Harvesting Change: Inside SJLI's Fight Against Food Insecurity

Food insecurity in South Los Angeles starkly contrasts with the city's reputation as a global wellness hub. Despite its reputation for health-conscious dining and organic resources, many low-income regions continuously grapple with limited access to quality and affordable food. A recent USC study revealed that approximately one third of households in Los Angeles experienced food insecurity, with rates twice as high in Black and Latinx communities compared to white residents. These disparities are rooted in pervasive inequalities such as racial injustices and unequal urban planning, creating what is termed a ‘food desert,’ where access to healthful foods is a pressing issue. In the heart of this struggle lies Inglewood, where 14.8% of the population lives in poverty and faces the challenge of food insecurity. In comparison to its wealthier neighbors like Santa Monica and Westchester, Inglewood residents lack access to affordable, healthy options to meet their nutritional needs. 

Amidst these challenges, organizations like the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) are leading the charge in creating solutions and opportunities in improving the health and wellness of Inglewood residents and surrounding communities. SJLI’s holistic approach consists of urban greening initiatives, food distribution programs, and community engagement efforts, all aimed at not just alleviating immediate food needs but also fostering holistic health and addressing systemic inequalities. Every Friday, SJLI acquires an impressive thirteen to 15,000 pounds of high-quality, organic produce directly from its community gardens in Inglewood, including fresh strawberries, potatoes, beans, and a variety of vegetables. These initiatives, led by Nicole Steele, manager of SJ LI's health equity program, transcend solving immediate food needs but also empowering residents’ holistic understanding of health and wellness. Through continuous effort, education, and advocacy, SJLI is building a new generation of community members actively shaping a healthier and more equitable future for South Los Angeles. 

Steele’s commitment to food equity work began when she first moved to Inglewood and experienced firsthand the limitations of lacking access to healthful food. She believes that awareness is the first step to solving this pervasive issue. Reflecting on these barriers, Steele raises questions to the Inglewood community: 'It is not just by happenstance that our community doesn't have the same access to healthy food as Westchester, or Santa Monica right next door,'' Additionally, she explained that Inglewood was initially not zoned to have a farmer’s market. Making change required actively striving for policy changes. Since then, Steele has spearheaded SJ LI's efforts to address these issues, launching Inglewood’s first community-wide farmers market, building over 100 gardens and hosting weekly free produce distributions using rescued produce. SJLI’s health equity work includes multiple programs dedicated to creating holistic community health, including nutrition education classes, community gardening, and food distribution. 

However, addressing the pervasive issue of food insecurity requires consistent efforts and is not without its obstacles. Steele sheds light on the broader systemic issues that hinder progress, particularly bureaucratic challenges. She reflects, 'Funding is always a challenge. Just bureaucracy and having to wait, especially when it comes to food and growing food and giving food away, having to make sure that all your T's are crossed, and i's are dotted when it comes to that. But you know, it comes with the territory.``

Despite these challenges, SJLI remains dedicated to their mission. Steele shared that the institute's current focus is on food distribution and produce pickup, aiming to meet the community’s urgent food needs. She noted, 'We are looking at the amount of food that we give away. And it's over three and a half million pounds of produce–we're probably a little bit closer to four at this point.' This commitment to measuring impact goes beyond metrics, as SJLI also assesses community participation and engagement in educational programs, driving systemic change through empowerment and advocacy. “We want to empower people through education,” Steele said. By meeting the community’s urgent food needs while providing education and advocacy, SJLI aims to address and raise awareness to the root issues of food insecurity in South Los Angeles. 

Ashley Loville, SJLI's health equity programs manager, brings a wealth of personal experience and dedication to her role. As an Inglewood native Loville firsthand understands the struggle of diet-related illnesses, a prevalent issue in her community. She began her role at SJLI as a peer educator for nutrition."Being able to simplify nutrition and make sure people have a basic understanding of what nutrition means and what it means for their specific diets is really key,” Loville emphasized. Since joining SJLI in 2016, Loville has partook in various programs aimed at promoting nutrition education, physical activity, and access to healthy food options. Furthermore, Loville highlights the importance of community building in the process of making meaningful change. “That's really key, but also a part of what we were doing with our classes. We were creating a community, and having our community be able to be a part of that solution” Loville shared. 

Osirus Fulton stands as a direct testament to the power of the organization’s community programs, graduating from SJLI’s urban scholars program. While Fulton’s initial involvement with SJLI was through a different program, his commitment to health and witnessing Inglewood’s ‘food desert’ drew him back to SJLI’s health equity program after graduation. “Food helps everybody.” Fulton stated. “Being in the position to give back to my community, and give them access to healthy food is probably one of the best experiences I've had.” 

Moreover, Fulton emphasizes the importance of empowering young adults of color in making change. Drawing from personal experience being a student in SJLI’s  program, “One of the major issues with getting people to take us seriously, especially being young black men,” is breaking through stereotypes and showing that we have valuable contributions to make.” Fulton’s experience highlights the impact of community-driven programs in cultivating advocacy and drive among individuals. 

As SJLI's programs continue striving to make a lasting impact on the community, current student volunteers are contributing to the organization's commitment to empowering new generations in fostering change. Among these volunteers is Samhea Hasan, a junior at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Health and Human Sciences. Hasan recognizes the limited access to grocery stores and dominance of fast food stores in the area, significantly contributing to the issue, especially for those without transportation or a sufficient budget. In addition to helping out at the food hub, Hasan also partakes in SJLI’s gardening initiatives and education work. “I admire how the organization ​​grows their own produce while  raising awareness of how you can eat better and live more sustainably,” she said. 

However, addressing the root issue of food insecurity in South Los Angeles requires more than just quick fixes; it demands long-term, comprehensive solution and collective action from the community. Organizations such as the Social Justice Learning Institute are stepping stones to promoting change through their holistic approach, including urban greening, food distribution programs, and nutrition education. By tackling immediate needs while also providing long-term strategies, SJLI paves the way for a more equitable and healthier future for South Angelenos. With these continuous initiatives and the inclusion of local communities, meaningful advancements are being made towards combating food insecurity and empowering residents in need.