LAUREN MCCALISTER

As WhyHunger’s U.S. Programs Coordinator, Lauren provides technical and logistical support for organizing shared learning spaces.
After pulling their first carrot out of the ground of a community garden plot, Lauren has worked cooperatively to impact local food initiatives in the Midwest. Lauren is a Black farmer, rancher, food systems researcher, food sovereignty activist, and textile artist. Before WhyHunger, Lauren served on the Board of Directors for Bloomingfoods Co-op as the Benjamin Banneker Community Center Garden Educator, on the Bloomington Food Policy Council, and on the Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education Grant committee. Lauren provides technical assistance to farmers, hosts educational conferences, and strategizes to center the needs of Black, Indigenous, and Producers of Color in the food system. Since 2022, Lauren conducted research in partnership with Indiana University to address food apartheid with community-based solutions.