I owe deepest gratitude to the people of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho nations who taught me fundamental values necessary for living a meaningful life. Those values—solidarity not “help,” love and companionship, the interrelatedness of all life, the sacredness of food, reverence for orphans and marginalized people, generating joy amid adversity, and deep humility—have guided me since my early twenties. Specifically, I thank and honor Willie Fletcher Sr. and family, Chester Whiteman, Edwina Medicine Bird, Gerry Hutchinson, Leo Penn, George Old Crow, and their families, and many others who taught me by example. Thank you! Né-á’eše! Hohóu! All proceeds from this book are directed to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Language and Culture Department in Concho, Oklahoma.
To all members of Witnesses to Hunger, the Building Wealth and Health Network, participants in Children’s HealthWatch, members of the EAT Café advisory board, and participants in other studies that contributed to work on food, justice, and trauma I send my deepest gratitude and love. People involved number in the thousands. Though many must remain anonymous, I especially honor Janon McCreary, Joanna Cruz Simmons, Tianna Gaines-Turner, Imani Sullivan, Myra Young, Angela Sutton, Barbie Izquierdo, Tangela Federick, Myra Maldonado, Marinette and Luis Roman, Crystal Sears, Leticia Ainsley, Tiffany Ross, Whitney Henry, Emily Edwards, Betty Burton, Charlene M., Jean C., Beatriz C., Kim Hart, Susan Harris, Billy Bromage, Kim W., Bonita Cuff, Juell Frazier, Tamara Santiago, Karla Taylor, Leona Brown, Marion Campbell, Charlene Sullivan, April Thompson Harris, Callalilly Cousar, Ryan Kuck, Mary Seton Corboy, John Kirby, Paulette Adams, Rose Samuel-Evans, James Wright, Kevin Brown, and members of the Black Bottom Association.
Many colleagues in the antihunger social justice spaces shared their wisdom with me. They were generous even when we did not agree. Gratitude goes to people from the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, Community Legal Services, People’s Emergency Center, Philabundance, SHARE, Nutritional Development Services, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Food Research and Action Center, and Share Our Strength. Specific thanks to Karen Wilson, Steveanna Wynne, Louise Hayes, Anne Ayella, Linda Samost, Wiggy Olson, Kathy Fisher, Glenn Bergman, Kathy Webb, LaDonna Pavetti, Max Finberg, Joel Berg, Jim Weill, Ellen Teller, Billy Shore, Jeremy Everett, and Jessica Bartholow. The Network also owes thanks to people in the federal and state Agency for Children and Families and the Departments of Health and Human Services, with special thanks to Estelle Richman, Ed Zogby, and Tamila Lay. Thank you to Alisha Coleman-Jensen at ERS for constant support with the food security measure, and to Andrea Anatar at Research Triangle Institute, who supported the work of the National Commission on Hunger. Thank you to all commission members, and the congressional staffers and elected officials who helped me keep my head, hone my message, and learn how policy gets developed, destroyed, or patched together. I send sincere gratitude to US Senator Bob Casey Jr., his family and staff, and US Congressman Jim McGovern and staff.
This work required robust financial support. Special gratitude and love to Anonymous, who provided unwavering support and always trusted in the values and risk-taking necessary to try new approaches. Sincere appreciation also to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Merck & Co. Foundation, PEW Charitable Trusts, Claneil Foundation Inc., Philadelphia Health Partnership, Oak Foundation, and Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation. Many people working in print media, radio, and television helped amplify the expertise of members of Witnesses and the Network; of note are Sandy Shae, Marty Moss-Coane, Melissa Harris-Perry, Alfred Lubrano, Greg Kaufman, and filmmakers Kristi Jacobsen and Lori Silverbush. Their courage and witnessing deserve mention and gratitude.
