Date

10-16-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Alvin W. Dockett

Keywords

Food Swamp, Food Desert, Food Insecurity, Community Garden

Disciplines

Educational Leadership

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to design and implement a community garden, supplemented by local farmer partnerships, at the Augusta Dream Center (ADC) to address food insecurity in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) by providing fresh produce, fostering nutrition education, and promoting long-term health equity. This project is driven by the urgent need to reduce health disparities that result from limited access to healthy foods, particularly the elevated risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in low-income and minority communities. The CSRA faces unique challenges as it contains both food deserts, where healthy food options are scarce, and food swamps, where unhealthy options dominate. These realities make it essential for organizations such as ADC to adopt sustainable solutions that move beyond short-term food distribution and provide lasting pathways to community health and empowerment. The central component of the project will be the development of a community garden that produces seasonal crops for immediate distribution while functioning as a real-world classroom for teaching gardening, nutrition, and farm-to-table practices. To reinforce this initiative, partnerships with local farmers will provide additional produce during periods when garden yields are insufficient. The project will also include educational workshops, volunteer training, and community engagement to equip families with transferable skills for long-term self-sufficiency. By uniting food provision, education, and collaboration, the project will improve health outcomes, foster community resilience, and create a replicable model for faith-based organizations addressing food insecurity through sustainable, empowerment-driven solutions.

Download

Share

COinS