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National Conference on Poverty and Hunger

Beyond Hunger Event Flier

"Beyond Hunger: Real People, Real Solutions"

In order to reignite a national dialogue on hunger and poverty in America, and to ensure that legislators are discussing it and reporting on what they will do about it, the Center for Hunger-Free Communities and the Dornsife School of Public Health hosted its first annual national conference on hunger and poverty, Beyond Hunger: Real People, Real Solutions, in May 2012. Conference participants consisted of researchers, anti-hunger advocates, government representatives, government officials, public health experts, philanthropists, members of the media, and most importantly, those who had experienced hunger and poverty first-hand.

The conference brought together 350 attendees including media reporters, academics, advocates, researchers, international leaders, and government officials with the true experts those individuals who know hunger and poverty first-hand.

Conference Overview

Video overview of the Beyond Hunger Conference held in Philadelphia in May 2012

Keynote Speakers

Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher is a director, screenwriter, film producer and New York Times best-selling author of Finding Fish and Antwone Fisher. His life story is an inspiring example of how anyone can overcome adversity and obstacles to enjoy great success and respect. Fisher was raised in institutions from the moment of his birth in prison to a single mother. In his book, Finding Fish, he writes about how he overcame years of abuse and abandonment in a foster home, with the guidance of social workers and teachers, through experiences in the Navy, as a correctional officer and a security guard in Hollywood to becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after screenwriters.

Gwen Ifill

Gwen Ifill is moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and senior correspondent and co-anchor for the PBS Newshour. She is also frequently asked to moderate debates in national elections, including the vice presidential debates during the 2008 and 2004 elections. She has received more than 15 honorary doctorates and is the recipient of several broadcasting excellence awards, including honors from Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center, National Press Foundation, Ford Hall Forum, Radio Television News Directors Association and American Women in Radio and Television.

Rajsekhar Budithi

Rajsekhar Budithi is the CEO of the Society for the Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in Andrha Pradesh, Hyderbad, India. Budithi belongs to the prestigious Indian Administrative Service, where he has focused his career on developing innovative systems and institutional frameworks to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, primarily poor women in rural communities in India. He currently oversees the SERP, which supports over 900,000 self-help groups providing employment to over 10 million rural poor women and implementing World Bank assisted poverty alleviation projects. Budithi holds a bachelor of arts degree in mechanical engineering from Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, and is a recipient of the 2011 Eisenhower Fellowship.

Conference Program and Outcomes

Program Overview

Outcomes