Dr. Mariana Chilton, an assistant professor at the Drexel University School of Public Health, received two donations totaling $110,000 to support her work with The Philadelphia GROW Project and "Witnesses to Hunger" research project. The donations were made by donors who wished to remain anonymous.
Dr. Chilton leads The Philadelphia GROW Project, a hunger and nutrition program for babies and toddlers. Directed by the School of Public Health, the project is a participant in a national research program on child hunger and also includes a clinic at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA.
"Witnesses to Hunger" is a powerful new project at the School of Public Health also lead by Dr. Chilton. As part of the project, Dr. Chilton provided an opportunity for 40 mothers in Philadelphia living in poverty to show the dire circumstances they face every day. The women's photographs show a desolate collage of run-down homes, asthma and kitchens in disrepair. They also show family life, beautiful children, and hope for a better future. The photographs were recently on display at Drexel University, and the exhibit is expected to travel to various sites across the region.
"For ten years, our research has been documenting the health and wellbeing of children in relation to hunger and poverty alleviation programs. Unfortunately, there have been no significant changes in national and local hunger rates for more than a decade. It was time for a new frame of reference. It was time to change the conversation about poverty and hunger in the United States," said Chilton about "Witnesses to Hunger." "We think that listening to the voices, experiences and wisdom of mothers who are the true experts can truly inspire the public and policy makers to make decisive changes in policies for low income families."
The donations included $100,000 to be equally divided between The Philadelphia GROW Project and "Witnesses to Hunger," as well as a second donation of $10,000 to support "Witnesses to Hunger."