Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) at the University of Detroit Mercy fosters student and community collaboration for a more food sovereign Detroit. TENN provides students with real opportunities to apply things they learn in the classroom as they design and lead programs that promote equity and sustainability in the food system. As a part of the Institute for Leadership and Service, TENN student leaders coordinate multiple service opportunities each week that reduce the immediate effects and systemic causes of hunger and food waste.
On January 28th, 2020, Campus Kitchen celebrated its 10th Anniversary and changed its name to Titan Equity Nourish Network: TENN.
The mission of TENN is to develop student leaders through thoughtful engagement with community-led initiatives that promote a more equitable and sustainable food system.
Three core beliefs drive our work:
- We need a more just and sustainable food system. Forty percent of the food that's produced in the United States each year ends up in the waste stream. In the city of Detroit, 48% of households lack consistent access to healthy, culturally appropriate, and affordable food.
- We believe that hunger and food waste are immediate and systemic problems that college students can help to solve. We work to alleviate the effects of these problems while educating ourselves about their root causes.
- We believe that it's a privilege to support positive change in Detroit's food system. Our city is internationally known for the inspiring leaders working to end injustices in the food system, many of whom are our neighbors. We're excited to learn from and support them.
In the 2020-2021 school year, TENN continued to engage students in impactful food justice work. In response to COVID-19, we expanded our delivery program and have distributed over 31,000 lbs of fresh produce, dry goods, and fresh bread to our neighbors on Princeton Street, families of Developing Despite Distance, and Lakeridge Village. Our students have continued to meet in four committees: Food Recovery Network, Urban Agriculture, Sustainability, and Healthy Neighborhoods. These teams are working to engage students and our surrounding community in food justice efforts.
TENN has kicked off the 2021-2022 school year by building a staff of 8 students that provide administrative stability to the organization, receiving recognition from the Princeton Street Block Club, State Senator Marshall Bullock, and Congressman McCalister for our produce deliveries with the Princeton Street Block Club, hosting weekly volunteer days in our new on-campus garden, and recruiting new students to join us in our fight for a more food sovereign Detroit.
Donations to TENN nurture innovative collaborations between college students and Detroit residents to alleviate hunger, reduce food waste, and support urban agriculture through service, research, and educational initiatives.
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