Both food insecurity and food injustice exist at Cornell. Survey data from over 3000 students in both 2019 and 2021 indicate that 1 in 10 students feel they very often do not have enough to eat. Even more troubling are the clear racial inequalities, with Black-identifying students reporting twice the rates of food insecurity as White students. Student organizations are already working towards equity both in food justice and other anti-racist domains; but these projects need more support.

In 2020, a coalition of Cornell University students who are members of Anabel’s Grocery, Cornell Students 4 Black Lives, Dilmun Hill Organic Farm, and the Hydroponics Club created The Anti-Racist Action Grant. Grounded in the belief that every student, regardless of socioeconomic background, deserves access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food, the grant was created to support student projects and organizations working on anti-racist initiatives to address the many systematic inequalities that persist on campus. 

The Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFED) advised during the creation of the grant and often stated, “food justice is social justice is food justice.” Issues of food security and food justice cannot be separated from broader social justice and systemic oppression. While the anti-racist action grant will not solve most of the issues we see at Cornell regarding food insecurity and injustice, it is a small way to bring student groups together and start fighting the bigger battle for food and social justice. 

By selling produce and honey generously donated by Dilmun Hill Student Farm, Hydroponics Club, and Bee Club at Anabel’s Grocery, nearly $3,000 has been raised in two years. The grant has supported the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Basic Needs Coalition in making 50 meal kits for students before Thanksgiving. The grant has also helped discount food orders from Water Margin, a primarily BIPOC and low-income cooperative living house. 

The grant is designed to reduce the financial barrier for groups on campus who are contributing to addressing issues of food injustice and racism at Cornell. Thank you to our student food producers and Anabel’s Grocery for making the grant possible and for guidance from C4BL throughout the grant formation and administration. 

Application Guidelines:

•Any BIPOC-led organization can apply

•You may request any sum of money, but we recommend anywhere from $200-500 depending on your needs

*Multiple groups can apply together if you are collaborating on an event

**Application will be accepted on a rolling basis, so feel free to apply!

***To reach the grant committee, please contact anabelgrocery@gmail.com.