Hope for a Hidden Hunger

Photo: David J Turner

Q&A

FATIYA KEDIR ’17 UNDERSTANDS FOOD INSECURITY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AND CONFRONTS THE ISSUE DAILY IN HER COMMUNITY.

At Macalester College, Kedir uses her position in the school’s student government to address hunger and accessibility to food and other essentials that exist on campus and in the wider Twin Cities. As a senior majoring in international studies, Kedir considers how she might broaden her mission after graduation.

Question: Where does your interest in combating food insecurity come from?

Answer: I was born in a refugee camp on the border of Somalia and Kenya and came to the United States when I was 6 years old. At a very base level, I think coming from a family of refugees and being a refugee has deeply fueled my interests and understanding of food insecurity. Unsurprisingly, there is a great amount of hunger and food insecurity in a refugee camp. But I was surprised to notice it’s something that happens often here in the U.S. as well. I had neighbors, friends and classmates who experienced food insecurity, but the issue seemed invisible.

Q: Macalester has a program called Open Pantry, which serves as a resource for students who need supplemental food and essential items. Can you talk about this program and your involvement?

A: Open Pantry was created by the vice president of student government [as part of the Student Services and Relations Committee] in my first year at Macalester. She was a great mentor and an advocate for the theory that we all do better when we all do better. And I absolutely love and uphold that. I took over operations of Open Pantry when I became student government vice president in my junior year. I feel like most higher education institutions strive to create a diverse learning environment, but you can't have diversity if you're not providing people with the tools to fulfill their potential. I believe that’s an important reason for Open Pantry to exist.

Q: How common is food insecurity among Macalester students?

A: Food insecurity is really ingrained in so many different communities that people don't notice. It’s hard to believe there is food insecurity at a wealthy, higher education institution like Macalester. But what I’ve realized is food insecurity isn’t just about affordability; accessibility is also a factor. For example, Open Pantry went from offering just ramen, which most low-income, college students already eat, to having a wide range of produce and foods that fit people’s cultural needs. We went from having 90 users per week at the start of the program to about 200. And, at the height of COVID, it was about 350 users. Some students said they felt guilty for using the service—there can be a stigma attached to using services like this—but many relied on it during the COVID shutdowns, in part because whatever option students usually had for work wasn’t available. We also realized Macalester’s neighbors are impacted by food insecurity. So we created, and the school helps fund, physical donation sites all around campus that anyone in the neighborhood can use.

I feel like most higher education institutions strive to create a diverse learning environment, but you can't have diversity if you're not providing people with the tools to fulfill their potential.

Q: This year you’re student government president. How does having a leadership role affect your ability to further your mission?

A: I think being president helps place me in rooms and conversations where I can vocalize concerns about food insecurity, for example with our board of trustees, which sets the school’s funding and structures. I’ve been invited into spaces like this because of my role, and I can bring my personal passions along with all the other things that are on the student government’s to-do list.

Q: What are some of the misconceptions about food insecurity and how do you address those?

A: A lot of people think those who face food insecurity are homeless, non-working individuals. But so many people facing food insecurity include families and children who aren’t homeless and are working one or more jobs. The reality is people do work, and it's still not enough. There’s also misunderstanding around the racial and geographic elements of it—food insecurity is diverse. A range of individuals and families use welfare. And, due to a lack of accessibility and infrastructure, a lot of rural communities have been facing food insecurity. Food insecurity has definitely been racialized. Segregation and redlining have led to minority communities where food deserts [areas where it is difficult to buy affordable or quality fresh food] are common. These food deserts cause further health issues and decrease people’s quality of life. Food insecurity creates a lot of cycles of trauma.

Q: What are your plans after college and how do they relate to food security advocacy?

A: I’m really interested in economic development and investing in small businesses, in particular, as a way to combat inequality and food insecurity. It’s not enough to just give food to people; there need to be infrastructures that allow people to create and sustain their own security and independence. I’m excited about the potential of being part of an international organization where I can help make the connection between economic growth and food security.

Do you know Blake alumni who are doing interesting work? Let us know at cyrus@blakeschool.org.