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Food 4 Thought

Confronting Food Insecurity among Black and Brown College Students

Problem and Solutions
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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.

Poverty Alleviation

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.

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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.

Farmers Market

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

Spotlight: Farmers Market

Play Video

Check out photos from New Brunswick Community Farmers Market

Photos by Brianna Hanson

Food Security Activist

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

Spotlight: Deandrah Cameron

Play Video
Zoom Series

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

Chilombo Scholar

This campaign was led by M4EJ's Chilombo Scholar

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Brianna Hanson, MPH

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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.

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