AWSM Team

BILL AYRES

Bill co-founded WhyHunger in 1975 with the late singer Harry Chapin.Since its founding, Bill has developed and implemented meaningful and innovative hunger and poverty programs and has led local initiatives to promote ideas and policies that have made significant impacts upon the communities that they serve, including the creation of the New York Hunger Hotline in New York City and the Center for Food Action in New Jersey. He has led local initiatives to promote ideas and policies that have made significant impacts upon the communities that they serve. Under Bill’s direction, WhyHunger has served as a founding member of the National Association of Hunger Organizations (NAHO) and the National Jobs for All Coalition. He is also a member of the board of advisors of Long Island Cares, Long Island’s food bank. Bill has been a broadcaster on commercial radio and TV for the past 40 years and currently hosts two weekly Sunday night radio shows on WPLJ 95.5 FM in New York. Through his work in communications, Bill has developed extensive contacts in the world of media. He is the co-author with Pete Fornatale of the book All You Need is Love (Simon & Schuster) and writes and records music. Bill is married to Life Coach Jeannine Ayres. They have two daughters Michelle and Suzanne and one granddaughter Jaida Lynn.

SUZANNE BABB

In partnership with Senior Co-Director, Lorrie Clevenger, Suzanne develops and oversees the implementation of WhyHunger’s domestic strategies: Transforming the Emergency Food System, Black Food Sovereignty and Labor and Economic Justice. Suzanne helps to convene and support regional and national networks and alliances of emergency food organizations working to ensure the right to food by addressing the systemic inequities resulting in hunger and poverty. Additionally, Suzanne supports the growth of BIPOC led food sovereignty organizations, networks and alliances by mobilizing resources and providing technical support to aid in the creation of legislation, infrastructure and institutional structures grounded in equity and justice. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada Suzanne has many years of experience working on community development projects within the English-speaking Black community of Montreal on issues of education, employment and health. Prior to joining WhyHunger, Suzanne was the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Get Healthy Harlem website at the Harlem Health Promotion Center. Suzanne is a member of Black Urban Growers, an organization of volunteers committed to building community support for urban and rural growers and nurturing collective Black leadership, and an urban farmer at La Finca del Sur Urban Farm, a Black and Latina women led farm, in the South Bronx. She holds a BS from Concordia University and an MPH from Columbia University.

LORRIE CLEVENGER

Lorrie helps connect, build, and support the expansion and collaboration of US-based networks, alliances, and social movements organizing for and creating new legislation, infrastructure, and institutions grounded in equity and justice. In partnership with Senior Co-Director, Suzanne Babb, Lorrie develops and oversees WhyHunger’s US Program strategies:  Transforming the Emergency Food System, Black Food Sovereignty, and Labor and Economic Justice.  In addition to her role at WhyHunger, Lorrie is an organic vegetable farmer and owner at Rise & Root Farm, a women-owned, cooperative farm based in Chester, NY. Lorrie is a founding member of Farm School NYC and Black Urban Growers. She holds a BA and MEd from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

JOY CURTIN

As Sr. Director of Finance & Administration, Joy oversees the development and implementation of WhyHunger’s financial management strategy, operations and human resource policies with an emphasis on ensuring sound fiscal management and operational efficiency rooted in social justice. Prior to joining WhyHunger, Joy was Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Media Development Investment Fund, a mission-driven investment fund for independent news businesses in countries with a history of media oppression. She also served as Chief Financial Officer and Sr. Vice President for Administration at the National Academy Foundation which aimed to sustain a national network of career academies in public high schools across the U.S. Joy holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration- Public Accounting (Summa Cum Laude) from Baruch College where she was valedictorian, and a National Diploma in Accounting (Honors) from the London Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Society of Arts. She is married and has two children.

DEBBIE DEPOALA

Debbie develops and implements organizational strategies to increase WhyHunger’s visibility and advance its programmatic initiatives and impact. Overseeing the organization’s marketing, public relations, creative direction and brand strategy, Debbie brings expertise in media relations, organizational messaging, narrative strategy and event planning to WhyHunger. Prior to joining WhyHunger in spring 2011, Debbie served as the Director of Communications and Development for the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, a community based human service non-profit, where she shaped strategic communications and fundraising initiatives for the organization. Previously, Debbie implemented publicity campaigns for dozens of for-profit and non-profit clients at G.S. Schwartz & Company, a mid-sized Manhattan based public relations firm. She has worked with top-tier media outlets, planned large scale fundraising events and secured millions in private funds. Debbie is a strong believer in the transformative power of storytelling and is a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) working to support at risk youth in the foster care system.

