Homelessness is a social justice issue requiring advocacy on campus now.
The intersection of education, at risk housing, and hunger instability affect a student’s ability to succeed.
Success in college should be based on skills and motivation not parental income or financial stability.
This semester in Psychology & Social Justice with Dr. Lisa Whitten a small team of students have undertaken the subject of homelessness and food insecurity tied to students on campus. This team is called “Students Helping Students – Homelessness a Social Justice Advocacy Effort at SUNY Old Westbury.”
As a social justice action project, the goal of the team is to bring awareness and educate students that homelessness, lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence affects how students perform academically.
In addition this intersecting inequality also touches on the issue of food insecurity. The end goal for the team is to deliver some small meaningful opportunities that can lead to change and positive outcomes for students lacking a “fixed nighttime residence” or students that are food insecure.
Recently, it was noted that 65 percent of the 55 million jobs produced in the coming decade will require some higher education or training, yet few resources are available to support students who come from backgrounds marked by experiences of homelessness or food insecurity.
The intersection of education and at risk housing and hunger instability affect a student’s ability to succeed. We want this inequality changed!
We need YOU to share your VOICE on how working together we can collaborate and make a positive change in our student community.
We believe that the solution should come from those directly dealing with homelessness or food insecurity.
We’d also like to hear and capture “your story” to share with the class. We believe that being able to speak for yourself and sharing your narrative will help others and foster change. Look for us through the month of April in the Campus Center building in the Atrium where you can contribute to a solution by signing our petition, taking a survey or sharing your narrative.
Feel free to contact the team advocates at:
Kim Gamble: kgeorge1@oldwestbury.edu
Cassie Grome: Cgrome@oldwestbury.edu
Susan Myers: smyers7@oldwestbury.edu
Chris Sartoris: csartori@oldwestbury.edu
