kids. FELLOW, CLASS 9

The number of connections made through networking opportunities. Respondents indi-cated that a key benefit of the Fellowship Program was the professional network established over the course of the fellowship. They emphasized the uniqueness of the political ties they were able to build in the field and in Washington, D.C. In addition to meeting individuals who are currently in the anti-hunger field, fellows were also able to forge strong ties with their fellowship classmates. These connections have proven to be lasting. Typical survey/interview quotes include:

You meet so many people and through professional development days and you hear about how they got where they are . . . The relationships I made during those years and the exposure to work on the Hill had a lasting impact on me. FELLOW, CLASS 3

The opportunity to connect and bond with other like-minded individuals. The Congressional Hunger Center enhanced the community of participants through various trainings and retreats. The Center staff built in a strong ‘fellowship’ component into the program through a combination of the Field Training, Midfield Retreat, Policy Training, and a number of Professional Development Days. With an open venue in which to share and discuss program experiences, participants were able to learn from each other and develop bonds that endure be-yond the duration of the program. Many program alumni described the community aspect of the

program as being essential. Our data show that many former fellows still keep in touch with members of their class. Survey and interview com-ments include:

The fellowship aspect was invaluable to my experi-ence. There was networking, sharing a common experience, being connected with people from that program. Because it is such a unique experience, it’s nice to have people who have gone through it, who sort of understand where you are coming from. FELLOW, CLASS 4

. . . one of the strongest suits of the program is that [fellows] are provided with a network of similar folks who are as dedicated and as committed to the issue of making the world a better place as they are. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

First-hand leadership experience. The Fellowship Program offers participants high levels of responsibility in settings that support their learning. These projects range from conducting assessments of local school breakfast programs to researching and producing information for distribution among anti-hunger networks. These experiences help build the confidence and capac-ity of participants to continue their work even after the program is completed. During their placements, fellows are able to interact with and glean knowledge from a number of leaders in the field. The unique experience provided by the fellowship is one of the hallmarks of the program. Typical testimonials from alumni include:

As a first job out of college, the professional devel-opment that the Hunger Center facilitated enabled me to grow as a leader and to develop extremely useful skills sets. FELLOW, CLASS 8

The Fellowship enabled me to gain experience do-ing meaningful work with excellent organizations while simultaneously exposing me to many leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field and challeng-ing me to think about how I can address inequity in society. FELLOW, CLASS 9

The Fellowship enabled me to gain experience doing meaningful work with excellent organizations while simultaneously exposing me to many leaders in the anti-hunger/social justice field and challenging me to think about how I can address inequality in society. Fellow, Class 9


Leadership Development

Of the alumni who responded to the survey, a majority has been involved in some form of leadership activities since completing the fellowship program.

The top five activities that program alumni have been involved in after completing the program were:

1. Volunteering personal time for a social justice cause

2. Engaging in advocacy activities

3. Serving as a leader in a social justice organization

4. Lobbying public officials on behalf of a social justice cause

5. Volunteering professional services on behalf of a social justice cause/organization

Impact on the Fight Against Hunger

The National Hunger Fellows Program is based on the premise that coaching a group of indi-viduals in both field and policy work puts those individuals in a better position to impact the fight against hunger. The program’s combination of field and policy perspectives leads participants to a unique understanding of the problem of hunger. The survey and interview questions used for this evaluation were designed to get a better understanding of how successful the National Hunger Fellows Program has been in developing leaders. Innovation Network’s analysis reveals the following:

The Program is instrumental in grooming future leaders. The fellowship is structured so that participants are able to harness their experi-ence and knowledge to make a lasting differ-ence at both the community and policy level—a difference that goes beyond the duration of the fellowship. Participants work on hunger-related is-sues in a real-world setting, gaining experience in organizational dynamics and development issues, while also learning how to solve problems at the policy level.

