Hunger in the City: in Search of Community Food Security

Hunger in the City: In Search of Community Food Security

Spring 2009

UNST 421-511, CRN 44093
T/Tr 10-11:50am

Neuberger Hall #389

Instructor: Celine Fitzmaurice

PortlandStateUniversity -Center for Science Education

101 Stephen Epler Hall

PO Box 751, Portland, OR97207

Phone: 503.725.8260 Fax: 503.725.3884

Email:

Office Hours: By Appointment

Course Description

“Community Food Security” is the idea that all people should have access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food. Community Food Security also ensures a healthy relationship between human communities and the land that supports them. This course will explore questions such as:

• Why do so many Oregonians suffer from hunger?
• How does access to healthy and affordable food differ among the variety of people living in Portland?
• What is the relationship between community food security, the health of our natural environment and the strength of our local economy?
• What is being done to address food security in the Portland area?

Course Goals

• Establish familiarity with definitions for hunger and “Community Food Security.”

(critical thinking)

• Gain a basic understanding of the factors which contribute to hunger in Oregon(critical thinking)
• Critically analyze the causes and effects of hunger for economically and culturally diverse communities and society as a whole. (diversity)
• Explore the connections between food security, the health of our natural environment, and the strength of our local economy (critical thinking)
• Examine the role of public policy in shaping food security for citizens of Oregon. (social and ethical responsibility)
• Gain exposure to the efforts of local individuals and agencies to ensure food security in the Portland area. (social and ethical responsibility, critical thinking, diversity)
• Apply communication, organizational, and research skills to the design of a final product for our community partner (communication, social and ethical responsbility)

(Note: UNST goals associated with a given course goal are given in italics after the course goal.)

Course Activities

• Tour a Oregon Food Bank project site to learn about the organization, identify program needs, and speak with Oregon Food Bank staff and participants
• Participate in one volunteer or community-based learning experience outside of class time. Guidelines for this assignment will be provided in class.
• Meet with representatives of additional programs working to address food security in the Portland area
• Participate in classroom discussions and experiential activities relevant to the course goals
• Write weekly reflection papers and complete reading assignments
• Work in small groups to complete the final project for the course

Community Partner

Our community partner for the course will be Oregon Food Bank(oregonfoodbank.org).The Oregon Food Bank’s mission is to “eliminate hunger and its root causes ... because no one should be hungry. “

The Oregon Food Bank forms the hub of a statewide network of 919 hunger-relief agencies and serves all of Oregon and ClarkCounty in Washington. OFB recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. OFB also works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, learning gardens and public education.

Our Key Contact at Oregon Food Bank will be:

Jeff Kleen, Public Policy Advocate
Email:
Phone: 503.282-0555 x204

Additional contacts:

Tammy VanderWoude, Public Policy Advocate,

David Osborn, Public Policy Outreach Coordinator,

Stephanie Tama-Sweet, Public Policy Advocate,

Reflective Writing

The purpose of reflective writing assignments is to a) record observations, insights, and questions that occur as part of your Capstone experience and b) connect the course experiences to University Studies goals. Each assignment should be typed, single-spaced, at least one full page in length, and should be submitted in class on the date due.

Late papers will lose 20% credit unless prior arrangements have been made.Writing prompts will be posted every Wednesday via BLACKBOARD with the paper due the following Wednesday. Reflective writing assignments will be read and returned the following week. No late papers will be accepted after assignments have been returned.

Reflective writing papers will be graded on the following 10-point scale:

Paper responds completely to the writing prompt:2 points

Paper is well-organized and free of grammatical or spelling errors: 2 points

Paper demonstrates critical analysis: 4 points

Paper demonstrates synthesis with other course components,

other course or your life experience:2 points

Final Project

Small groups will be formed to work on a final project for our community partner.A list of potential projects will be given to you by the Oregon Food Bank staff. Most of your work for this course will take place in the classroom. However, you will need to maintain phone, email and, in-person contact with our community partner and your group members throughout the term to ensure a successful final project.

