Thanks to the support of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, we are excited to introduce the No Kid Hungry Youth Ambassadors for Summer 2017!
Our Ambassadors are bringing their enthusiasm, expertise, and passion to help kids in need this summer. They will be hard at work all throughout the country with our state partners to help connect more kids to the food they need. This summer, we have 27 Youth Ambassadors across 15 states!
Look out for more stories from our Ambassadors, as they help end childhood hunger. Let’s give them a warm welcome to #TeamNKH!
Arkansas (Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance)
Claire Thompson
I'm from Little Rock, Arkansas and I am going to be a sophomore at Arizona State University, where I am studying Business Communications and Psychology; I am also in the Public Service Academy, where I'm learning how to solve nutrition problems by collaborating across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. I first became interested in anti-hunger work when volunteering with a youth group as a kid, and now have become even more passionate through working with other students on these issues. For fun, I like to watch sports (I am not athletic, but I am second in ASU's cornhole league), hike, hangout with friends, and eat ice cream!
Jasmine Zandi
I'm from Little Rock, Arkansas and just finished my freshman year at Hendrix College. I'm a prospective Environmental Studies and International Relations double major, and I'm really active on Hendrix's Student Senate. In my free time, I love hiking, spending time with my friends, and going to concerts. My interest in anti-hunger work started in high school when I became involved with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and realized just how much hunger disparity there is in my home state.
Alabama (Feeding the Gulf Coast)
Teila Younce
Growing up in Bayou la Batre, Alabama, food insecurity was not something I could ignore, even as a kid. So many people in my community face hunger every single day. This awareness of issues that impacted my community led me to pursuing a Bachelor's in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, where I am able to take classes online and work full-time to support my husband (a journalist focusing on state politics), and myself while we finish school - which he did this year. Outside of my day job, I am involved in political activism from registering voters to phone banking for local campaigns.
Sam Pope
I am from Macon, Georgia and went to Berry College. For fun I like to hike and fish, or anything outdoors. I became interested in anti-hunger work from my time volunteering in a community kitchen in my college town of Rome, Georgia.
Connecticut (End Hunger CT!)
Anna Boris
I'm from Prospect, Connecticut. I am currently a rising senior at Saint Anselm College, where I am studying International Relations and Spanish. I became interested in anti-hunger work during a service trip down in Washington DC, but I am excited to be able to reach out to people from my home state.
Mikayla Gordon Wexler
I am from West Hartford, Connecticut. I am a rising junior at Amherst College where I am an Anthropology major and pre-med. I am excited to work as a Youth Ambassador this summer due to my interests in public health and the importance of a community approach to helping children and families-in-need find local food resources.
Florida (Flipany)
Jude Hamideh
My name is Jude Hamideh, I am from Weston, FL and and just graduated from Florida State University. I love to cook, watch documentaries and make jewelry. I got involved with anti-hunger work through my work with refugee youths which gave me a first hand look on how hunger affects children, specifically in school.
Illinois (Greater Chicago Food Depository)
Shamira Quinones
I am from Chicago and am currently attending the University of Illinois Chicago as a public policy major. I am interested in the anti-hunger work because I love giving back to my community. Another reason is because I am focused in education and there is a direct correlation between a student hunger and their success in class.
Maine (Preble Street)
Michael Bennett
I'm from York, Maine and I'm a rising junior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. I run on the Bates indoor and outdoor track teams, and love watching and playing soccer, hiking, and the ocean. I gained a better understanding of how widespread of a problem hunger is through my work as a tutor in a Lewiston elementary school and I hope I can further my understanding and learn how to combat it through my work this summer.
Mylie Warlick
I'm from Kennebunkport, Maine, where I still currently live and commute to school at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. I love the Boston Bruins, fishing for striped bass, country music and cowboy boots. I've always wanted to work at a place where I could help people. The No Kid Hungry Youth Ambassador program allows me to do this, specifically in the community where I've grown up and love.
Michigan (Gleaners Food Bank of South Eastern Michigan)
Shameya Panell
Hey! Originally from Michigan, I'm a senior at Emory University in Georgia, majoring in Religion & Anthropology. My passions are research, activism, and exploration, and I'm looking to grow academically and personally through my work.
Nadia Salman
I was raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan, but am now entering my final year at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa! My hobbies include cooking, running, and writing postcards to friends. I've been interested in anti-hunger work since high school, when I first started volunteering at Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit.
Minnesota (Second Harvest Heartland)
Kenea Andrews
My name is Kenea Andrews and I am from Nassau Bahamas! I attend The College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. I love to laugh, have intellectual conversations, read empowering books, travel, sing and play the piano. I got interested in anti-hunger work because I was given the opportunity last year working with a non-profit. After the experience, I fell in love with the work and decided to do more in service to others. I am so excited for this summer and all that is to come!
Sarah Bond
I'm from Reading, Massachusetts and a student at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. I run cross country and track & field at school and I love spending time in our campus natural lands! I'm passionate about public health and policy, which has afforded me the opportunity to work in areas throughout the food provision process, from farm to food bank.
