Engagement in Practice: Community Engaged Scholarship to Address Local Food Insecurity.

Ohio's Miami Valley was severely impacted by the recent economic crisis. As a result, more than 18% of households in Dayton, OH currently experience food insecurity. Last year, our local food bank partnered with more than 100 community agencies to distribute 9.8 million pounds of food to over 70,000 residents. In this case study, the author's collaborative partnership with the a local food bank serves as a catalyst for the development of a cohesive, integrated teaching and scholarship program focused on community engagement. Several research and capstone projects aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operational costs at the food bank are summarized. Then, opportunities for expanding the scope and impact of the research agenda are discussed. Specifically, these opportunities focus on interdisciplinary collaborations centered on the use of sustainable urban agriculture as a means to increase access to fresh produce within the emergency food network, improve health outcomes for socially disadvantaged people, revitalize neighborhoods, and alleviate urban poverty. Finally, plans to incorporate formal assessment and reflective activities related to community engaged learning are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]