Food Deserts vs. Food Swamps: Tackling America's Hidden Crisis! Did you know that nearly 2.3 million people in the U.S. live in places where healthy food is hard to find? These areas are called food deserts and food swamps—and they’re not just about food, they’re about race, class, and health. In this class, you’ll dive into some of the toughest issues facing our communities today: Why do food deserts and food swamps exist? How do they contribute to health problems? And what can we do about it?
You’ll go beyond the textbook and roll up your sleeves with hands-on projects. You’ll build models of your school or home to see how close (or far) they are to healthy food options, and you’ll research how food scarcity affects everyone—from individuals to entire neighborhoods. But that’s just the start! You’ll get the chance to write to local officials, pushing for change, and even explore career opportunities in the agriculture world that help fight food insecurity.
Throughout the course, you’ll also learn how growing your own food can make a difference and get to meet a modern farmer (in person or via Zoom) to talk about how we can all help tackle food insecurity. By the end, you’ll be ready to become a Food Ambassador, advocating for solutions to the food crisis and leading the charge for healthier, more equitable communities.