The program develops . . . leaders with an aware-ness of the problems with hunger and gives them real world experience in an organizational setting so they can be exposed to office management and learn how people interact within an organization and how people handle problems on the ground. They get to see how hunger affects communities in different ways. [The program] allows individu-als to develop leadership skills and experience. No matter what they do throughout the rest of their life, they can use a lot of the things that they’ve learned in their fellowship. SITE SUPERVISOR

The program’s structure offers a well-balanced opportunity. Fellows not only conduct formal policy analysis of anti-hunger programs; they work with and learn from the people and commu-nities who are affected by policy. The experience of building relationships with people who are im-pacted by hunger and poverty in their everyday

Table 5: Activities Alumni have Participated in Since Completing Fellowship

Activity Percentage

Volunteered personal time for a social justice cause 88%

Engaged in other advocacy activities (education campaigns, demonstrations, etc.) 70%

Served as a leader in an organization pursuing social justice (as a staff member or as a volunteer) 62%

Lobbied public officials on behalf of a social justice cause 50%

Volunteered professional services to a social justice cause/organization. 47%

Participated in a conference as a presenter or panelist advocating a social justice cause 42%

Served in another leadership role (Advisory Board, Board of Trustees, etc.) 28%

Published or edited an article or book to advance a particular social justice cause 26%

Served on the Board of Directors for a social justice organization 12%Categories are not mutually exclusive. Each activity is listed as a percent of 100.

Major Themes


lives gives participants a unique perspective when they are at their policy placement. One former fellow sums up the experience thus:

I feel like I could go conquer anything. In that realm it’s very empowering. I really am prepared to be a leader in the field. I now know so much more than others in the world. I’m in the minority of people who have done the work hands on and who can speak with authority. FELLOW, CLASS 9

Fellows take on leadership roles after completing the program. After developing leadership skills over the course of the one-year program, many fellows continue to make a difference in the anti-hunger or other social justice fields. The program is based in part on the assumption that after completing the fellow-ship, participants will continue working for social justice organizations. Since most organizations involved in anti-hunger and other social justice issues are nonprofits, we specifically asked alumni what sectors they have worked in since complet-ing their fellowship. Our survey data indicate that the great majority of the alumni (90 percent) continue working in the nonprofit/social justice field well after the program is over.

Fifty-six percent of survey respondents reported that their current position “greatly” ad-dresses anti-hunger or other related social justice issues. In addition, eighty-four percent of the survey respondents “agreed” or “strongly agreed” with the statement that the program provided them with an understanding of how to alleviate hunger and poverty in the United States. In addi-tion, over eighty-five percent of the alumni who responded to the survey agreed that the program fostered their commitment to working for a social justice cause.

After completing the Fellowship Program, participants continue to make a difference in the real world:

When you look at where participants have gone

after the program, I think you’ll see that they have taken on fairly significant leadership roles in different organizations and I think that’s a testament among the people I know. People point to the Hunger Fellows Program as the key criti-cal experience that put them on the path to where they are. SITE SUPERVISOR

The Fellowship has a marked impact on the lives of those who participate. As the first job out of college, the program comes at an instrumental time in a fellow’s life. Participants in the program obtain a type of exposure and experi-ence that sharpens their thinking and provides them with a real context that prepares them for life after the fellowship. According to conversa-tions that Innovation Network had with former program directors and fellows, the program opens up individual opportunities for work, growth, and formation that may not have existed prior to the Fellowship. This enables fellows to take on more responsibility in various leadership roles after the completion of the program:

I think that [the program] allows participants to have significant leadership responsibility . . . right out of college. Having that experience at a young age puts you on a different trajectory in some ways because you don’t have to work yourself up to those positions of responsibility. Whatever you do after the Fellowship, you already come into it with a certain level of responsibility. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Fellows are able to influence the organiza-tions and communities they are working in. In addition to making a personal difference in the lives of the fellows themselves, the program enables fellows to have a tremendous impact on the constituencies and communities they

I feel like I could go conquer anything. In that realm it’s very empowering. I really am prepared to be a leader in the field. I now know so much more than others in the world. I’m in the minority of people who have done the work hands on and who can speak with authority. Fellow, Class 9

Hunger Fellow Elizabeth

Whelan and community

member Rosalva Coronado

pick up donated kitchen

micro-enterprise supplies in

Tucson


work in. The work that they do during their field placement and later on in their policy placement can transform organizations and communities. During their placements, fellows play an instru-mental role in defining, shaping, and carrying out projects that impact the community on both the local and national level. The following com-ments from site supervisors help to illustrate this finding:

[Fellows] produce reports and information. It’s not an academic exercise—they produce things that ac-tually get utilized, sent out and widely distributed among our anti-hunger network. SITE SUPERVISOR

