The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness about the detrimental impact of food and nutrition insecurity on the health and well-being of millions of Americans and the important role of the charitable food system in helping to alleviate hunger. Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, supports a nationwide network of 200 food banks and over 60,000 community agencies across the country to provide meals directly to individuals and families in need, connect people to federal food and nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and partner with work with government and the private sector to advocate for supports, protections, and policies to ensure equitable access to nutritious food. In 2021, one out of every six people turned to the charitable food sector for help.
Defined by the United States Department (USDA) as limited access to adequate food, 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, were food insecure in 2021. Nevertheless, while the overall prevalence of food insecurity in the United States (US) remained stable from 2019 to 2020, food insecurity rates for Black and Hispanic households increased, exacerbating existing racial gaps.
Building on the commitment made in response to the murder of George Floyd to advance racial equity throughout the food banking network, Feeding America launched the Feeding America Equity Research Visiting Scholar Program, to develop new models and approaches for understanding racial gaps in food insecurity and contribute to the research literature about its key drivers, including the role of racism and structural oppression.
Serving as Feeding America’s inaugural Visiting Equity Scholar, Cornell University, Associate Professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Angela Odoms-Young, PhD will be joined by Feeding America colleagues Tom Summerfelt, Chief Research Officer and Emily Engelhard, Vice President of Research & Translation to share their recent efforts to examine racial inequities in food insecurity, identify its causes and consequences, and propose potential solutions for future research and action. Additionally, Rut Martínez-Alicea, Director of Equity, People, Culture and Administration at the Oregon Food Bank, will provide insights into how they are incorporating Equity, Diversity & Inclusion into their efforts on the ground.
This event is produced by the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) at Cornell University. The BCTR is home to translational research projects that are working to enhance human development, health and well-being.
RESOURCES / NEXT STEPSFeeding AmericaBronfenbrenner Center for Translational ResearchOregon Food BankMap the Meal Gap: Local food insecurity in the U.SFeeding America Research StudiesGusNiip
