重口味SM

With a focus on the Black community, U of T researcher to study food insecurity in Scarborough

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Suleyman Demi, a post-doctoral researcher聽in聽the department of health and society聽at U of T Scarborough, has partnered with a non-profit to identify and address barriers to food security in the local Black community during COVID-19 (photo by Perry King)

Suleyman Demi has dedicated his career to improving health equity and food security.

Now, as a researcher in the 重口味SM Scarborough鈥檚 , Demi will explore how COVID-19 has affected food security within the Black community in Scarborough.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my goal to determine if there is food security and how the pandemic has affected the community鈥檚 mental health and well-being,鈥 says Demi, a post-doctoral researcher in the department of health and society at U of T Scarborough.

The two-year program was established to increase opportunities for post-doctoral researchers from under-represented groups, particularly Black and Indigenous researchers. It does this by providing $70,000 per year to U of T Scarborough鈥檚 departments, for up to two years, to support the hiring of post-doctoral researchers. It鈥檚 one of the latest initiatives in support of the campus鈥檚 five-year strategic plan, called 鈥.鈥

Demi has partnered with the TAIBU Community Health Centre, a non-profit organization providing health-care and community services for Torontonians, to identify and address barriers to food security in the community they serve, with a focus on the Malvern neighbourhood.

鈥淭he available data shows that Toronto鈥檚 Black population are 3.5 times more likely to become food-insecure. There is a problem there and the question is why,鈥 says Demi.

As an environmental activist and educator, inclusion has been the foundation of Demi鈥檚 work.

He graduated with a PhD in social justice education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in 2019. His research focused on the food security of Indigenous farmers in forested areas and urban farmers along Ghana鈥檚 coast.

As a researcher and international student, the fellowship program provides Demi with a community of academics with which to connect and share ideas, albeit virtually, during the pandemic.   

鈥淚t鈥檚 a godsend to have a program that reflects the population we have,鈥 says Demi. 鈥淎s an international student, I鈥檓 able to conduct my research confidently.鈥

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