Roughly 40% of West Virginians live in a food desert with limited access to nutritious, affordable, and adequate food. How can West Virginia improve access to healthy food? In this presentation, Dr. Wilson describes the evolution of the WV FOODLINK project, from mapping food insecurity to promoting nourishing food networks. Mobilizing geographic knowledge and information to create people-centered tools, WV FOODLINK empowers communities to support healthier and more resilient food systems.
Bradley Wilson's Bio
Dr. Bradley Wilson is an Associate Professor of Geography in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He directs the Food Justice Lab, an experimental space to create more equitable food systems. In the past five years, the Food Justice Lab has launched several transformative projects, including WVFOODLINK, a web-based public research platform to expand access to information on food resources and to promote local planning for community food security. Generously funded by two Public Service Awards from WVU, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Sisters Health Fund, McDonough Foundation, Parkersburg Area Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture, WVFOODLINK is the most comprehensive food research and planning platform of its kind in the United States. In 2016, the Food Justice Lab rolled out its Nourishing Networks food planning program to directly support community-based groups to improve access to healthy foods for low-income families in West Virginia and beyond.
Bradley Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Geography, Eberly College of Arts & Sciences
Breakout Session 1: 10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Breakout Session 2: 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.