[One Fellow] did an analysis on the summer food service program here in Milwaukee County, and that research has really spurred additional invest-ment in the local summer food program. This year there’s a significant increase in the number of meals served to kids. It all goes back to that research. That research has paid its dividend many times over already. SITE SUPERVISOR

Looking back . . . it’s really obvious to me that the work that [the Fellows] have done has really significantly improved the awareness of our advo-cacy . . . People now view us as more of a leader on hunger issues because of the research the Fellows have done. SITE SUPERVISOR

Fellows are indeed making a difference in the fight against hunger. Every class of fellows in the National Hunger Fellows Program is trained in and educated about hunger issues in the United States. The program provides fellows with multiple perspectives that help them identify key issues and gain experience in solving hunger at both the local and national level. After the program is over, most fellows (fifty-six percent)10 either obtain employment with an organization involved in social justice and/or pursue a graduate degree (fifty-nine percent).11 The program helps to bolster participants’ interests in hunger-related issues, and provides them with the tools necessary to create change. Considering that the Fellowship selects approximately 20 individuals each year

and has been in existence for 10 years, there are over 200 leaders, a majority of whom stay in the social justice field, that continue to make a differ-ence in the fight against hunger or related social justice issues.

[The National Hunger Fellows Program] has not only achieved, but it has far surpassed the goals that we set for in training emerging leaders in the fight against hunger. The goal was . . . to provide exposure, experience and the expertise to com-mitted and dedicated folks who are looking for a start in this work whether it be against domestic or international hunger. From all the evidence of being able to talk with . . . alumni, both recent and a little bit distant, it’s doing just that. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

So much of what the program does is develop leaders that may have an impact on the future . . . No matter what Fellows end up doing the ex-perience . . . and knowledge . . . will stay with them. FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Value of Field and Policy Placement

The field and policy placements are the core of the National Hunger Fellowship Program. To better understand the strengths and challenges of the fellowship, Innovation Network asked alumni to provide information regarding their experience in both the field and policy placements.

Field Placement—Most Valuable AspectsThe survey and interview data included many

comments describing the most valuable aspects of the field placements. Seventy-four percent of the alumni who completed the survey indi-cated that the National Hunger Fellows Program provided them with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience working in local communi-ties.12 Over ninety percent of alumni agreed with

Major Themes

Looking back . . . it’s really obvious to me that the work that [the Fellows] have done has really significantly improved the awareness of our advocacy . . . People now view us as more of a leader on hunger issues because of the research the Fellows have done. Site Supervisor

10 56.6 percent of alumni report that their current position addresses anti-hunger or related social justice issues “somewhat” to “a great deal.” Refer to Table 14 in Appendix 2 for more details.

11 Refer to Table 2 in Appendix 2.12 Refer to Table 15 in Appendix 2 for more details.


the statement that the program helped provide an understanding of hunger and poverty at the local level.13 Analysis of the data reveals three key aspects of the program that participants found most valuable:

Experience of being immersed in local communities. The field experience provided a unique opportunity for fellows to experience the hardships faced by the communities they worked in. For many fellows, this was an eye opener: it gave them the chance to view the world from a different perspective. Participants were able to work with individuals that were directly impacted by hunger. Field assignments took fellows to places such as food banks, coalition meetings, and soup kitchens. Through these venues, fellows were able to see first-hand what it is like to be poor and witness the impact of community-level programs on the individuals that need them.

The most valuable aspect of my field placement was living and working in a local community. This provided me an opportunity to see hunger from a local perspective. FELLOW, CLASS 7

I learned how to become a part of someone else’s world for a little while. FELLOW, CLASS 1

Second, fellows valued the experience of be-ing mentored by a good supervisor. Many of the fellows felt that they benefited from working with a positive role model. Participants usually worked closely with their field site supervisor and, in many instances, the site supervisor took on a mentoring role as he/she exposed fellows to the fieldwork:

My supervisor . . . was a terrific mentor. She really allowed me to be creative in my work and took the time to help develop my skills. FELLOW, CLASS 7

Not all participants had such open and com-municative relationships with their supervisors. Occasionally, fellows learned from difficult situa-tions that arose due to a challenging relationship with their site supervisor, for example:

The most valuable aspect of my field placement was working with unprofessional supervisors. As ridiculous as that might sound, it taught me ‘what not to do.’ FELLOW, CLASS 9

