We know that students with marginalized identities are more likely to experience food insecurity. Now data shows the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the health and financial wellbeing of People of Color, including those from Black and Indigenous communities. These disparities, in conjunction with recent incidents of racial injustice, prompted the University of Oregon to reexamine how they were serving BIPOC students experiencing food insecurity.

Knowing these inequities would likely worsen, University of Oregon’s Food Security Task Force adjusted their response to support students beyond baseline health and safety precautions. The task force adapted seven food security initiatives—ranging from a food pantry to a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment program—to better serve students in the context of the pandemic and racial injustice.

Join us to learn how the University of Oregon is working to decrease stigma and increase access for students of all identities experiencing food insecurity—and the strategies you can adopt on your own campus to do the same.