UTEP Team Celebrates Successes and Expands Work in Food Equity

Published August 16, 2023                                                  By Darlene Muguiro                                                        UTEP College of Health Sciences

In late July, a multi-agency team from El Paso, including College of Health Sciences professors and students, attended the Food Security Equity Impact Fund Houston Summit. The team joined other grantees across the country who are part of Feeding America’s Food Security Equity Impact program, which aims to create and deepen community partnerships and center people with lived experiences of hunger in creating a more equitable food system                     (https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/what-food-security-equity-impact-fund).

El Paso’s multi-agency team includes lead grantee El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, UTEP, Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, AYUDA, and El Paso Matters. The team received a planning grant of $97,625 in July 2022 to begin examining the root causes of poverty and food insecurity in El Paso. UTEP’s efforts were led by Dr. Gregory Schober, assistant professor of Rehabilitation Sciences; Dr. Eva Moya, professor and interim chair of Social Work; and April Ansari, MPH, a graduate research associate and doctoral student in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program.

Over a period of six months, the UTEP team worked to complete a literature review of the root causes of food insecurity and poverty; a representative survey of adults in El Paso County that measured food insecurity and identified assets in the community; interviews with 10 UTEP administrators; and several focus groups and a survey of  UTEP students, which revealed an astounding 61% had experienced food insecurity. Lastly, Moya also conducted a focus group with community health workers to document food insecurity among young people living in San Elizario.

Schober mentioned that the main point of the July summit was to celebrate successes and share best practices. Roundtable discussions focused on relationship building, and collaboration and learning.

“One thing that really struck me was the passion that everyone had and how hard everyone was working” Schober said. “It was really inspiring to listen to others who were experiencing some of the same challenges, and sharing their successes.”

Ansari, who was directly responsible for organizing the UTEP student focus groups for the planning grant, said she was surprised by the lack of knowledge regarding resources on campus among students who had experienced food insecurity.

“The students would talk about how they were stuck in a cycle – having to constantly work and not being able to qualify for SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program). They were very aware of being in this cycle,” she said. “At the same time, these students were unaware of the resources we do have on campus and off-campus.”

As part of the effort to destigmatize food insecurity at UTEP and share information about campus resources, Ansari, Moya and Schober created the UTEP Food Equity Student Council. The council, which began meeting in October 2022, is comprised of students from different majors and classifications, from undergraduates to doctoral students. Recruitment is now underway for the new academic year. The council is looking specifically for students with lived experiences of food insecurity to join the group.

The El Paso planning grant team has transitioned to implementation of some of the actions that were identified during the first phase of the project, including the next round of the El Paso community survey and the 2023 UTEP student survey, interviews and focus groups with UTEP students, and work with UTEP partners to expand service offerings on campus. The UTEP Student Food Equity Council also has several exciting items on its agenda for the upcoming academic year.

“We’re looking to establish a community garden on campus,” said Ansari. “The council is also working closely with the UTEP Student Government Association to rebrand the campus food pantry.”

Moya added that the council will also be using the College of Health Sciences’ Nutrition Lab beginning this fall to conduct Sabrosa Vida classes, with a focus on healthy meal planning and preparation.

“The classes will include foods that are culturally appropriate and affordable,” she said. “We’re excited to announce that Dr. Sarah Ruiz, a CHS graduate and registered dietician and business owner in the El Paso community, will be the instructor.”

Schober said that while the initial data from the planning grant was sobering, he is excited about how the conversation on campus around food insecurity is evolving, and he foresees additional positive changes in the future.

“When we see the data, because we’re producing the estimates, it can be disheartening,” he said. “But the positive takeaway is that we have students who are addressing that challenge. We want to acknowledge April’s leadership and active involvement in building food security among students.”

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Go Miners!

For more information about the UTEP Student Food Equity Council, please email April Ansari at atansari@miners.utep.edu

Photo courtesy of Dr. Eva Moya. Pictured left to right: Dr. Gregory Schober, UTEP; Ms. April Ansari, UTEP; Mr. Miguel Chacon, AYUDA; Mr. Juan Garcia, AYUDA; Ms. Victoria Selfridge, Kelly Center for Hunger Relief; Mr. Warren Goodell, Kelly Center for Hunger Relief; and Dr. Eva Moya, UTEP.