Overview
Project Title
Sustenance Project - Community-Based Action Research
Organization Name
Urban Bounty (formerly Richmond Food Security Society)
Related Course Concepts
Food justice, Food security, Food insecurity, Asset based community development, Poverty reduction/income inequality ,Gender and/or sexual orientation, Decolonization
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
VISION
Healthy people, community, and environment.
MISSION
Inspiring a robust Richmond food system through education, advocacy, and community-building initiatives.
Guiding Principles + Values
- Authentic Principles: We live the values as identified in the Richmond Food Charter
- Courageous Community Leadership: We engage our community to address challenges.
- Healthy Ambition: We grow community wellness and have fun doing it.
- Sustainable Change: We inspire long-term, tangible, systemic results.
We live our values:
- Authenticity
- Impactful
- Sustainable
- Collaborative
- Tree Shakers
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Ian Lai
- Email: ian@richmondfoodsecurity.org
- Phone: 778.681.9264
- Address: 7611 Ash Street, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2S
- Website: https://www.richmondfoodsecurity.org/
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Preferred platform(s) for project meetings: In person, Email, Google Meet, Zoom
- Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Mornings
Project Description
Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
Urban Bounty in collaboration with local community residents and community partner agencies will co-design a 10-week community food security program, for those who are interested in:
- accessing healthy, affordable food
- increasing food knowledge and skills
- gaining a deeper understanding of how to prepare food with limited time on an affordable budget.
Main Project Activities and Expected Deliverable(s)
- Students will be provided a supported opportunity to learn more about Community-Based Action Research that will incorporate equity, inclusion and trauma-informed principles, while contributing to the Organizing Team, who will host and facilitate conversation circles with individuals, who have experiences of food insecurity
- Students will be supported to develop observation reports that identify key barriers, needs, and opportunities that will inform the project's course development and community marketing and awareness materials.
- Students will be asked to work in small groups to develop an Infographic on the value of applying asset-based community development within the context of the Sustenance Project, that may support on-going Sustenance project delivery and other strategic initiatives.
- Students will be asked to provide a 500-700 word reflection on how the project has helped to inform their perspectives regarding the interplay of socio-economic factors and food security and how this applies to their own personal, academic, or professional endeavors related to food security. This information will help to inform a future longitudinal study on student experiences of participating in Urban Bounty supported activities and how this influences their own health behaviours, environmental and social sustainability perspectives, and other related outcomes.
Will the project work for the students be online, in person, or a combination?
- Combination
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Community and project management skills
Student Assets and Skills (to be developed)
- A deeper understanding of strength-based community development that incorporates equity-based and trauma-informed principles when working with community members, who may be most impacted by food insecurity and other barriers in their lives
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- No
Is a criminal record check required?
- Yes, to be initiated by the students before the first meeting
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- Students have the opportunity to join our fruit recovery team and help with school gardens in the fall and spring.
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
- Students should familiarize themselves with our organization's website: https://www.richmondfoodsecurity.org/
- https://www.richmondfoodsecurity.org/resources/resources-from-rfss/richmond-food-charter/
Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials
N/A
Outcomes
Intended Project Outcome (Short Term Outcomes)
- The students' research and communication tools (e.g. infographic) will support the Urban Bounty Organizing Team in planning a 10-week, asset-based community food security program.