ENVIRONMENTAL

JUSTICE
A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO FOOD ACCESS
AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

A l e x i s M c C o w i n , R a v e n K e ll e y , K e z i a h C o r be tt
 01 P R O B LE M S T A T E M E N T

02 B A C K G ROU ND

TABLE OF 03 A N T I C I PA TED O UT C OM E S

04
CONTENTS
A N T I C I PA TED C H A L L E N G ES

05 T A R G E T A U D I E N CE

06 S T R A TE GIE S A N D T A C T I CS

07 P O T E N T IA L P A R T N ER S

08 K E Y M E SSA GE S

09 T I M E LI NE

10 C O N C L U SI ON S
PROBLEM STATEMENT
F o o d i ns e c ur ity in G e o rg i a i s a p r e s s in g i s s u e t h a t d is p r o p o r t i o n a t el y a f f e ct s mi n or ity a nd
v u l n e r ab l e p o p u la t i o n s.
F o o d d e s er t s s i g n i f i c a nt ly c o n tr i b u t e t o t h e ra c ia l h e a l t h d is p a r i t ie s p r e v a l ent a cr oss the sta te,
w i t h B la c k co m m u n i ti e s s u f f e ri n g f ro m th e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s ys t e mi c u n d e ri nvest ment i n f ood
i n f r a s t r u c t u re .
F o o d i ns e c ur ity cr e a te s c h r o n ic h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s , s h o r t e r l i fe ex p ec ta nc ie s, and el ev ated in f a n t
m o r t a l i ty r a te s, a ll o f w h i c h a r e i n t e n s i f ie d b y i n a d e q u a te n u t r i t io n an d l im i te d ac ces s to
a f f o r da b l e , n ut ri t i o u s f o o d .
M e t ro A t la n ta i s f i ll e d w i th a m a j o ri t y o f f o o d s w a m p s : a c o m m u n i ty wi t h a n ex c es s of unhea lth y
f o o d o p ti o n s , l i ke f a s t f o o d c h a i n s a n d c o n v e n i e n c e s t o r e s , c om p a r e d t o h ea lthy fo od choi ce s.
R u r a l G e o r g i a i s m a jo ri ty f o o d de s e r t s .
M a i n is s ue s f o c u s i n g o n n ei g h b o rh o o d d e v e l o p m e n t lo w i n c o m e , l ac k o f n utr i t i on, and
t r a n s p o r ta ti o n to a c c e s s .
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Many predominantly minority areas lack grocery stores, li mi ti ng
access to healthy food options.
Gentrification exacerbates food insecurity by displacing l ow-
income residents and reducing access to essential resources.
The removal of vital healthcare services in these communi ti es
further deepen health disparities
In 2021. 20% of African American households were food
insecure in 2021 compared to 7% of white households.
African American adults are 80% more likely than non-hi spani c
white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.
 BACKGROUND
Definition of Environmental Justice: Environmental justice advocates for fair
treatment and participation of all individuals, regardless of income, race,
ethnicity, or status.
Food Insecurity Challenge: Food insecurity remains a critical issue within
environmental justice efforts, highlighting the lack of access to essential
resources for marginalized populations.
Influencing Factors: Local environments—including neighborhood infrastructure,
accessibility, and affordability—play a significant role in food insecurity,
contributing to the prevalence of food deserts in both urban and rural areas,
particularly in neighborhoods with high ethnic minority populations.
Connection to Social Justice: Food insecurity is closely linked to broader equity
issues, with intersecting factors such as unemployment, health disparities, and
poverty.
Proposed Solutions: Establishing grocery store farms and community gardens is
essential for enhancing food access and empowering communities through
sustainable agricultural practices.
2020 Food insecurity in Georgia Goals of Initiatives: The aim is to secure funding for initiatives that promote
access to fresh produce, neighborhood structure, Black farmer education, and
address the root causes of health disparities, ultimately fostering racial health
equity within affected communities.
 ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

short-term goals long-term goals

Increased understanding of the intersection Foster community resilience in
between environmental justice and food participation with advocacy and decision-
insecurity. making.
Build alliances with local organizations, Track improvements in health metrics
schools, community leaders, and Establish a replicable model for
stakeholders. addressing food deserts in Georgia.
launch initiatives to educate the public Establish urban farm as centers for
Expand access to fresh, locally grown healthy
produce in Georgia’s food deserts. Conduct sessions to inform community
Develop and distribute guides that list local members
food resources and offer food distribution
CHALLENGES
C o m mu n i t y E n g a g e m e nt C ha ll e ng es: Di f fic u l t y i n
m o b i li z i n g c o m mu n it y m e m b e rs fo r inv o l v em en t.
R e so u r c e R e si s ta n ce : S ta t e l e ad er s ar e he s it a nt to
a l l o c a te a d dit io n al r e s o u rc e s.
C o m p le x I s su e : F oo d i n s e c ur it y a nd e nv iro nm e n tal
j u s ti c e a re m u l tifa c e t e d , i nte r t w ined w i th
n e i g hb o rh o o d d ev e lo p m e nt , f un d ing , an d p la nnin g,
c r e a ti n g ob st a cle s t o s e c u r in g nec es sa ry
a m e n i t ie s.
G o v e r nm en t Re si s ta nce : L o ca l g o v er nm en t s a nd
a g r i c ul tu r al sta ke h o ld e rs m a y pr i or it ize o the r
e c o n o m i c p ro je cts o ve r c o m m uni t y- b as ed fo o d
i n i t ia t i v e s.
 TARGET AUDIENCE
Community members
Government agencies (local, state)
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)
Policy Makers
Community Nutrition Programs: Expand or adapt state nutr iti on
programs to support locally-grown produce distri buti on i n food
deserts.
Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA): Support for Local Far mers:
Create incentives or grant programs for Black far mers and small- scale
local growers to participate in food desert soluti ons.
Metro Atlanta Urban Farm
Educational Institutions (GSU, MSM, UGA,Mercer, e. g. ,)
Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS):
Food Assistance Programs
 STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
Infograpics and visuals
D e p i c t t h e lo c a ti on s o f f o o d d e s e r ts a c r o s s G e o r g i a a n d th e h e al th i mp ac t s an d ra ci al
d i s p a r i t ie s l in k e d to f o o d i n s e c u ri t y .

