Liberator in Action: José Andrés

When José Andrés immigrated to the U.S. at 21, he didn’t come with a grand plan—he came with a passion for food, a deep work ethic, and a desire to build a life in a new land. What he’s built is far more than a successful restaurant empire. Through World Central Kitchen, he’s become one of the most impactful humanitarian voices of our time.

It started with one powerful belief: “When people are hungry, send in cooks. Not tomorrow, today.” That urgency has guided him ever since.

Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 after witnessing the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. Since then, the organization has been on the front lines of some of the world’s most devastating crises—earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, wildfires. Wherever people have lost everything, Andrés and his team have shown up with pots, pans, food, and love.

When war broke out in Ukraine, he was there. When fires swept across California, his team was there. When the pandemic upended lives across the U.S., World Central Kitchen mobilized in cities big and small. Meals appeared where chaos had taken root, where systems failed, where people felt forgotten. He has fed millions not by waiting for permission, but by showing up and saying, “Let’s get to work.”

There’s brilliance in what he’s done—building local partnerships, training communities to feed themselves, and creating models that others can follow. But more than that, there’s heart. José Andrés doesn’t just feed people; he restores their dignity.

His story is a singular testament to the positive impact immigrants continue to have on America. Through his World Central Kitchen, he has not only fed our hungry but also inspired a global movement of compassion and action. These are the values all Americans must embrace anew. These are the commitments we can all make—to share with each other and care for one another once more. 

As our featured liberator this week, José Andrés delivers much more than a hearty meal to the needy. He rekindles our faith in the possibility of achieving the American dream unimpeded, while showing us how far we can rise when we are united and at our very best.