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Elijah Conklin, 1st Period, Civic Action of Unequal funding in high school sports

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Elijah Conklin, 1st Period, Civic Action of Unequal funding in high school sports

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Hunter Chancellor, 1st Period, NM Education 

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Hunter Chancellor, 1st Period, NM Education 

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Kaia Petti, 1st Period, Education in New Mexico

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Kaia Petti, 1st Period, Education in New Mexico

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Access Google Drive with a Google account (for personal use) or Google Workspace account (for business use).

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Mackenzie O'neil, Larkin Hall, Reed Stuehrenberg, 1st Period, More funding for Discovery

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Mackenzie O'neil, Larkin Hall, Reed Stuehrenberg, 1st Period, More funding for Discovery

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Hailey Thill and Nevaeh Grevas, 1st Period, Education, More School Activities

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Hailey Thill and Nevaeh Grevas, 1st Period, Education, More School Activities

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Teagan Kubas, 1st period, Stop the shortage of affordable housing.

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Teagan Kubas, 1st period, Stop the shortage of affordable housing.

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Kaia Petti and Makaylah Morris 1st period, NM Education

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Kaia Petti and Makaylah Morris 1st period, NM Education

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Lily Duryea-Loewen, 3rd Period, Education for Recycling & Resourceful Behavior in the East Mountain Community

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Lily Duryea-Loewen, 3rd Period, Education for Recycling & Resourceful Behavior in the East Mountain Community

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Lily Duryea-Loewen's : Civic Action Project

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Eric Hofmann 3 period, technology funding in New Mexico

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Eric Hofmann 3 period, technology funding in New Mexico

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Alex Baker, 3rd Period, Rehabillitation in New Mexicos prisons

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Alex Baker, 3rd Period, Rehabillitation in New Mexicos prisons

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Violet Hays Meiser 3rd period Bringing Film Opportunities to the east Mountains. 

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Violet Hays Meiser 3rd period Bringing Film Opportunities to the east Mountains. 

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Noah Johnson 3rd period, Better funding the teachers of NM.

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Noah Johnson 3rd period, Better funding the teachers of NM.

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Myles Sexson, 3rd Period, NM Recovery Programs

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Myles Sexson, 3rd Period, NM Recovery Programs

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Aidric Dominguez, 3rd Period, Funding of public parks in New Mexico.

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Aidric Dominguez, 3rd Period, Funding of public parks in New Mexico.

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Logan sturmoski, 3rd ., Lowering the legal age of smoking and drinking in New Mexico

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Logan sturmoski, 3rd ., Lowering the legal age of smoking and drinking in New Mexico

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Lowering the legal age of smoking and drinking in New Mexico

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Vanessa Gatling Kenzie Mitchell and Riley Waldemar, 3rd Period, Ridding New Mexico of food deserts

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Vanessa Gatling Kenzie Mitchell and Riley Waldemar, 3rd Period, Ridding New Mexico of food deserts

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Auneisah Corrales: 3rd period- Homelessness

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Auneisah Corrales: 3rd period- Homelessness

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Carolyn Summers, 3rd Period, Disecting Abortion Laws In New Mexico 

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Carolyn Summers, 3rd Period, Disecting Abortion Laws In New Mexico 

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Genesis Navarro, 1st period, Immigration reform.

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Genesis Navarro, 1st period, Immigration reform.

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Health care system                                        				By Nathaniel

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Emerson Naylor, 3rd Period, Drug Rehab - Prisons

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Emerson Naylor, 3rd Period, Drug Rehab - Prisons

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Nathaniel Lucero 1st period, healthcare system in New Mexico

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Nathaniel Lucero 1st period, healthcare system in New Mexico

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Lizzy Smutz/1st period/Orchestras in New Mexico

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Lizzy Smutz/1st period/Orchestras in New Mexico

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Elizabeth Smutz - 6️⃣CAP: Civic Action REPORT

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Vicente Ortiz 1st period Civic action Transfer Rules In New Mexico

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Vicente Ortiz 1st period Civic action Transfer Rules In New Mexico

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Cicily Marshall, 1st period, Building a Bowling Alley at EMHS

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Cicily Marshall, 1st period, Building a Bowling Alley at EMHS

