Project Mentor: Dr. Bill Whitney, Creative Inquiry
2024 Impact Fellows
Alex McWatters ‘27
Sydney Tavroff ‘27
Project Description:
How can we help local governments work better to give all citizens access to healthy foods?
SF Food Connect has been investigating the effectiveness of government food benefit systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a particular focus on access to high-nutrition foods across various neighborhoods. The ultimate goal is to develop actionable policy-based solutions for communities facing food insecurity. During fieldwork in 2024, the team conducted extensive quantitative data collection, assessing over 800 food items from 32 food retailers. This comprehensive analysis led to the development of research manuscripts detailing the effectiveness of current nutritional policies while also recommending necessary changes to enhance food access. Looking ahead, the next phase of the project will involve actively engaging with policymakers and Bay Area organizations. The aim is to collaboratively implement programs and policies that ensure broad-based access to high-nutrition foods throughout the region, ultimately fostering healthier communities.