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7 <br /> United States: <br /> North Carolina's food insecurity rate is 16.5% <br /> Nationally 11.1% <br /> Orange Co's poverty level is 12.4% Nationally 12.3% <br /> Food Insecurity in other NC Counties: <br /> Highest 24.1% Edgecombe Co <br /> Lowest 9.5% Union Co <br /> Exercises to explore systems thinking related to hunger Michael Goodman <br /> Mr. Goodman directed small groups to reflect on the presentation: <br /> - What did you learn? <br /> - What did you find surprising or puzzling? <br /> - What questions does this raise for you? <br /> Focusing Questions <br /> Mr. Goodman introduced focusing questions, noting issues are best formulated as a focusing <br /> question that starts with the words Why or How Come but not How To. <br /> Examples: <br /> - Why do we continue to struggle with breaking down our internal silos? <br /> - Why, despite our best efforts, have we been unable to end homelessness in Calhoun <br /> County? <br /> Potential Focusing Questions <br /> Mr. Goodman introduced examples of focusing questions: <br /> - Why, despite the county's various programs, are we seeing the trends we're seeing in <br /> hunger/food insecurity? <br /> - Why, despite the county's programs and activities we have in place focused on hunger, <br /> haven't we seen the impact we'd like? <br /> Team Exercise #1A: Focusing Question <br /> Participants worked in small groups to identify focusing questions related to food insecurity in <br /> Orange County: <br /> Why are segments of the population more food insecure/lack access than others despite <br /> a variety of interventions by several agencies/County Government? <br /> Why aren't current County programs not reaching the needs of targeted populations <br /> despite our affluence? <br /> After identifying focusing questions, participants worked in small groups to imagine the end <br /> results they would like to see if the problem/issue was fully addressed/fixed: <br /> - Free up more funding for other programs/needs <br /> - Kids focus better in school — improved educational outcomes <br /> - Access to nutritious food when they need it <br /> - Obesity rate goes down <br /> - Malnutrition rates go down <br /> - Health care demand goes down <br /> - Gap between benefits provided and needs are fulfilled <br /> - Multiple outlets that provide healthier food <br /> - Universal food programs in schools <br /> - End of income disparities <br />