The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship trains and inspires new leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty in the United States. Fellows gain vital first-hand experience through placements with community-based organizations across the country as well as policy-focused organizations in Washington, D.C. The program bridges gaps between local efforts and national public policy, as fellows support partner organizations with program development, research, evaluation, outreach, organizing, and advocacy projects.
Learn more about the Congressional Hunger Center’s work and additional programs for students/alumni.
UW’s 2022 Emerson Hunger Fellow:
Taylor Unoki
Class of 2021, Law, Societies & Justice major
My name is Taylor Unoki and I am a recent Law, Societies and Justice graduate! In my free time, I love writing poetry, reading, and eating good food.
When I saw the Emerson Fellowship, I was immediately drawn to it because of its mission to fight hunger through a racial, equitable lens. My LSJ classes always emphasized intersectionality and racial equity with any subject, so it was important to me that I work for an organization that viewed social issues in the same way.
I took a gap year before heading to law school, because I wanted to gain experiences with diverse communities and seasoned social advocates. Up until this point, I was so fixated on my courses and expanding my academic knowledge. However, I now want to apply it in some kind of social work that helps the poor and vulnerable. My hopes are that engaging in this kind of work before law school will help keep me grounded and stay true to my convictions.
Ultimately, my goal is to become a lawyer so I can defend and redeem human trafficking victims in the courtroom. To do so, I want to equip myself with more knowledge on the way trafficking and poverty intersect. I look forward to the ways this fellowship will fuel my future goals and impact!
Taylor’s near-term and long-term goals: A very near goal of mine is to go to law school. I hope to maximize the tools and knowledge law school can offer, so I can effectively advocate for the most socially and economically vulnerable communities.
Taylor’s tips for future applicants: Know what your specific passions are in the huge fight for hunger!
Scholarship Archive
Browse our archive for more Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship history.