Since January I have been heavily involved with a local initiative entitled "Community Innovate" that seeks to address the problem of food deserts in Marion County. Indianapolis is rated as the worst city in the country for food deserts. The following article is a reflection of one of the many events I have attended thus far.

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting dozens of men, women, and children at The Sheppard Community Center. I spoke with a young single mother who dearly loved her five children, a man proud of service to his country during the Korean War, a man in his mid-20’s hopeful of his educational prospects, and an elderly woman who was filled with joy when speaking about her daughter, her granddaughter, and her great granddaughters.

These four individuals represent the best of us, and each embody the American dream. Each of us want the best for our loved ones, hope the best for our country, believe that with due diligence and education that we too can make it in society, and that family is paramount. However, these individuals also represent the 300,000 residents of Marion County who are faced with an unacceptable reality that neglects basic human rights; they struggle to access affordable food, healthy food, or food at all.

Each week, the single mother walks two miles to the store, and two miles back just to provide food for her children. When speaking with her, I found that she is currently working multiple low paying part-time jobs, and still struggles to make ends meet. She says that she is lucky to have food stamps, and live in affordable housing. She is not happy with the schools her kids are in, she is not happy with neighborhood she is in, but nonetheless she works tirelessly to provide a better life. I also learned that she struggles with walking due to a disability. Because of this, her trips to the store are tiresome, and do not reap much reward. She says that she is lucky if she can bring back four bags of food to her children, which is usually consists of the necessities and what is on sale. The real struggle she says, is at the end of the month when the food stamps run out, and the bills are on the way. The make it, she says. But she must even more sacrifices to ensure her children are fed.

The Korean War veteran walks hunched over, supported by a worn-out walking cane. He proudly dawns his Navy Veteran hat, the same hat he says he has owned for as long as he can remember. As he slowly walks into the Shepperd Community Center for Sunday church service, I cannot help but wonder if he too has to walk miles to the store. I cannot imagine this man walking two blocks, let alone two miles. However, as he speaks to me, I learn that he does walk to the store. He does not own a car. He does not have any close family. But, he tells me he is lucky to live near a store. He walks 30 minutes there, and 30 minutes back. Again, he too struggles with carrying back groceries, and he tells me has goes several times a week because he can only carry so much at one time. He tells me he is blessed for his VA benefits, social security, and Medicare. He too worries about the end of the month, where food is even more scarce. He worries about his health and what will happen to him when he is no longer to walk to the store, which he believes is in the not too distant future.

The young man in the mid-20’s comes rumbling into the center. He looks confused, tired, and disheveled. His stride immediately takes him to the table where we are offering food samples, and he takes one of each. I call him over to talk to me. As we get to talking, I learn that he has been in and out of homeless shelters for years. He said that he is disabled, but does not specify in what way. In his hand, he holds a flier for a job fair, and shows me it and tells me that he is looking forward to it. He lost his job several years-ago because of layoffs. He has had a hard time finding employment because he only has a 10^th grade education. He believes that once he finishes the GED courses that he is enrolled in, that he is sure to get a job. He tells me he prays every day, to have patience and stay on track. Without food pantries, he is not sure what he would do. He too walks everywhere, from food pantry to food pantry. During the first few weeks of the month he shops at discount stores, and purchases generic brands to make his money last. He tells me that once he gets a job, he is going to get a car, and that he would like to shop at Marsh. It may appear to be a simple ambition, a simple dream to those of us who are fortunate. But to him, each day is a step towards making that dream come to fruition.

The elderly woman walks into the center with a giant smile on her face. She is pushing a walker, and watching her steps closely. She is kind, gracious, and genuinely sweet. As I talked to her, she spoke about her family and how they are her pride and joy. She is sad that they don’t live near her. For a moment, my heart sunk, did she too have to walk? That cannot be possible. Luckily enough, she does not walk. She used to she says. But she can’t any longer. When money permits, she takes a cab to the store and back. A woman, over the age of 80 must take a cab, simply to buy food to survive.

If we wish to challenge the status quo, make things just, and ensure that all people have the chance to indulge in a basic human right, we must listen to the people who are being affected. All the online research in the world cannot give you an adequate understanding of the lives of those effected by food deserts. Yes, data is important. But so are people and their experiences.

With the individuals who agreed to speak to me at the Sheppard Community Center, the overwhelming majority, over 95 percent cited transportation as the number one barrier to accessing food, let alone healthy and affordable food. The second biggest concern was simply affording food, especially at the end of the month. Concerned residents also cited the fact that many of the stores that are close to them, are convenient stores that rarely have healthy food in stock. As we move forward, it is important to keep this in mind. We cannot make assumptions. We must work with the people, not to the people. If you take the time to listen, you not only will learn about one’s personal struggles, but about their tireless persistence, and the belief that one day things can and will be better.

I believe that Community Innovate has a unique opportunity to work with these folks to change the unacceptable nature of food deserts in Marion County. If you are interested in learning more about the Community Innovate initiative please feel free to contact me at mtwatkin@umail.iu.edu.