Dakota Wesleyan University is one of nearly 50 universities worldwide banding together to address the global issue of hunger. On Dec. 9, three representatives from DWU, including President Amy Novak, will join leaders from the other universities to sign the Presidents' Commitment to Food and Nutritional Security at the United Nations in New York City.
"Food insecurity is not confined to a city, region or country, and DWU is proud to partner with these universities to seek out actionable solutions to aid those who don't know when their next meal is coming," Novak said. "... we are interested to hear how other universities aid their communities and whether we can provide those options here."
Novak was selected to be on the steering committee for the initiative, and will be joined in New York by McGovern Center Director Alisha Vincent and Ariana Arampatzis, of Aberdeen, a DWU sophomore and president of DWU's chapter of Universities Fighting World Hunger.
The Presidents' Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security is a declaration acknowledging a commitment to make food insecurity a priority. The declaration is the result of Presidents United to Solve Hunger, created by Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., as the result of a first-time gathering of leaders of more than 30 universities in the U.S., Canada and Central America at Auburn in February.
"What makes this event especially significant is the recognition that universities have a tremendous role to play in addressing global grand challenges," said Auburn University President Jay Gogue. "Our institutions have a deep faculty talent pool, an energetic, innovative population of students, an unprecedented commitment from top leadership, and a staying power from generation to generation that lends itself to tackling long-term issues like hunger."
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The Hunger Forum and Public Signing Ceremony on Dec. 9 marks the first time universities around the world will share a collective focus on ending food insecurity. It is also the first time students and university leaders will be united in the effort with international organizations, NGOs and student groups joining Auburn in this initiative.
Novak and Vincent consider this invitation to be a great honor and were excited to have the opportunity to include a DWU student on the trip.
"Ariana is driven to help others," Vincent said about the biochemistry major. "This summit will not only offer opportunities for President Novak and me to connect with other universities with the same values and mission to end hunger, but will give Ariana a fantastic opportunity to see just how many other people in the world care about this cause that she has dedicated her time for, as well."
Arampatzis and another DWU student traveled to the Millennial Campus Conference last month in Boca Raton, Fla., to work to enhance global development and strategies for the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
There are several programs currently run by Dakota Wesleyan personnel and students which strive to address hunger insecurity locally and globally.
Vincent led one group to Uganda and Rwanda last year and will take a group of students from the DWU chapter of Universities Fighting World Hunger to Uganda this summer to work on food security projects, including expanding the Livestock for Life project.
In addition, UFWH is working on a partnership with the Mitchell Area Food Pantry to support it on a weekly basis, and the McGovern Center will host the McGovern Hunger Summit on April 15 on campus.
"It will bring together people from across South Dakota to find ways to collaborate to end hunger here in the state," Vincent said.
