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<v ->So I am very passionate about hunger</v>

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because I have two children.

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I never have to worry if my kids are gonna go to be hungry

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and I certainly don't send them to school on an empty belly.

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As a mother, I think once we become a mother

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we become a mother to all children

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and I can't imagine the stress of being a mother

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not being able to find food to feed my child.

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So that really brings the passion into my work.

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The emotional favorite experience that I have

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is when an audience member comes up to me

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and says thank you.

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Thank you for validating me.

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Thank you for understanding my story.

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Thank you for being a voice because we're often silenced.

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And I know I'm doing my job when I have those moments.

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The most challenging situation,

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and I deal with this everyday not just in the presentations,

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but I have to say it's when I am met with opposition

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because in the United States we have a lot of people

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who have misconceptions surrounding food assistance programs

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and poverty in the United States.

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So I have to be able to meet that opposition

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with empathy for their view,

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but also an open heart and that requires a lot of patience

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when someone doesn't believe what you're saying.

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But I always know if someone is questioning me,

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I at least have them thinking about it.

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So that's a step in the right direction.