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Zoe Dmitrieva,#3rd period, Indigenous women in New Mexico

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Zoe Dmitrieva,#3rd period, Indigenous women in New Mexico

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Riley Waldemar, Vanessa Gatling, Mackenzie Mitchell, 3rd period, From Passion to Action: Raising Funds for Supermarkets in New Mexico Food Deserts

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Riley Waldemar, Vanessa Gatling, Mackenzie Mitchell, 3rd period, From Passion to Action: Raising Funds for Supermarkets in New Mexico Food Deserts

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According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), three counties in the state of New Mexico are entirely classified as food deserts. A food desert is an area where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, which is a significant issue in New Mexico. These three counties are Harding, Carton, and DeBaca, but even over 50% of the population in the McKinley, Rio Arriba, and Colfax counties live in what can be considered food deserts. The issue of food deserts doesn't just happen in these areas. About 30% of counties in New Mexico are considered food deserts, and the people who live in these counties don't have access to a full-service grocery store within 10 miles of their homes. Food insecurity, the condition of not having access to enough food or food of acceptable quality, is a related issue and is also prevalent in New Mexico. As of 2021, New Mexico's rate of food insecurity overall was 14%, compared to the US average of 10%.

For child food insecurity, the rate was 19% compared to 13% nationally. Luckily, things are being done to help these issues such as programs. An example of this is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program run by the USDA that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. Another example is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), another USDA program that aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. There are also more local causes like the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) program in Albuquerque which offers a wide variety of clinical experiences to help create well-rounded clinicians. Although these are very helpful and reliable programs there are still many people that suffer in these food deserts. Living in a food desert can have several negative effects on individuals and communities, including limited access to healthy food, poor dietary habits and an increased risk of diet-related health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, social and economic impacts, and can interfere with community development and economic growth.

Over the past few months my classmates and I have decided that something needed to be done about this for these communities who deserve to have access to healthy foods just as anyone else. After a lot of discussing, researching, and thought we came to the idea of building supermarkets in these food deserts in order for the communities to have quicker access to more and healthier foods. We believe it is a good way to help the people in these food deserts. By creating these supermarkets, even if it's something small like a farmer's market, we can address the challenges associated with limited access to healthy and affordable food. Supermarkets offer a wide variety of fresh produce, dairy products, lean proteins, and other healthy food options and residents would no longer need to travel long distances to access nutritious food, making it more convenient to maintain a balanced diet. Increased access to fresh and nutritious food can also lead to improved health outcomes, reducing the risk of diet-related health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Creating these markets won't only improve health and accessiblility for the residents, the presence of supermarkets can contribute to local economic development by creating job opportunities and supporting businesses in the community. It may attract other businesses to the area, fostering a more vibrant local economy. Access to supermarkets can enhance the overall well-being of community members, contributing to a higher quality of life. Healthy food options can positively impact physical and mental health, supporting a healthier and more resilient community. And while it might seem this topic has nothing to do with education, it does in fact have some educational opportunities. Supermarkets can provide educational resources and programs on nutrition, cooking, and healthy living, empowering residents to make informed choices about their diets. Workshops and outreach activities can promote awareness of healthy eating habits.

Going along with health benefits, with supermarkets offering a wide range of fresh and healthy options, residents are less likely to rely on convenience stores or fast food outlets for their meals. This shift can contribute to a reduction in the consumption of processed and unhealthy foods. Supermarkets would also provide a place for connections between residents, local organizations, and businesses, fostering a sense of community. Supermarkets can serve as community hubs, providing a space for social interaction and community engagement.

Of course, no matter how nice it would be, things can never be that easy. The only thing missing from this plan if the idea of how money could be raised to build these markets. There are many different ways to raise money for these markets such as government grants and subsidies, nonprofit organizations, corporate sponsorships, community foundations, and more. One effective way to raise funds for supermarkets in New Mexico food deserts is through a combination of community partnerships, grants, and crowdfunding. Collaborating with local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies can provide a solid foundation. Additionally, pursuing grants from organizations focused on community development and food access can offer substantial financial support. Crowdfunding campaigns can engage the community directly, encouraging a sense of ownership and involvement in the project.

Works Cited:

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From Passion to Action: Raising Funds for Supermarkets in New Mexico Food Deserts