Food 4 Thought
Confronting Food Insecurity among Black and Brown College Students
Problem
1 in 5 undergraduate and graduate students are food insecure. HOWEVER Black and Brown students are more likely to be food insecure.
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Solutions
There is no "one size fits all" solution to end food insecurity among Black and Brown college students. From individuals to businesses, we can all make a positive impact.
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The risk for food insecurity increases as money to buy food decreases (Healthy People 2020, 2021). Poverty disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities; the poverty rate across the Black community is higher than the national average of 10.5%, at 18.7% and Latinos have a poverty rate of 28%, despite making up 19% of the U.S. population (Feeding America, 2021). One way to tackle food insecurity is to address a main root cause: poverty.
Citations
Food insecurity. Healthy People 2020. (23 June 2021). https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/food-insecurity.
Hunger hits Black communities harder. Feeding America. (2021). https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/african-american.
Latino communities experience hunger at a much higher rate. Feeding America. (2021). https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/latino-hunger-facts.
The Shared Humanity Project puts thoughts into action to end poverty, bringing together people of all ages, races, and backgrounds to work toward economic and social change. Drs. Mark Bergel and Katherin Ross Phillips founded the organization after decades of work in both the provision and analyses of social service programs. Their combined experiences led them to believe that we need a new approach to ending poverty. The National Plan to End Poverty, the first initiative of The Shared Humanity Project, is a blueprint for this new approach.
The National Plan to End Poverty is a powerful web-based tool that was developed by The Shared Humanity Project. The tool harnesses the power of data, action, and connections to challenge the status-quo approach to poverty. Specifically, it redefines and measures what “poverty” means, offers concrete steps that individuals and organizations can take to end poverty, and creates a community of actors from all sectors that works together to create positive change.
Spotlight: New Brunswick Community Farmers Market
Lauren from New Brunswick Community Farmers Market gives viewers a brief overview of their program. View this before watching our Organizational Approach panel!
Spotlight: Farmers Market
Check out photos from New Brunswick Community Farmers Market
 Welcome! |  Reuseable bags for the win! |  Okra, is that you? |
|---|---|---|
 What a lovely lineup! |  Fresh produce grown locally at an affordable price! |  Fresh picked garlic! Vampires, beware! |
 |  Free samples and its recipes |  Now these are some red tomatoes! |
 Fresh produce grown locally at an affordable price! |  Fresh produce grown locally at an affordable price! |  The community garden |
 The community garden |  The community garden |  The community garden |
 The community garden |  Basil growing in the community garden |  This is what we call GROWTH |
 A garden essential |  Yummy! Look what's coming in |  The Farmers Market accepts SNAP |
 Educational youth activities |  These look soooooo juicy! |  Yummy mangoes! |
 Fresh produce grown locally at an affordable price! |  Bugs Bunny would be having a field day |  I'm seeing some great ingredients for a smoothie! |
 Rewards program |  Welcome! |
Photos by Brianna Hanson
Spotlight: Deandrah Cameron, Food Security Activist
Deandrah, who helped us confront food insecurity as a panelist during our college alumnae session, reflects on her experience working to fight food insecurity.
Spotlight: Deandrah Cameron
Zoom Series
(Previously Recorded)
Confronting Food Insecurity among Black and Brown College Students with College Alumnae
featuring Michelle Hayes, MA and Deandrah Cameron, MPH
This panel introduces our audience to individual(s) with real-life experience with food insecurity as students; gives advice to current students experiencing food insecurity on resources available; and provides insight and inspiration on combating food insecurity on and around college campuses.
Hey, did you watch this panel? Tell us what you think.
Confronting Food Insecurity among Black and Brown College Students with Professors
featuring Shauna Downs, PhD, MS and Mark Gregory Robson, PhD, MPH, DrPH
This panel introduces our audience to policy and research surrounding food insecurity; highlights the importance of stable food environments on or near college campuses; and provides insight and inspiration on combating food insecurity on and around college campuses.
Hey, did you watch this panel? Tell us what you think.
Confronting Food Insecurity among Black and Brown College Students with an Organizational Approach
featuring Cara Cuite, PhD, Hend Elburi, MS, and Lauren Errickson, MS
This panel introduces our audience to organizations that are helping in the fight to end food insecurity; highlights the importance of collaboration in order to improve food security; and provides insight and inspiration on combating food insecurity on and around college campuses.
Hey, did you watch this panel? Tell us what you think.
This campaign was led by M4EJ's Chilombo Scholar
Brianna Hanson, MPH
Brianna Hanson earned her Master of Public Health in Health Systems and Policy from Rutgers School of Public Health in 2021. She is a resourceful and restorative public health professional who applies systems thinking tools to public health issues. Passionate about health equity, health literacy, and diversity and inclusion, Hanson's long-term goals include working on state and federal health policies and establishing a health advocacy nonprofit organization.