Imani Candler is a sophomore Computer Science major, Food Studies minor, reigning from Springdale, Arkansas. During her matriculation at Spelman College, she hopes to find a career that seamlessly integrates her interests in technology, social justice, and urban planning.
Currently, she serves as the Food Systems Research Intern for the City of Atlanta, which is funded through the joint UGA-Spelman grant underway. In this role, Imani works at the intersection of local food systems, community engagement, and sustainable business practices. From here, she will develop a comprehensive guide for local businesses to actively engage in sourcing local Atlanta foods and building strong connections with local food leaders. Imani’s efforts will influence her upcoming Food Studies Independent Research project.
As Imani explores the intricacies of food systems and economic development, she recognizes the inaccessibility to high-quality and affordable food options in marginalized communities. In her future endeavors, Imani will use technology, like artificial intelligence, to propose solutions to housing and food insecurities, so cities can create resilient economies without gentrifying communities and displacing people of color.
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“Spelman College's Food Studies Program, the first interdisciplinary food studies program at an Historically Black College and University, engages students in an innovative exploration of food interdisciplinarity and centers its connectivity to the African Diaspora, intersectionality, and food science. It is our hope that our food scholars will find the needed community, scholarship, and professional opportunities through the program to approach some of these pressing global and local food challenges. "