I started working for WhyHunger in August 2023 as I was going into my final semester of a master’s degree in environmental policy. Optimism can be hard to come by in this field, but I decided to pursue this path for a number of reasons. I was radicalized by some combination of the increasingly dire climate reports in the late 2010s, the miserable political situation in the US and world (especially as it relates to climate and the Earth), and a desire to dedicate my career to a goal besides merely making money. And given the way things are going, it still feels like a practical choice. But if I ..read more

 L is for Land defenders At WhyHunger, we know that land and the people that own, farm, and work it, are at the center of the movement towards food sovereignty. Land rights are what drive a community to control their own food systems and protect themselves against environmental degradation, industrial development, resource extraction, and community encroachment. Globally, the land holds painful stories of Indigenous erasure, encroachment, and extraction. This is often marked by the relentless pursuit of commodified natural resources, economic expansion and is usually at the expense of rur ..read more

Haiti: A Nation on the Brink - A Call for Understanding and Action By Kristina Erskine For decades, Haiti’s development has been suffocated by a vicious cycle of foreign intervention, chronic political instability, and natural disasters. Scars from the 2010 and 2021 earthquakes are still fresh, and now the assassination of President Moïse has plunged the nation into a brutal humanitarian crisis. Today, millions face hunger, displacement, and a future shrouded in uncertainty. But how did we get here? A History of Interference: The truth about Haiti's struggle is complex and deeply intertwin ..read more

United Talent Agency’s Melissa Newhart and Philanthropist Jimmy Zankel join WhyHunger’s Board of Directors to address the root causes of hunger and ensure the human right to nutritious food NEW YORK CITY (April 16, 2024) — WhyHunger, a non-profit working to end world hunger and the injustices that cause it, today announced the appointment of United Talent Agency (UTA)’s Music Brand Partnerships Executive Melissa Newhart and The Zankel Scala Family Foundation’s Executive Director Jimmy Zankel to its Board of Directors. “As WhyHunger continues pressing toward a hunger-free world, we’re delighted ..read more

United Talent Agency’s Melissa Newhart and Philanthropist Jimmy Zankel join WhyHunger’s Board of Directors to address the root causes of hunger and ensure the human right to nutritious food NEW YORK CITY (April 16, 2024) — WhyHunger, a non-profit working to end world hunger and the injustices that cause it, today announced the appointment of United Talent Agency (UTA)’s Music Brand Partnerships Executive Melissa Newhart and The Zankel Scala Family Foundation’s Executive Director Jimmy Zankel to its Board of Directors. “As WhyHunger continues pressing toward a hunger-free world, we’re delighted ..read more

This back-to-school season, WhyHunger is breaking down what our work is all about…starting with our ABCs. Join us to learn the key terms we all – even our littlest readers – need to understand as we work together to end hunger for good! At WhyHunger, we envision a fundamental shift in the way the world eats, rooted in shared resources, respect for the earth, and dignity for all people. And we believe the best way to achieve this goal is by working towards food sovereignty. Food Sovereignty is a term coined in 90s by La Via Campesina, an international peasant movement that represents over 200 ..read more

Dear WhyHunger Community, As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is crucial to shed light on the ongoing struggle for pay equity! Pay equity is not merely a women’s issue; it is a societal concern that demands our attention and collective action. The statistics are stark. According to recent data, women, on average, earn about 77 cents globally and 82 cents in the U.S. for every dollar earned by men. However, when we break down the U.S. figure by race and gender identity, a more complex and troubling picture emerges. African American women earn approximately 63 cents, Indigenous women earn ..read more

Dear WhyHunger Community, As you are all friends of WhyHunger I welcome you as my friends as well. As my friends, I need to share with you a conflict that has been stirring within me. As a Black woman, every February I find myself conflicted. Conflicted because I know that for 28 days, or 29 every fourth year, that the country will focus on Black people and our achievements. People and companies with anti-Black policies will post on social media celebrating different accomplished Black people, speak to their diversity programs, highlight their Black employees and then go back to business as us ..read more

As the crisis of capitalism and climate deepens, Indigenous people are leading the way in the defense of Mother Earth and humanity. Through our Global Movements Program, WhyHunger works to support the protagonism of Indigenous people in their demands for sovereignty, defense of life and wellbeing. And central to Indigenous protagonism is the concept of kinship, or the interconnectedness and mutual responsibility among all living beings, including humans, plants, animals, and the environment. Kinship emphasizes the understanding that all elements of the natural world are relatives and deserve r ..read more

Over the past few weeks as I have reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I have found it's not only an opportunity to reflect on the progress we've made but also a moment to assess the work that lies ahead. Dr. King's calls for economic justice, often overshadowed by his more famous speeches, remain a beacon guiding us toward a more equitable and compassionate world. In his quest for civil rights, Dr. King recognized that true equality went beyond legal and political changes; it necessitated true economic justice. He spoke eloquently about the "fierce urgency of now" and the ..read more