In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the federal government seemed to relinquish its responsibility to provide aid in times of crisis. Thousands on the island were left without power, and even fewer had access to food and nutrients. In this atmosphere, chef Jose Andres came to Puerto Rico with his organization World Central Kitchen.

It is Andres belief that chefs—those who work with and know the most about food—should be part of the solution to crises of hunger throughout the world. This is a radical shift in the way we think about relief work, but it is also an important reminder that governments and massive NGOs are not the final word in relief work. Architects can be as instrumental in the affordable housing crisis as chefs can be in the hunger crisis. Artists have plenty to say about the ills of the world, and we must listen.