Food Justice Plaques
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In order to connect their food justice research and interviews with their planter boxes, students created laser-cut food justice plaques. These plaques highlighted inequities in the food system and included interview quotes and solutions.
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Student Reflections
Throughout the drafts of the plaque I changed many aspects to create the perfect outline. I altered the layout of the plaque a number of times and enlarged the font size. Towards the 3rd draft of the plaque design, Matt gave us critique to lower the amount of water droplets on the plaque. Luke also gave us some critique to not overlap any of the water droplets. These two critiques helped this plaque reach a more finished look. Firstly, I am so proud of how beautiful he design came out. I worked so hard on this plaque, and to see it become laser cut on wood was wonderful. I collaborated well with my peers to receive and give critique on our plaques. While I was learning about Water Conservation and Environmental Impact I became more aware of the world around me. We need to conserve our water, and acknowledge the problem our world is facing. - Tatianna
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Our plaques were very rough to begin with, our traced images looked unprofessional and messy. But as others gave us critiques and we gained skills in Adobe Illustrator, we were able to make our plaque something that we were proud of and that was a professional product. Some ways we improved it included learning how to use image trace in order to trace logos and other objects. We changed our font multiple times until we ended up with one that was aesthetically pleasing. - Katelynn
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1. Food Justice Research |
2. Lexicon of Sustainability |
We began this project by exposing students to a series of startling headlines related to the food system - food waste, worker rights, animal rights, foodborne illnesses, environmental impact, factory farming, food deserts, food labeling etc. Students chose a topic that intrigued them and conducted further online research. I provided resources, but students were also encouraged to source their own articles. For each article that they analyzed, students completed an annotated bibliography, which also served as an introduction to the importance of citing sources and MLA format.
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Once students had presented their topic of interest to their peers, they delved deeper. They watched a short documentary on a related topic, from the Lexicon of Sustainability, and wrote a one page analysis.
This research was complemented by presentations from experts in the field, including Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, Produce Good and The Ethical Choices Program. As a class, we watched documentaries such as Food Inc., and Wasted, and read excerpts from The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, as well as Pablo Neruda's The Great Tablecloth. Each reading and viewing was followed by a class discussion or more formal Socratic seminar. |
3. Interviews |
4. Adobe Illustrator |
Students identified organizations related to their food justice issue. Organizations included the San Diego Food System Alliance, Kitchens For Good, San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, FFAC, and Food2Soil. They designed questions, then arranged and conducted interviews, in person, or over the phone. This exposed students to the reality of the issue and revealed possible solutions. This was one of the most meaningful experiences of the project, as students interacting with experts and made authentic, real-world connections. Some students were invited to participate in a symposium, involving major stakeholders combating food insecurity in San Diego County.
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Students gathered their research and insights and designed a food justice plaque in Illustrator. Students were given access to a series of tutorials, but were encouraged to use their expert peers. This led to strong collaboration across the entire team, as ideas were shared organically and students were empowered.
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Laser-cut Plaques
After a final critique, students ensured their Illustrator files were laser-cut ready. Each plaque was printed and attached to the group's planter box, in time for exhibition