2024 Campaign Theme: Food Insecurity
Project by Project Los Angeles (PbP-LA) is proud to announce the 2024 Campaign Theme: Food Insecurity in AAPI Communities.
Food insecurity is generally defined as "the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate safe foods" or "limited or uncertain ability to acquire accepted foods in socially acceptable ways."
As we continue to explore the ways in which Project by Project can amplify invisible realities in the AAPI community, food insecurity and its impact on our communities highlight how access to healthy, culturally relevant food is more difficult than meets the eye.
We believe that access to affordable, quality food is a basic human right, and yet, in 2023, 44.2 million Americans lived in households that had difficulty getting enough food to feed their families. In 2023, Asian Americans made up 24% of LA’s food insecure population. According to Feeding America, that’s 1 in every 17 people who identify as Asian American and 1 in every 6 who identify as Pacific Islander. And with inflation rates consistently rising, so have the statistics.
Throughout the year, we will explore a myriad of issues that create barriers for our communities from accessing consistent, high quality meals, focusing on specific issues, such as (but not limited to):
How we might help organizations like food banks keep up with demand
How the ever-rising cost of living affects communities of color and their access to resources
Who within our disparate communities are impacted the most? And what emerging or potential solutions can be applied to help those in need?
Established in 1994, Thai CDC has been at the forefront of advocating for social, economic, and political empowerment for underserved populations. Thai CDC’s mission is to advance the social and economic well-being of low and moderate income Thais and other ethnic communities in the greater Los Angeles area through a broad and comprehensive community development strategy including human rights advocacy, affordable housing, access to healthcare, promotion of small businesses, neighborhood empowerment, and social enterprises. It aims to create a thriving community by creating businesses and jobs, developing decent and affordable housing, and revitalizing public space.
Among their comprehensive list of programs, Thai CDC is actively addressing Food Insecurity with the East Hollywood Certified Farmers’ Market, Prepared Meals Access Program (PMAP), and upcoming Thai Town Marketplace. We, as PbP-LA, are excited and humbled to aid Thai CDC and the greater Los Angeles community in raising awareness and preventing Food Insecurity through volunteerism and education.
To learn more about Thai CDC, visit their website here.