Finally, fellows appreciated the opportunity to take on a leadership role. Many of the fellows indicated that one of the most valuable aspects of their field placement was that they were given high levels of responsibility. On several occasions, fellows were responsible for projects that involved intense community work. Initial successes in their fieldwork helped build confi-dence and empowered fellows as they moved on to take other responsibilities:

I was given a lot of leeway . . . in my field place-ment to do organizing around a summer feeding program. It was daunting at first . . . but once we got there and had people in the room together, it worked. We really felt good about the awareness that was raised. FELLOW, CLASS 9

The most valuable aspect was having a good amount of individual control over projects and being placed into a position of leadership. FELLOW, CLASS 4

Field Placement—Least Valuable AspectsInnovation Network also asked alumni what

the least valuable aspects of their field placement were. Answers to this question naturally varied by each individual’s experience; however, the follow-ing themes did surface from the survey:

The least valuable aspect of the fellows’ field experiences stemmed from unfavorable work-ing conditions that resulted from lack of work plan clarity and strong leadership from the field site. While these types of situations were rare, they did impact the overall fellowship experience for those placed in such scenarios. In instances where participants were placed in organizations with poor leadership, fellows were able to learn a lot about effectively leading an organization:

The quality of leadership at my field placement was very low. I learned a lot about leadership by observing how ineffective our Food Bank was. It

Fellows are indeed making a difference in the fight against hunger.

13 Refer to Table 16 in Appendix 2 for more details.

Hunger Fellow Robert

Campbell and CHC Board

Co-Chair Congresswoman

Jo Ann Emerson


would have been nice to have had the opportunity to work with someone who was really an effective leader. FELLOW, CLASS 6

While the staff at the Hunger Center has taken many steps to make sure that participants have a positive field experience, the distance between all the field sites makes it difficult to control what is happening at the sites.

Secondly, a few participants were unsatisfied with the type of work they were required to do during their field placement. Most of these complaints stemmed from unclear job duties. In these cases, the work did not reflect the tasks outlined in the initial work plans. One of the key themes that emerged from Innovation Network’s analysis was that there was often a discrepancy between what was stated in the field site work plan and the actual tasks given to fellows:

I spent more than half my time preparing meals, which was not the intent of the fellowship. My field placement viewed my partner and I as free la-bor, rather than valuable employees with meaning-ful things to contribute. FELLOW, CLASS 9

One former program director acknowledged this problem and indicated that it was sometimes difficult to coordinate and keep tabs on what was

going on in all the different field locations. The Hunger Center has strived to clarify the type of work fellows should be involved in by having strict guidelines and requiring all sites to submit detailed work plans; however, this did not always work. As mentioned earlier, the distance between Washington, D.C., and the various field sites dras-tically limits the amount of interaction CHC can have with the field sites. In many cases, the field sites themselves are nonprofits struggling to stay afloat. Typically, fellows were able to handle such situations on their own, but on occasion, Center staff would have to intervene.

Issues within the field site organization would sometimes take away from the overall experience of the fellowship. A few of the fellows expressed discontent around the internal politics of the organizations they were placed in. In in-stances where field sites had a lot of internal strife, it was difficult for fellows to separate themselves from the politics going on within the organiza-tion in order to see the bigger picture. Although at the time of the fellowship, fellows were frustrated to be caught up in the organizational issues of a host site, conversations with alumni reveal that these situations helped them get a more realistic perspective on the challenges that may arise in any work setting. The issues that fellows were deal-ing with at their hosting agency are comparable to issues they may face in the real world.

Finally, the issue of mentoring and support received from the Congressional Hunger Center in the formative years of the program was a problem as referenced by seven percent of the respondents. Most of the negative comments regarding the level of support provided from the Hunger Center were from the earlier classes. Initially the Congressional Hunger Center lacked the necessary funding to put towards the training and professional development of the fellows. As funding became more secure, the Hunger Center staff was able to make the trainings more focused and provide more support to the fellows out in the field. Beginning with the ninth class, the Hunger Center incorporated a “midfield retreat,” providing fellows with an opportunity to come

Major Themes

Celebrating at the Mid-Field

Retreat, Staff and 10th Class

Emerson Fellows


together midway through their field placement. This retreat has been well received by program stakeholders. The ability to share experiences midcourse through the placement has been of tremendous value to participants. The comments below illustrate some of the issues that arose in the early years of the program, prior to the incor-poration of the midfield retreat:

There was a lack of guidance and available re-sources from the Hunger Center. FELLOW, CLASS 2

There was little contact with the Hunger Center during our field placement. We were out there on our own. . . . I wonder if CHC could have made our experience even better by prodding us on what we were learning, asking us questions, challenging us, etc. FELLOW, CLASS 1

The Hunger Center took feedback and applied lessons learned from each class to make improve-ments for the next. This resulted in the program improving with incoming classes of new fellows.

