LOPPW Welcomes Kamila Gutierrez as Hunger Advocacy Fellow
September 23rd, 2026
The ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow program is a yearlong formative experience that supports growth as a leader, a person of faith, and a professional advocate for an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed. We are excited to introduce Kamila Gutierrez as our new Hunger Advocacy Fellow.
My name is Kamila Gutierrez; I am the Hunger Advocacy Fellow with the Lutheran Office for Public Policy this year. I graduated last May from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ancient Greek.
Since I was a teenager, I have been interested in the role of church in society. I observed that our religious beliefs inform how we choose to interact with our communities and engage in social justice. After getting connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) my freshman year of college, I was inspired by their values and network of organizations and non-profits and wanted to join them in their advocacy.
In college, I served as a peer minister at The Corner House Lutheran Campus Ministry. In addition to helping plan and facilitate our weekly programming, I got the opportunity to lead some of our weekly bible studies and preach at Lake Park Lutheran Church. Each semester I also coordinated open mics with free music and educational activities designed to bring students together to discuss social issues.
At The Corner House, I met Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery from Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) and was hired as an intern for them. At the Triennial Gathering this year, I was part of creating spaces for women and young girls to feel like they belonged and their ideas are important. Additionally, during my internship lead a Bold Café session, where I discussed my article “A Philosophy of Becoming,” and how Process Philosophy, which understands God as relational, dynamic, persuasive, and changing, can help Christians reframe how they respond to social issues in accordance with Lutheran theology.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing guitar, and hanging out with my family, friends, and boyfriend. I am always on the hunt for book or song recommendations, so please send over any you may have!
I am excited to dedicate the next year to being part of an organization that is working on the ground level to combat injustice in Wisconsin.
