Student Engagement with Community-Based Participatory Food Security Research: Exploring Reflections through Photovoice

FoodARC is a research hub for community-based participatory research (CBPR) contributing to healthy, just, and sustainable food systems for all. University students, largely from dietetics programs, are engaged as co-learners and research partners. This study explores the contribution of CBPR to student learning on household food insecurity (HFI) and community food security (CFS) and ways to address these issues through practice. Photovoice, an arts-informed 3-phase participatory research process, was used to take pictures that reflected student experiences and insights regarding CBPR. Through a half-day guided discussion, 5 participants shared and discussed their photos and the meanings behind them with other participants and then collectively analyzed and interpreted common themes. Three overarching themes reflecting student learning and development associated with CBPR experiences were identified: students' expanded understandings of HFI and CFS as well as potential solutions to address these issues, their modeling of participatory ways of working, and applications to future professional practices. Student understandings about HFI and CFS through the integration of a community-engaged learning environment like CBPR results in important learning and personal and professional development. Learning is enriched and students are able to imagine their roles in addressing these issues through practice.