Sharon Damelio

Sharon oversees the development program at WhyHunger, working with a creative and collaborative team to host innovative events, nurture relationships with individual donors and artists, secure support from foundations and aligned corporations, lead a robust major gifts program, and engage and educate supporters through WhyHunger’s powerful impact. Before joining the team at WhyHunger, Sharon worked as the Development Director at Central Outreach & Advocacy Center, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides job training and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Sharon believes that funders and philanthropists have a critical role to play in supporting transformative social change, and she has served as Board Treasurer of the EDGE Funders Alliance, a diverse network of progressive global funders, since 2020. Sharon holds a B.A. in English and Classics from Williams College and a Master of Divinity from Yale.

Betty Fermin

Betty accompanies individual members and sectors of ally global social movements. She is responsible along with her fellow co-director for monitoring the political and economic context of regions around the world as part of the strategic planning and implementation of the overall programmatic goals. She supports social movements and organizations by mobilizing logistical, technical, and financial support, while building, strengthening, and nourishing connections between global social movements and U.S-based movements and organizations. She collaborates on fundraising, strategic messaging and communications campaigns that support WhyHunger’s work globally. She is continually learning and deepening her knowledge on issues related to the work. Betty was born in Harlem, grew up in Rhode Island, and came back to NYC to study at Pace University, where she received her B.B.A. In her spare time, she’s also the Editorial Manager of Womanly Magazine, a publication and platform that circulates accessible health information to women and non-binary people around the world through the lens of art. She’s passionate about books, travel, and social justice.

Jenique Jones

As WhyHunger’s Executive Director, Jenique guides the strategic direction of the organization and ensures its policies, culture and practices best fulfill WhyHunger’s mission to end hunger and ensure everyone’s basic human right to nutritious food.

With a diverse background working in government and nonprofits, spanning the New York State Senate, the NYC Department of Education, and City Harvest, Jenique has been steadfast in her mission to improve the lives of marginalized and underserved populations and make a difference in the world.

Jenique comes to WhyHunger after 14 years serving as an integral part of the leadership of City Harvest—one of the largest food rescue organizations. As the Vice President of Program Operations and Policy, she oversaw the distribution of tens of millions of pounds of food to soup kitchens, food pantries, and community food programs throughout New York City. She also worked tirelessly with partners to increase access to fresh produce and promotes nutritious and budget-conscious meal choices for residents.

With steadfast commitment to making a meaningful impact, Jenique has responded to numerous emergency and disaster situations. Extending her role at City Harvest and as a member of Feeding America, she spearheaded the distribution of over 500 million pounds of food in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also oversaw infrastructure projects to rebuild after Super Storm Sandy and supported food banks in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Recognized as a strategic partner and trusted advisor, Jenique excels in defining strategies that align with WhyHunger’s vision and drive programmatic growth. Her keen analysis of operations, key projects, and performance metrics guides critical decision-making and steers organizational transformation. Her leadership qualities shine through in her people-centered approach.

A native New Yorker, Jenique lives in Brooklyn, NY with her wife Kayla.

Hesire LAWTON

Hesire works directly under WhyHunger’s Senior Director of Communications and supports the organization’s external relations, internal messaging and cause-marketing partnerships. Before joining WhyHunger, Hesire provided branding and consultation services to various growing and established businesses, entrepreneurs, local political administrations & community based organizations and visual and recording artists over the span of a 10+-year career under his multimedia brand, Law10 Creative Haus. Hesire also founded an independent, monthly digital arts and culture publication, FunktheFormula, where he managed a team of global contributors and the creative direction of the branding and marketing across various outlets; from social media to producing and hosting arts based workshops and youth-focused programing in local and underserved communities, Hesire has aimed to empower others to live freely through creativity, love, compassion & abundance, in the face of social and economical injustices. In all Hesire has done over the years to creatively work towards social justice, empowerment and equity, he has found WhyHunger to serve as a space to greatly expand on this passion as a growing advocate for food justice while managing the organization’s social media platforms, newsletter, and other channels. As a born and raised Brooklynite, Hesire holds a B.F.A. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute, and is also an award winning songwriter, recording and spoken word artist and performer.

KRISTEN WYMAN

In her position as Co-Director of Global Movements Program, Kristen supports and nourishes connections between International Movements and US-based groups by developing fundraising strategies, strategic messaging and communication campaigns, as well as monitoring global initiatives led by Indigenous peoples, especially social movements working towards food sovereignty and climate justice. Kristen is Co-Founder of Eastern Woodlands Rematriation, a grassroots collective of indigenous peoples restoring indigenous livelihoods through sustainable food and economic systems in the Northeast, United States. Prior to joining our team, Kristen worked as consultant and program manager to several youth and Native American led initiatives at local, state, and national levels. She holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.