We are pleased to announce that HNO is expanding! With the generous support of ELCA World Hunger, we have hired Paisha Thomas as our Hunger Advocacy Fellow! She will serve with us for the next year helping us to grow and expand our reach and help do justice in Ohio.

Paisha's passions of music and justice are a great addition to HNO. She is a dynamic singer and social activist based in Columbus, Ohio who commands attention from the moment she takes the stage. Equally at home singing Soul, Gospel, and R&B, Paisha creates music about life, social justice, and the condition of the world. She released her first album in 2016, which drew immediate praise from critics and fans alike, and she’s currently working on her highly anticipated next record.

Paisha has performed nationally in Harlem, and in Columbus at the historic Lincoln Theatre. She launched a concert series, Cover Me, which provided a platform for local artists and raised funds to help cover costs of music education for students in underserved populations..Paisha has also shared the stage with Ruthie Foster, and created and hosts the monthly “Soul Sunday” series at Natalie’s, a live music venue in the Columbus area. Paisha was able to join her passion for justice and music with Ohio's Poor People's campaign. From that experience in 2017 and early 2018, she wanted to learn more about justice, public policy, and how people of faith are responding.

Prior to jumping fully into her music career, Paisha worked for the state of Ohio with the Department of Job and Family Services and Department of Medicaid.

Over the next year, Paisha will strengthen our advocacy, congregational outreach, and community engagement as we seek to end hunger in Ohio.