Policy Placement—Most Valuable AspectsOver sixty percent of the alumni who respond-

ed to the survey indicated that they benefited greatly from working first-hand for a policy organization in Washington, D.C. Through these experiences fellows were able to increase their understanding of how the different pieces of the policy network fit together in combating hunger and poverty. Below is a summary of what the fellows found to be the most valuable aspects of their policy placement.

The most valuable aspect of the policy place-ment was an increased understanding of the interactions between various govern-ment agencies. The policy placement provided fellows with an opportunity to see first hand how the government works. Fellows gained a more in-depth view of the legislative process and a greater understanding of the relationships between vari-ous people in the policy world. By seeing the in-teractions, competitions, and overlap within the anti-hunger organizations in Washington, D.C., fellows were able to develop their own thoughts

and determine their fit in the overall anti-hun-ger establishment. Considering that the policy component was one of the most popular aspects of the program in its later years, the opportunity to be immersed in the D.C. political climate is one of the main draws to the program:

I gained most value from seeing firsthand how the government operates, for better and for worse. Grasping the size and scope of the divide between the Federal approach to social justice issues and the nonprofit approach. FELLOW, CLASS 9

Secondly, participants reported that they valued the increased networking opportu-nities provided by the program. Through the policy experience, participants were able to meet different players in the political network and get a close view of how politics works at the federal level. Over the course of the policy placement, participants were typically exposed to a num-ber of different people in the political arena. In addition, the Hunger Center provided weekly Professional Development Days, during which fellows could meet with professionals involved in different aspects of anti-hunger work. This was a great resource, giving fellows the benefit of broad perspectives on hunger issues from professionals in the field.

[My policy placement provided] the opportunity to meet and watch national policy advocates work. I think I learned a tremendous amount about the workings of DC and the way in which social policy advocates can participate. FELLOW, CLASS 6

Finally, some fellows reported that they most valued having the opportunity to practice skill sets that contribute to their own pro-fessional development. For the most part, the work that fellows were involved in helped them get an in-depth understanding of policy work. The type of work that participants were involved in included grant making efforts, advocacy, and education campaigns. These experiences contrib-uted to their knowledge and served as an asset in subsequent positions they have held since the completing the Program.

[My policy placement provided] the opportunity to meet and watch national policy advocates work. I think I learned a tremendous amount about the workings of DC and the way in which social policy advocates can participate. Fellow, Class 6


Policy Placement—Least Valuable AspectsIn addition to learning about the most valu-

able aspects of their policy placement, Innovation Network asked alumni about the least valuable characteristics of their policy placement.

Alumni reported that a major drawback of the policy placement was that at times, the content of the policy work appeared disconnected from the possible impact on anti-hunger issues. In a few instances fellows did not feel the immediate connection between the work they were involved in and its overall impact on hunger. Because fellows were at their placement organization for only six months, it was not always possible for them to see the fruition of their work. This was more common during the policy placement than in the field placement, where fellows were usually working directly in local communities and could see results almost immediately. The nature of policy work appears, at times, to be more removed from the actual communities that are being impacted. Fellows felt disconnected from the impact of the work they were doing.

My policy placement was excellent—but sometimes it felt disconnected from reality; so much paper was shuffled, and yet I am not sure how much of an impact all of this . . . had. FELLOW, CLASS 6

It [the policy placement] was research [oriented] and didn’t have enough direct and immediate policy relevance. FELLOW, CLASS 2

A few fellows were unhappy with the discrep-ancy between work plans and the actual work given to the Fellows. Occasionally fellows were faced with the situation where their work plan did not accurately reflect the work they were doing:

The work plan that my organization submitted did not . . . have the substance the organization presented. I felt that I lost an opportunity to do the substantive work I had hoped to. FELLOW, CLASS 4

The discrepancy between work plans and the actual work carried out by the fellows is, as

discussed above, a recurring problem in field placements, where distance makes coordination difficult. Such discrepancies are a more limited problem among policy sites, where distance and coordination are less of an issue. Considering the struggle many nonprofits face to keep afloat, it’s easy to see how host organizations can pull fellows into extraneous tasks not specified in the fellowship work plan. The Congressional Hunger Center is taking action to educate host organizations at the start of the program and to monitor progress during the placement. In recent years, CHC has started providing opportunities for policy site supervisors to convene midway through the placement with other supervisors and CHC staff to troubleshoot and come up with alternative solutions to challenging situations.

