“In a high school nutrition class, I learned that a quarter of Pennsylvanians were food-insecure, which was mind-boggling to me. That was not reflected in what I was seeing day to day. As a result, I was motivated to get more involved in addressing food insecurity in my community. That experience affirmed that public service was something I wanted to do with my life. A lot of times there’s a stigma around hunger and needing support, so kids won’t disclose that they’re struggling to access enough food. My friend and I came up with an idea to connect with a local grocery store to rescue its leftover produce, and we set up cooking classes after school. At Brown University, I worked with the nonprofit Farm Fresh Rhode Island and developed a food safety plan that ensured their compliance with state regulations, allowing them to legally distribute rescued produce to communities in need. I also worked at Rhode Island Food Policy Council during its effort to pass Rhode Island’s Cottage Food Law, which enables people to produce and sell food within their home kitchens. In the wake of the pandemic, this lowered cost barriers for smaller food producers who couldn’t afford to access commercial kitchens or facilities. I originally planned to attend law school to advocate for better food safety laws. I viewed addressing food insecurity as in line with the abundance agenda: Removing certain bureaucratic regulations would allow people to access healthier food more easily. But I deferred those plans to work as a federal contractor for the Veterans Health Administration. That experience showed me how much policy is shaped by economics, statistics, and the technical tools used in executive agencies. I needed this extra education at Princeton SPIA to do what I felt I was supposed to. My theory of public service is very much community-oriented, focused on building consensus and strong communication. Princeton SPIA affirmed this theory; it serves as a microcosm for the good that can happen when you take the time to get to know everyone in your world.”
Top photo: Courtesy of Samuel Caplan MPA ’29