Using Community Circles to Engage North Carolina Communities in Conversations about Poverty, Racism, and Food Insecurity: A SNAP-Ed Program Plan

In order to develop a network of engaged community members to increase food security in their communities, discussion must be initiated within the community about poverty, racism, and food insecurity. Dialogue-to-change programs can assist people from a variety of backgrounds with examining the gaps among racial and ethnic groups where they live, exploring approaches to creating greater equity, and creating lasting change in their community. The mission of the Community Circles Program is to mitigate the effects of poverty and racism on food security by understanding a community as a system and the role residents can play in enhancing a healthy environment, economic security, and social inclusion. Community Circles serve a social capital bridging function by offering individuals a way to see the full context of their community and visualize themselves as interconnected members of that larger community. Community Circles will consist of a diverse group of 8-12 SNAP-eligible residents in Orange, Warren, Lenoir, Rockingham, Sampson and Duplin counties. Groups will meet together for five, two-hour sessions to discuss the impact of poverty, racism, and food insecurity and the various actions they could take to solve these problems in their community. In the final session, participants decide on Action Ideas that best fit their community. The program’s goal is to mitigate the effects of poverty and racism on food insecurity by providing SNAP-eligible residents the opportunity to discuss important community issues, build social capital, and develop sustainable solutions that enhance long-term food access, economic security, and social inclusion in their community.Master of Public Healt