Meet Jamiliyah Foster: Director, Ending Hunger for Good
Raised by a social worker mother, Jamiliyah Foster has always felt a strong commitment to service. “My mother always reminded my brother and me that we have many blessings to count,” remembers Jamiliyah.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jamiliyah Foster graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a BA in Criminal Justice and an MS in Criminology. Early in her career, she developed programs around recidivism (a person’s relapse into criminal behavior) while working in a minimum-security prison and later in public housing. However, she became somewhat disillusioned when she saw so many children going to school hungry. So, Jamiliyah turned her focus toward researching, identifying, and developing programs to fight the root causes of food insecurity.
Today, as the Director of Philabundance’s Ending Hunger for Good program, she works to create and implement programs to increase our neighbors’ economic stability and food security by addressing the root causes of hunger through sustainable, community-centered approaches. Jamiliyah leads a dedicated team working towards a future where our food system works for all communities—where individuals, families, and especially children have access to nourishing and life-affirming food.
We are very grateful to have Jamiliyah leading the charge for the Ending Hunger for Good Program. Her passion for ending hunger knows no limits. Though when she does take a break to unwind, she enjoys cooking, reading, ziplining, and traveling with her husband Jabari and their 9-year-old son, Joseph.