Community Problem
Now that your group has chosen a Focus Issue, you can continue your research in a much more targeted way. The purpose of this research is to learn about how your Focus Issue impacts your community and what other organizations and individuals are doing to try to fix or improve the problem.
Refer to the following handouts that will help you conduct your research:
REMEMBER TO “SAVE” YOUR WORK
Food Insecurity Example
| Research Questions | Notes | Source/Website |
|---|---|---|
| How do you “see” your Focus Issue in your community? | Local food pantry visits up 35% this year. Schools send weekend meal bags to students facing hunger. |
Local News: “Community Pantry Sees Record Demand” School District Newsletter |
| What causes this Focus Issue in your community? | Job losses, rising food prices, store closures, and lack of transportation make it harder to access healthy, affordable food. |
Local Economic Report Community Interview Series |
| What are the impacts? Who or what is affected? | Children and seniors go hungry. Hunger harms student learning and increases local health problems. |
County Health Report School Counselor Interview |
| Who or what is working on solving this Focus Issue in your community? | Main Street Food Pantry, Healthy Futures Local, and the NY Food Security Coalition provide food, education, and advocacy. |
Pantry Website: Local Food Security Coalition |
| What is a strategy or solution that they’ve used? | “Client-choice” model, food prescriptions from doctors, and weekly produce markets support health and dignity. |
Food Pantry Announcement Local Clinic Press Release |
| What data or statistics can help you show others that this is a significant problem? | 22% of households face food insecurity yearly. 31% of students need free/reduced lunch. Food box demand jumped 40% over last year. |
County Survey School District Data Local News |
