On May 11th, 2018, the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America presented the thirteenth Dorothy Shackleton Anti-Hunger Leadership Award to Aris Ballesteros, a 2018 URI graduate with a major in Communications and Public Relations. A resident of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Aris began working at the Hunger Center as as an outreach worker for the SNAP Outreach Project when he was a junior.
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that provides benefits to low-income individuals who are struggling to feed themselves, as well as their families. As an outreach worker, Aris was responsible for going out into the community to places like local community action agencies, health centers, pantries and meal sites to help low-income Rhode Islanders apply for SNAP and assist them with any other SNAP issues that they had. As a result of his work at the Hunger Center, Aris has not only become more aware of poverty in our state, but he has also learned that he really enjoys helping others, saying, “My experience at the Hunger Center has been phenomenal. It has opened my eyes to many things as well also helping me become more aware of major issues that go on around my community. Knowing you can make a difference in someone’s life is beyond rewarding. This was an amazing opportunity that I hope many others can take advantage of at URI.”
Ballesteros was surprised and honored to be chosen for the Shackleton award. He commented, “When I found out I was receiving this award I was completely shocked. I always worked hard but I also always admired the hard-work my coworkers did. It was an amazing feeling receiving this award and a memory that will forever live on.” Aris plans to continue his studies in the future, and upon graduation, he will be starting a new full time job with Verizon.
Dr. Kathleen Gorman, Director of the Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America lauded his accomplishments saying, “Aris was a skilled outreach worker and he brought passion and compassion to the job. One of his greatest qualities is his ability to engage with almost anyone, listen to their story and try to figure out a solution that will best respond to their need. Everyone could relate to Aris, they felt heard and appreciated. That is quite a skill.”
The Anti-Hunger Leadership Award is awarded to students who have demonstrated extensive knowledge of hunger and poverty issues and who have used their skills to contribute to the education and outreach activities in the community. The fund was started with a donation from Dorothy Shackleton, a former employee with the RI Department of Human Services. The URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America coordinates Rhode Island’s SNAP Outreach Project through a contract with the RI Department of Human Services with support from the US Department of Agriculture.