In 2017, the Alliance became an AmeriCorps VISTA project sponsor to assist Hunger Free Communities around the country to build their ability to measure and analyze local food security, and develop or improve community responses to relevant hunger issues.
The AmeriCorps VISTA program will help HFC coalitions to reduce food security by:
- Connecting individuals with federal nutrition programs.
- Education and training.
- Empower community stakeholders and residents to work together to address hunger in their communities through collective action.
- Build the capacities of emerging community coalitions by helping them create end hunger plans.
- Design programmatic interventions, build partnerships and increase resources.
- Strengthen these HFCs years to come by implementing sustainable community-based relationships and systems.
This project works in sites across the country targeting low-income populations. Partner organizations are developed by community residents who have started organizing or established a hunger free community initiative; and VISTAs are hosted at community-based nonprofit organizations that are part of the hunger free community network initiative.
AmeriCorps VISTAs that are taking part in the initiative are:
Zandra Cuff / AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, Alliance to End Hunger / Washington, DC
Adam Derrick / Second Harvest Foodbank of Northeast Tennessee / Kingsport, TN
Adama Diakhate / Hall Hunger Initiative / Dayton, OH
Allie Sklarew / Montgomery County Food Council / Rockville, MD
Ally Barbaro / Hunger Free Alexandria / Alexandria, VA
Amber Dorsey / Mississippi Center for Justice / Jackson, MS
Anita Mills-Barry / Hunger Free Oklahoma / Tulsa, OK
Chloe Kidd / Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger / Tampa, FL
Daniel Bowen / Montgomery County Food Council / Rockville, MD
Marion Ware / Feeding America of Southwest Virginia / Salem, VA
Maryam Gula / Hall Hunger Initiative / Dayton, OH
Olivia McConnell / Alliance to End Hunger / Washington, DC
Ryan Maia / Northwest Food Partners Network, La Casa Norte / Chicago, IL
Shanita Gibson / Mississippi Center for Justice / Jackson, MS
