Food Justice

Awareness & Understanding

Food justice means everyone should have fair access to healthy, affordable food — but that's not the reality for many people in Salt Lake City. Some neighborhoods, especially on the west side of the Wasatch Front, are called "food deserts" because there are few grocery stores nearby. Residents may have to travel far just to buy fresh vegetables or rely on fast food instead. Visit the Utah Food Coalition's website (utahfoodcoalition.org) to learn about food access across the state. Think about your own neighborhood: how close is the nearest grocery store? How about a corner store versus a farmers market? You're ready for the next step when you can describe what a food desert is and name one SLC neighborhood affected by limited food access.

Research & Investigation

Now dig into the data. Use the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (ers.usda.gov) — it's a free interactive map that shows food deserts across the country, including Salt Lake County. Find your area and look for patterns: Are food deserts more common in certain zip codes? How do income levels and transportation access connect to food availability? Also check out the Utah Food Coalition's research page for local reports. Write down two or three patterns you notice. Understanding why these gaps exist — not just where — is the key to fixing them. You're ready for the next step when you can explain two factors that cause food deserts in Utah communities.

Planning & Preparation

It's time to take what you've learned and turn it into a plan. Research community solutions that already exist in Salt Lake City: SLC Community Gardens (slcgov.com/gardens), the Utahns Against Hunger organization, and local community fridges. Pick one solution that interests you most and make a simple action plan. For example: Could you help at a community garden? Organize a fresh produce donation drive? Create a map of food resources for your neighborhood? Write a one-page plan with three specific steps you can actually take. Good plans are realistic — pick something you can do with the time and resources you have. You're ready for the next step when you have a written action plan with at least three concrete steps.

Taking Action

Put your plan into action! Depending on what you chose, you might volunteer a Saturday at an SLC Community Garden, help stock a community fridge in a food-insecure neighborhood, or organize a fresh produce collection for a local pantry. As you work, pay attention to who you meet and what challenges come up. Real change is messy — things don't always go as planned, and that's okay. Document your progress with photos or a short journal. If you run into a problem, brainstorm a solution instead of giving up. Your hands-on effort today is building a more just food system in Salt Lake City. You're ready for the next step when you've completed at least one action from your plan and documented what happened.

Leadership & Expansion

Now you're ready to lead others. Share what you've learned about food justice with your community — at school, at your place of worship, or on social media. Create a simple flyer or short presentation explaining what food deserts are and what people can do to help. Use free tools like Canva to design something eye-catching. Contact the Utah Food Coalition (utahfoodcoalition.org) about youth leadership opportunities, or propose a food justice project to a teacher or club advisor. Inspiring even five people to take action multiplies your impact many times over. You're ready for the next step when you've shared your food justice message with at least one group or audience.

Impact & Reflection

Pause and reflect on your food justice journey. You started by learning about food deserts, researched the causes, built a plan, took real action, and inspired others. That's powerful. Write a two-paragraph reflection: What changed in your neighborhood or community, even in a small way? What would you do differently next time? What will you keep doing? Consider submitting your story to the Utah Food Coalition's newsletter or sharing it with your school. Lasting food justice requires people who stay engaged over time — not just for one project. You're ready for the next step when you've written your reflection and identified one ongoing way to stay involved in food access work.