A huge thank you to MIT Press editor Beth Clevenger along with series editors Robert Gottlieb and Nevin Cohen for believing in this project enough to stick with it through several years, many drafts, and a few tears. Thanks to outstanding attention to detail by Virginia Crossman and Cindy Milstein, this book’s message is clear. Much gratitude to the author of Big Hunger, Andy Fisher, who convinced me to write this book and sent regular encouragement. Thank you to Helen Rubinstein and Stephanie Bize, the 2019 cohort of the Looking Glass Writers Conference, and participants in the 2019 writers retreat at the BANFF Centre for feedback on earlier drafts. Deep appreciation to Janet Poppendieck for her inspiring work and for reading an early draft of chapter 8. Special gratitude to Robin Wall Kimmerer’s kind encouragement as I began this work to write with tenderness.
While writing this book, I benefited from belonging to several communities that deepened my resolve to tell the truth. Sending gratitude to the people of Coming to the Table, an organization seeking to promote racial healing among descendants of people who were enslaved and enslavers. I especially thank people in my “writing pod” who aided me in becoming more compassionate. Thank you to the participants in Jem Bendell’s sustainable leadership course and Scholar’s Warning, and to fellow monster-humans diving into cracks during our course with Bayo Akomolafe. I give the deepest bow of gratitude to the monastics and lay practitioners of Plum Village in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.
Helping me stay true to values of love and equanimity were many dear friends. I especially benefited from comadres in the struggle to address food insecurity, doctors Sonya Jones and Katherine Alaimo; friends and Drexel colleagues Rabbi Nancy Epstein and Sandra Bloom, and colleagues of Children’s HealthWatch, especially doctors Deborah Frank, John Cook, Maureen Black, Dianna Cuts, Eddie Ochoa, Pat Casey, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, and Allison Bovel; spiritual mentors Valerie Brown and Jen Eriksen; and pals Ruth Lopez and Kiki Speidel. Hugs of gratitude to Roberto Castillo Sandoval, whose brilliance and listening heart guided me through my roughest moments.
To my students, thank you for your outstanding work and humor as we explored ideas on human rights, abolition, and the work at the Center for Hunger-Free Communities. Numerous staff and students at the center provided the backbone, brains, brawn, heart, and perseverance to develop the programming, research, and practice described here. Deep gratitude to all who took risks at work, provided wisdom, shared their emotions, and added so much joy. I especially thank Jenny Rabinowich, Christina Council, Ravi Kalwani, Angelo Melendez, Jennifer Breaux, Cizely Kurian, Nijah Famous, Falguni Patel, Kate Scully, Callie Perrone, Rachel Cahill, Lili Dodderidge, Rachel Kirzner, Molly Knowles, Maura Boughter-Dornfeld, Michelle Taylor, Gabriela Grimaldi, Emily Weida, Jing Sun, Pam Phojanakong, and Sabea Evans. Special thank yous to Network coaches Brittany Nelson, Keith Lee, Korah Lovelace, Millie Bass, Molly Baird Ashodian, and Raheem Stevenson. Network leaders Kevin Mansa, Alie Huxta, Jenay Smith, Mike Moody, and Natalie Shaak have the grit, courage, love, compassion, and equanimity to make the Network and all of our programs at the center a joyous place to be, and they help thousands of people in Philadelphia and beyond. I am enormously honored and grateful to be considered their colleague. Many partners and staff made the EAT Café possible, but without the vision of Jeff Benjamin, Marc Vetri, Donnell Jones-Craven, Racquel Williams-Payne, Nia Minard, and the outstanding leadership and magical cooking of Valerie Erwin (@GeecheeGirlCafe), it would not have become such a nourishing and joyous place. Finally, hugs of gratitude to Sherita Mouzon and Victoria Egan for working alongside and guiding me over the last fourteen years. Sherita, you helped me stay humble and gave me courage; Victoria, your generous wisdom kept the Center for Hunger-Free Communities healthy and whole, and your friendship has helped us all to endure.
Everything here became possible with love, joy, and encouragement from my family, most especially Zora, Gabi, Sam, Leonard, and Maude.
Anything here that seems useful should be attributed to the people and groups above.
Finally, thank you, dear reader, for reading to the end.
Peace be with you.