Finally, it appears that fellows sometimes have unreasonable expectations regarding the level of ownership they will have in the work completed during their policy placement. One of the perceived benefits of the fellowship experience is the opportunity to self-direct on projects at both the community and policy level. In a few instances Fellows felt that they were not given an appropriate level of responsibility over the work they were doing at their policy site. The following comments help to illustrate this:

The project I was working on had little room to be creative. FELLOW, CLASS 7

I experienced a lack of ownership on the project I was working on. I think the work plan should give over a project or major pieces of it to a Fellow so that we don’t end up doing piecemeal work. FELLOW, CLASS 4

In these instances fellows felt disempowered within the context of their policy placement. One of the key attributes of this program is that it empowers individuals by giving them a fair amount of control over projects, coupled with appropriate guidance when needed. In the situa-tions described above, these participants weren’t able to experience the full range of the fellowship.

Major Themes

It’s a phenomenal way to get a look at what you want to do with your life. [Through the program] I realized that I didn’t have much interest at the national policy level. I came back to the community level. The program really had an impact on me in deciding what I wanted to do. Fellow, Class 2


There needs to be a method to better gauge the amount of control given to the individual fellows to ensure they are reaping the full benefits of the program.

Impact on Career

One of the main theories behind the program is that by providing young adults with this type of intense experience in both policy and field-work, they will have a better sense of what they want and don’t want to pursue in their career. Innovation Network’s analysis revealed that the Fellowship Program has indeed influenced the career choices of many of the fellows. Data sup-porting these findings are described below:

We found that exposure to multiple ap-proaches to solving hunger helps partici-pants determine their interests. The field and policy experiences provide fellows with differ-ent perspectives on how to solve the problem of hunger. By exposing participants to two differing approaches, they are better able to discern what type of work they would like to be involved in. The comment below helps illustrate this point:

It’s a phenomenal way to get a look at what you want to do with your life. [Through the program] I realized that I didn’t have much interest at the na-tional policy level. I came back to the community

level. The program really had an impact on me in deciding what I wanted to do. FELLOW, CLASS 2

We also found that participating in the Fellowship Program helps fellows make educated decisions about what to do after completing the program. Our analysis shows that the fellowship has had a profound effect in the lives of those who participated. Almost seventy percent of those survey respondents who pursued a graduate degree after completing the program indicated that the Fellowship program influenced their decision about what degree to pursue.14 Table 6 illustrates ways in which the Fellowship Program impacted the career of alumni.

Alumni describe the Fellowship program as being pivotal in determining what career path to follow. For many, the combined field and policy experience has helped shape their views and actions, and foster a lasting commitment to al-leviating hunger. Approximately 86 percent of the alumni who completed our survey agreed with the statement that participating in the Fellowship Program has provided them with a commitment to working for a social justice cause.15 The com-ments below provide a glimpse of how the fellow-ship program has helped shape the career paths of those who participated:

The fellowship was definitely a pivotal experience in my career and sort of the last six or seven years since I’ve participated in the program. I can defi-nitely say that I probably wouldn’t be in the career that I’m in right now had I not participated in this fellowship. FELLOW, CLASS 4

My policy experience shaped my views and actions by exposing me to the field of community organiz-ing. I have since made a commitment to dedicate my efforts to supporting truly grassroots, com-munity-based solutions to poverty and other social issues. FELLOW, CLASS 7

Table 6: Fellowship Program’s Influence on Career ChoicesWays in which National Hunger Fellowship Program impacted career

Number of Respondents

Response Ratio

Program helped participants make educated decisions regarding their career paths 98 81%

Program introduced participants to key players/organizations in the anti-hunger/poverty field 92 76%

Program provided opportunity to gain first-hand field experience 90 74%

Program provided outlets for participants to stay involved in anti-hunger/poverty issues after the completion of the Fellowship

60 50%

Other 18 15%Categories are not mutually exclusive. Each row in table is listed as a percent of 100.

