INQ-277 | Food: Mapping Needs & Grassroot Action in our Community

Topic Description:

Students will analyze needs and the impact of grassroots action in our own community, while participating in service experiences. Our focus will be on food security/insecurity and the course activities (field work, service work, meeting stakeholders, readings, discussions etc.) will answer two questions: (1) what are the food needs in our community? And (2) how are local non-governmental actors working to meet these needs? While our learning will be informed by literature on Development, Inequality, Sustainability, Food Security, and Civil Society, in a Political Science framework, the skills and experiences gained in this course have broad applicability. The topic and approaches in the course will speak to students across the social sciences, as well as environmental science students and those interested in issues of social justice. By the end of the class, students should be able to understand and apply some of the needs assessment tools currently used in community and policy work, translate the results of their own research to educated but non-expert audiences, and articulate the role of non-governmental organizations in meeting societal needs.

Course Types Offered: On-Campus

Topic Approved: July 2005