SWEET, SAVORY, SUSTAINABLE: ANALYZING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS

Abstract

My project focused on social innovation and solving wicked problems in the food system. These wicked problems surrounding food include access, literacy, waste, education, and security. All these topics heavily impact the way communities interact with one another; therefore, my goal was to educate as much of Tucson as possible about these issues through interactive live baking demonstrations to illustrate the ways that unification through food can be a vital step toward solving these wicked problems. My academic background in business management has helped me reach these goals because I now know the background work that is necessary in managing a project, gathering proper research, and setting up a plan to provide positive outcomes to my target audience. In the fall, I relied on my community for reference and research to gather background information about the food system from many angles. I created a website to showcase this research and allow people to sign up for demonstrations. On May 1st, I hosted a series of three demonstrations where I taught recipes that I developed, all while discussing these topics with my participants. I made sure to discuss the importance of supporting local food systems in order to fund greater food literacy, education, and general sustainability. By providing a space to teach large, looming topics in a digestible and tangible manner, I not only expanded my reach and impact but also proved the importance of community connection.