Community Forum
H o s t o p e n d i s c us s io n s o r t ow n h a l l s t o g a t h e r f e e d b a c k a n d i n v ol v e re si den ts in dec isi on -
making.

Petition Drives
L a u n c h p e ti t i o ns t o a d v o c a t e f o r s p e c i f i c po l i c y c h a n g e s o r r e s our ce a ll o ca ti ons r el ate d
t o f o o d a c c e s s (g a th e r s ig n a t u r e s f r o m G e o r g i a r e s i de n t s )

Partnership Events
C o l l a b o r a t e w ith lo ca l o r g a n iz a t i o n s f o r e v e n t s l i k e f o o d d r i v e s or he al t h fai r s to pr om ote
f o o d a c c e ss a n d a w a re n e s s .

Op-Eds
W r i t e a n d p ub li sh o p - e d s i n l o c a l n e w s p a p e r s to r a i s e a w a r e n e ss a nd a d v ocate for p o l i cy
c h a n g e s . ( e . g . , A t la n t a - Jo u r n a l C o n s t i t u t i o n , G e o r gi a P u b l i c B r o a dcas ti ng )

infographic:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ert7pSk8Y1rrjpY-hYHa3ye_7YB0HgVk
POTENTIAL PARTNERS
Atlanta Land Trust: Promotes affordabl e housi ng and l and stewardshi p; can provi de land for grocery st ore
farms and communi ty gardens i n food deserts.
Southwest Georgia Project: Focuses on ci vi l ri ghts and food j usti ce; part ners in advocacy to improve acces s
to fresh food i n underserved areas.
Food Well Alliance: Connects urban farms and communi ty gardens ; off ers res ources and educat ion to scale
urban agri cul ture i n food deserts.
The Arthur M. Blank Fami ly Foundation: Supports l ocal heal th and economic i niti ati ves; can provide
fundi ng and advocacy for food access.
UGA College of Agri cul tural and Environmental Sciences: Of fers technical s upport and research; aids
i n communi ty farmi ng educati on i n food deserts.
Eco-Action: Focuses on envi ronmental j usti ce; provi des grassroots support and education on f ood jus tice and
sustai nabi l i ty.
The Community Foundation for Greater Atl anta: supports health equi ty and f ood securit y init iat ives by
provi di ng fundi ng and grants for food access i n underserved communiti es.
Truist Foundation : provi des grants and support to i ni ti ati ves focused on economi c empowerment.
PARTNERS
Community Leaders:
John Hope Bryant
CEO of Operation HOPE, Inc
Economic empowerment and fin ancia l literac y for
underserved commun ities and pover ty redu ction

killer Mike
rapper, activist, business owner
economic empowerment and Black
entrepreneurship, addressing poverty and food
S e n a t o r G l o r ia B u t ler
access through ini ti atives like Greenwood, making District 55 - DeKal b County
him a powerful voi ce against food deserts. hi story of su pportin g en vironmental justice bil l s, can
play a crucial role in pu shin g for legislativ e
measures that address the en vir on mental
deter minan ts of food i nsecu rity in Georgi a

C h a r l en e Cr us o e- In gr a m S e n a t o r G a i l Da v en p o rt
CEO of Meals on Wheel s Atlanta District 44 - Cl ayton County
leader in hunger relief efforts in Georgia Supports i ncrease economic sustainability,
address homelessness, and green initiatives.
 KEY MESSAGE
"Food should not be a privilege; it is a basic human right."
Alice Waters, Activist

“Racial health equity in Georgia starts with the basics; food security is key to achieving
better health outcomes for all.”

“Addressing food deserts is about more than just nutrition. It’s about equity, justice, and
empowering communities to take control of their health and well-being.”
 NEXT STEPS: TIMELINE
Where do we go from here? Environmental j ustice i s not j ust about looki ng bac k, but also looki ng
forward.

01 02 03
Month 1-2: Outreach Month 3-4: Advocacy Month 5-6: Pilot Programs
and Initial Engagement and Legislative Action and Continued Advocacy

Outreach to Introduce policy Start pilot grocery farms and

stakeholders proposals to state communi ty gardens
Launch storytelli ng and legislators Testify at legi slative heari ngs and
infographi cs via soci al Op-Ed and petition continue pushing for full
medi a campaigns legislative fundi ng
THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS?