Hamden Hunger Project
Background and Goals
The Hamden Hunger Project was started with the support of an ONA grant and collaboration with my colleague in journalism, Amy Walker.
Today one in seven people in Hamden (CT) go hungry, yet less than half of Hamden residents know where to find the food services they need. And although food hardship is growing with Connecticut’s cost of living and income inequality, some residents are not aware that their neighbors might suffer from hunger.
The goal of this project is to learn from Hamden residents in need of food services, as well as work with community leaders from churches and food pantries to inform residents of their services and locations.
Process
There are several components to the project to help reach residents:
Three billboards were designed and posted around Hamden, advertising our two-way texting service that provides food bank and pantry locations. The text service allowed real-time communication between residents and students in journalism.
I designed survey cards in English and Spanish for journalism students to interact with residents.
Bus shelter posters were posted with the two-way texting service information also featured in the billboards.
A listening booth was constructed and placed in the town library with prompts on food hardship for citizens to answer anonymously.
Listening booth stickers were designed to help draw people to the library and leave their stories.
To see more about the Hamden Hunger Project, and read stories written by students studying food insecurity, please visit the website below.
Learn more about the Hamden Hunger Project
Press
Quinnipiac Magazine
Presentations
“Bridging Data and Human-Centered Experiences.” 2020 AIGA National Conference. Virtual. November 2020.
“The Hamden Hunger Project.” Featured Presentation. Design Incubation Colloquium. Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut. October 5, 2019.
Billboards were placed around Hamden featuring information for a texting service to find food services near them. Students took shifts responding to messages based on location and free meals nearby.
Survey cards were created in Spanish and English for students to interact with residents and gauge their awareness of hunger.
A website showcases all components of the project included frequently updated local services, stories from the community, and articles on hunger by students.