14 This percentage represents only those individuals who have pursued graduate school. (N=72) , not all survey respondents (N= 122). For complete representation of all statistics, refer to Table 5 in Appendix 2.

15 Refer to Table 16 in Appendix 2 for more detail.


The Relatedness of Field and Policy Placements

One of the issues that the Congressional Hunger Center has struggled with is whether or not to form a more purposeful connection between the fi eld and policy placements by intentionally relating the subject matter, allow-ing fellows to work on the same issue area in both placements. On the one hand, correlating the two placements by relevancy of content area could enhance the fellows’ knowledge in a particular issue area—by the end of the program, fellows could have an in-depth understanding of a focused subject area (e.g., food stamps or sum-mer feeding programs) within the greater fi eld of hunger alleviation. On the other hand, part of the uniqueness of the fellowship experience is its ability to expose participants to a broad array of anti-hunger issues in the U.S. Focusing on one particular issue for the entire year may limit opportunities for understanding different perspec-tives and approaches to solving hunger.

Historically, it has not been a primary concern of the program to relate fi eld and policy place-ments unless fellows request it. Eighty-three percent of the survey respondents reported that they benefi ted from the combination of both the fi eld and policy experiences, with no deliberate subject-matter connection between the two.

During the in-depth interviews, Innovation Network probed further by asking alumni, former program directors, and site supervisors if they thought a greater emphasis on subject-matter connection would create added program benefi ts. The majority of the individuals interviewed indi-cated that they prefer no deliberate connection to be made between the two placements, unless specifi cally requested by the fellow. The general consensus among interviewees was that broadness of perspective is one of the program’s primary benefi ts. With the program’s current structure, fellows are given a chance to work on a variety of different issues. By relating the subject matter of the two placements, fellows may miss out on a key experience. Participants also felt that by specializing on one topic area for the entire year, they may end up with a very narrow perspective on hunger issues. The following comments help illustrate this fi nding:

I think the idea behind the program is to give people as much experience as possible and to give them some exposure to a variety of issues. It wouldn’t be benefi cial for the fellows themselves to work on a similar program for 12 months straight. At some point they would lose a lot of that energy and momentum that they have when they are here for six months at the host site. SITE SUPERVISOR

I appreciated the diversity of the program. I think it’s important to keep it up to the hunger fellows and what their interests are. It would be a loss if all the sites focused on only one issue for both the fi eld and policy placement. They might miss out on some experience. I found it benefi cial having . . . two very different experiences. FELLOW, CLASS 4 AND FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Major Themes

Hunger Fellows Katie

Bolz and Alison Leff get

to know Ohio


Innovation Network asked alumni what they would change about the Hunger Fellows Program, given its current structure. The infor-mation collected via survey and through the in-depth interviews reveals the following sugges-tions to help improve the Fellowship Program:

Improve the screening process used to con-nect host agencies with participating fellows. Many of the negative experiences faced by pro-gram participants occurred as a result of conflicts within the placement organizations. A lot of these conflicts stem from discrepancies within the work plan submitted by the host site and the actual work that the fellows were expected to do. Part of the solution may be to temper the expectations of fellows so they have a more realistic view of what to expect once they arrive at their host organiza-tion. It may also help if fellows are given tips on how to react in various realistic scenarios that could occur at their host site.

In addition to setting participant expectations to a more realistic level, steps need to be taken to improve the overall screening process. Although this process has improved greatly over the years, there are still a few kinks in the system. Some of the suggestions to improve this process include:

Revamp the policy placement process to make it more transparent, predictable, and fair for fellows and policy sites. Also do a better job of screening field and policy sites, and establish clearer and stronger links with those groups and their staff to ensure all Fellows have challenging and productive experiences. FELLOW, CLASS 9

One thing that needs to be improved on is the quality and consistency of the field sites. CHC has been taking measures to improve in the past couple of years. In my year there were a few field sites that didn’t really have their acts together. They didn’t have adequate housing for the fellows. FELLOW, CLASS 8

Educate fellows so they are able to form realistic expectations of the work they will be performing at their host sites. As men-tioned above, some recurring pr

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