The Food Justice Leadership Academy was a pilot mini-course that examined the structural, historical, and cultural roots of the US food system and issues surrounding disparities in food access, land ownership, agricultural practices, distribution of technology within African American communities.
In order to address health disparities in some of the most vulnerable populations, the Food Justice Leadership Academy will hold 2, 7-week mini-courses will (1) educate undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds, and/ or enrolled at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs); (2) focus recruitment on the disciplines of agriculture, nutrition sciences, family and consumer sciences, public health, and social work; (3) deliver a curriculum that includes a foundational knowledge of food safety, food security, federal and state policies, extension services, health systems, agricultural systems, and environmental impact that influence the health, wellness, and quality of life of underserved communities; (4) provide foundational leadership assessments and skills development; and (5) prepare students for internship opportunities in Extension programs.
The Food Justice Leadership Academy was a pilot mini-course that examined the structural, historical, and cultural roots of the US food system and issues surrounding disparities in food access, land ownership, agricultural practices, distribution of technology within African American communities. Students from Tennessee State University, Alabama A & M University, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff participated. Students learned of current research on food and nutrition-related health disparities and how Cooperative Extension uses that information to provide services and programs to each of the communities of the host institutions.