Nebraska (Hunger Free Heartland)
Brook DeMarque
I am from Council Bluffs, Iowa, and I go to school at the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!). I study Journalism/Mass Communication and Sports Studies, with a minor in Sport and Recreation Management. In my free time, I like to be outdoors, hiking and hammocking, and I like to just relax and binge watch Netflix. This will be my first job working in anti-hunger work, and I am super excited to make a difference in the community I grew up in!
Zia Abdullah
I was born in South Africa, grew up in Botswana and moved to Omaha in 2008! I go to school at UNO, and through my public health degree I learned how big of an issue hunger is in America. It was quite a devastating thing to learn about how it affects kids in particular. I can't believe that I actually get to do something about it now.
Nevada (Three Square Food Bank)
Jhonai DeBow
I go to school in Cedar City, Utah at Southern Utah University (SUU). I'm a Resident Assistant on campus, on the dance team, and in my free time exploring the great outdoors of Utah. What got me interested in hunger work is my emphasis in human services. I love helping people and being a Youth Ambassador is a great way to do that.
Melissa Bain
I'm from Las Vegas, NV and will be attending the University of Utah in the fall. I enjoy hiking and basically any outdoor activity! I've been involved with Three Square Food Bank for a year now. I think it's extremely important to be involved to help end hunger.
New York (Hunger Free America)
Natasha McCombs
I'm from Long Island, New York and am a rising junior at Temple University in Philadelphia,PA. I love to sing, dance and I am always looking for a new adventure. I've worked as a mentor and tutor for low-income children in Philadelphia and I noticed that children focus more when they eat a nutritious meal. This challenged me to join a campaign where I would be able to serve as an advocate for children with food insecurity, motivate young people and make a difference in my community.
Kaila Davis
I'm from Warren, New Jersey and I will be a Junior at George Washington University in the fall majoring in political communication. I write for an online media criticism publication and enjoy discovering new brunch spots in the District and doing yoga. My interest in hunger issues stemmed from a video I created about how a D.C. school is teaching urban farming techniques in order to combat food insecurity.
North Carolina (No Kid Hungry North Carolina)
Khadija Ewais
Hello everyone! My name is Khadija Ewais. I am a Raleigh NC native and a recent graduate from North Carolina State University. Some of my fun activities include enjoying beautiful nature scenery, enjoying a well written book, and hanging out with friends and family! My interest in anti-hunger work stems from a life long interest in public health. Everyone deserve an equal opportunity to be healthy, and appropriate nutrition starts that journey.
Sarah Fatima
I was born and raised in North Carolina but originally from India. I go to school at UNC Chapel Hill (GO TARHEELS) and I love to take photographs during my free time. I am very passionate about Public Health and because of this I became interested in anti-hunger work which eventually led me towards No Kid Hungry.
Oregon (Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon)
Kathleen Burks
Hi there! My name is Kathleen and i'm from Tacoma, Washington but go to school in Portland, Oregon at the University of Portland. I'm studying Political Science and Spanish with a specialization in Social Justice and I enjoy reading, the outdoors, traveling, and walking dogs. I became interested in anti-hunger work after volunteering at various food banks and soup kitchens as well as after taking a course in Food, Politics, and Policy.
Texas (Texas Hunger Initiative)
Keyanna Taylor
I am from San Antonio, Texas, and I currently attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I love to be active, such as run and exercise for fun. I have been interested in anti hunger work since learning about advocacy and humanitarian work for the impoverished since high school.
Steven Kuipers
I am a freshman at Baylor studying Economics with a minor in Chinese and Religion. currently I am interested in Macro-economic development in urban areas, Globalization, and Baylor's administrative progression. I have the honor of being part of the Baylor Men's Choir as well training to become a Community Leader at on-campus housing. I look forward to my job addressing poverty this summer, and just came back from a two week trip to Kenya!
Wisconsin (Hunger Task Force)
Vanessa Kowalski
I am from a small town in Wisconsin named Rosholt. I am currently attending Carroll University and will be a senior as of the fall semester 2017. I like to enjoy the outdoors when I'm not swamped with homework or working at my other jobs. I got interested in anti-hunger work because of my major in public health. Nutrition has always been something I found interesting and with learning more as a public health student I've come to realize how much of a crisis there really is in regards of hunger and malnutrition. After working at the Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee this past spring (2017), I have expanded my knowledge about the obstacles that are permitting an overall solution of anti-hunger and I am determined to continue working with this organization to diminish those obstacles and work to provide healthy and nutritious meals to those in need.
Bethany Ford
I am from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I will be graduating from Homestead High School this June with plans to attend Vanderbilt University come August. I have truly enjoyed being extremely involved in community service, primarily in education and tutoring. I was exposed to anti-hunger work in the schools I volunteered in and cannot wait to begin working towards the greater goal of ending hunger!
