Nancy Amidei, a trailblazing advocate in the fight against hunger in the United States, passed away last month. While her work had a national reach, her impact was deeply felt here in California, where she mentored, trained, and supported countless advocates.
She grew up in the gardener’s cottage on Douglas Estate outside Chicago where her parents labored. It was there she first learned about income inequality - and the power of food, as her immigrant father grew fresh fruits and vegetables on the property.
After a stint in the Peace Corps she moved to Washington, DC and became a central force in the anti-hunger movement. Others have shared her role in helping policy makers “discover” hunger in America and in creating and strengthening key programs in our nation’s hunger safety net. She is also famous for advocacy against “ketchup as a vegetable.” We’d like to focus on her support across many social justice movements in California.
Nancy was passionate—almost evangelical—about advocacy. She literally wrote the book on how everyday people can influence democratic decision-making. She believed everyone, regardless of their background or political beliefs, should have the opportunity and access to participate in our democracy. It was in Washington state where our now Executive Director, George Manalo-LeClair, and other members of the Children’s Alliance team worked with Nancy to create Advocacy Camp to train foster parents, public assistance participants, and others in grassroots, legislative, and media advocacy. When George moved back to California, he made sure that Nancy was a frequent speaker and supporter for organizations across the state.
Over the years, Nancy traveled up and down California to support groups like the Girl Scouts, Mazon, the Junior League, the American Federation of Teachers, Children Now, the California Wellness Foundation, Fresno Metro Ministry, and the League of Women Voters. Her deep roots in the food justice movement made her especially beloved among anti-hunger advocates here.
Nancy was a fixture in Hunger Action Day training, year after year, helping members of the California Hunger Action Coalition find their voice and speak directly to policymakers. She demystified the process of engaging with elected officials and gave people the confidence to act.
One of her most memorable teachings was her “Five Rules for Effective Advocacy Encounters.” Rule #4: Make sure THEY hear YOU. Nancy trained hundreds of thousands of us to speak with clarity and confidence—and to make even the most talkative lawmakers listen. She often reminded us that we held the real power—or, in her words, the "butter." (If you've never heard her legendary “Butter Story,” check out the 49-minute mark in this conversation.)
Even as digital tools became more popular, Nancy urged us not to forget the basics: “Write. Call. Visit.” She had advocates practicing phone calls with paper cut-out telephones. She was thrilled when we created a video showing just how easy it is to call your legislators. (And yes, that’s Kumar Chandran in the video—years before President Biden appointed him Acting Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at the USDA.)
To honor Nancy’s legacy, we invite you to take one simple action: make a call. Visit 5calls.org, choose an issue that matters to you, and speak up.
Just like Nancy did. You can make a difference.