Grading Criteria

Grades will be based on participation in the class as measured by:

Attendance at class sessions (20%)

Participation in class activities (20%)

Reflective Writing Papers(30%)

Final Project (group) (30%)

The standard 90/80/70/60 grading scale will be used. There will be no final exam for this course. Peer and self review will be taken into account when calculating the final grade for this course.

Materials

The main text for this course will be:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (2006.)

Additional articles or web links for reading assignments will also be assigned throughout the term.

On-line Access to Course Information

The course syllabus, handouts, reflective writing prompts and additional resources will be made available on-line through Blackboard. To access this information, you must have a PSU ODIN account. Your Blackboard ID will be the same as your ODIN username and your password will be the last four digits of yourPSU Student ID number. You will log into the course by going to and entering your id and username in the “Online Course Login” section to the right of the page.

Weekly Schedule

Our tentative weekly schedule is attached. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

Course Schedule, Spring Term 2009

Hunger in the City: In Search of Community Food Security

Week 1

Tues., 3/30

Introductions

Syllabus Review and Discussion

Thurs., 4/2

Defining Hunger

Hunger in Oregon – Stats and Root Causes

Prep for Oregon Food Bank Site Visit

Due:Capstone Student Inventory

Read Oregon Food Bank brochures and review website

Week 2

Tues., 4/7

Oregon Food Bank Site Visit

Due:Read Closing the Food Gap, Chapters 2 & 5 (electronic reserve)

Thurs., 4/9

Guest Speakers: Oregon Food Bank Community Partners

Debrief of Site Visit

Discussion of Final Projects

Small Group Formation

Due: Reflective Writing #1

Week 3

Tues., 4/14

Defining Community Food Security

Community Food Security Mapping Activity

Small Group Formation cont.

Due:Read Pollan, Section 1

Thurs., 4/16

Book Discussion, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Section I

In-class work session on final projects (Charter and Project Plan)

Due: Reflective Writing #2

Week 4

Tues., 4/21

“What is nutritious food? Why does it matter?”

Guest Speaker, Nancy Becker, Nutritionist and PSU Professor of Chemistry

Due:Assigned Readings

Group Charter and Project Plan

Thurs., 4/23

Individual Interviews

In-class work session on final projects

Due: Reflective Writing #3

Week 5

Tues. 4/28

What is affordable food?

-Shopping Activity

-Classroom Discussion

Due: Assigned Readings

Thurs., 4/30

Final Project Check-in with Oregon Food Bank Staff

In-class work session on final projects

Due: Reflective Writing #4 – Community-Based Learning Assignment

Week 6

Tues., 5/5

What is culturally appropriate food?

Migrant Labor and Food Production

-Classroom discussion/activity

Due: Read Pollan, Section II

Thurs., 5/7

Book Discussion, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Section II

Due:Draft of Final Project

Week 7

Tues., 5/12

Sustainable Food Systems: Examining the environmental, economic, social implications of food security.

Due: Assigned Readings

Thurs., 5/14

The Eat Local Movement: Eating seasonally and supporting local food producers

to nurture sustainable food systems

Due: Reflective Writing #5

Week 8

Tues., 5/19

Book Discussion, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Section III

Final Project Check-in with Oregon Food Bank Staff

In-class work session on final projects

Due:Read Pollan, Section III

Thurs., 5/21

Global Food Systems

-Classroom Activity/Discussion

Peer Review of Final Project Drafts

Due:Reflective Writing #6

Polished Draft of Final Project for Peer Review

Week 9

Tues., 5/26

Field Trip to a small farm on Sauvie Island

Due:Assigned Readings

Thurs., 5/28

Bringing it Home: PSU’s Sustainable Food Efforts

Plan and Prepare for Community Partner Presentation

In-class work session on final projects.

Week 10

Tues., 6/2

Community Partner Presentation

Due:Electronic and Hard Copies of Final Projects

Thurs., 6/4

Course Evaluations, Retrospective, Celebration!

Due: Reflective Writing #7

Finals Week -- No class