Anna Alemu, a college student at LSU and Baton Rouge Community College, is pursuing studies in health sciences. Experiencing unexpected housing and financial instability changed Anna’s understanding of food insecurity. She realized that food insecurity can touch the lives of most people, especially during transitions, hardships, housing changes, and just simply when resources become limited. She is excited to share her voice in the fight against hunger.

Sashika Baunchand is the founder and executive director of The Outstanding Mature Girlz Organization (O.M.G.) and an advocacy consultant for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Through youth mentorship, community partnerships, and the O.M.G. Family Food Pantry, she helps address the needs of Louisiana families. Her experiences receiving community support growing up inform her commitment to addressing food insecurity.

Betty Chenier is a farmer representing Chenier Farms, a family farm near Opelousas with more than 30 years of farming experience. Alongside her husband, John, she grows a wide variety of specialty produce and plans seasonal crops to maintain a steady supply. Her work supports access to fresh, locally grown food, an important part of addressing food insecurity.

Karen Colomb is a single mother whose firsthand experiences with food insecurity and health challenges have shaped her commitment to helping others. She understands the importance of nutritious food to overall well-being and helps people connect with resources they need to thrive.

San’aa Doss is a nutrition graduate completing her dietetic internship while pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Southern University. Through her work with the Jaguar NEST food pantry, she helps students access nutritious food and develop sustainable eating habits. A former Division I athlete, she is committed to strengthening food security in Scotlandville through community nutrition programs.

Donna Fontenot is a Louisiana cattle producer who believes the state’s agricultural abundance should translate into reliable access to nutritious food. Seeing long lines at local food distribution centers deepened her awareness of food insecurity. She brings an agricultural perspective to helping families benefit from food produced in their own communities.

Hailey Lovasz is president and founder of Community Roots, a nonprofit in Jena, Louisiana, dedicated to addressing unmet community needs and amplifying overlooked voices. She views access to nutritious food as essential to helping children and families thrive. As a Hunger Action Ambassador, she advocates for communities and works to build support for ending hunger.

Deirdre Weller is a Louisiana nursing student, mother, and caregiver. Caring for her family has shown her how easily rising food costs can strain households, including those who never expected to need assistance. As a Hunger Action Ambassador, she listens without judgment and speaks up for families facing food insecurity.

Lester Williams is president of Williams Produce and a grower who supplies fresh produce to food banks. As a Hunger Action Ambassador for Feeding Louisiana, he values helping people access the food they need while connecting directly with the person who grew it.

Rahsha Williams is a communications strategist, community leader, and director of the Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center in Baton Rouge. In response to SNAP benefit disruptions, she partnered with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank to launch an emergency pantry that now serves hundreds of families each month. As a Hunger Action Ambassador, she brings firsthand knowledge of how policy affects food insecurity and experience turning urgent community needs into action.