UR Action partnered with Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) and Montgomery College (MC) in 2022 to implement a joint Basic Needs Security collaboration. Students at ACM and MC explored the impact of and responses to food injustice, food insecurity, and basic needs insecurity in Maryland, as well as how needs and responses vary based on political, sociological, and geographical context.

Summary of program activities:

1. ​ Community partners shared analyses of basic needs in Allegany County, MD and Montgomery County, MD
2. ACM and MC students applied the ABCs for Constructive Dialogue to explore different views on causes and effects of basic needs
3. ACM and MC conducted problem tree analyses to explore the causes and effects of food injustice and food insecurity across urban and rural communities
4. ACM and MC students designed basic needs projects with local partners 
5. Student teams implemented projects with local partners to address basic needs of community members​

Partner Organizations

Joint MC + ACM teams worked with the partner organizations to design and implement a project that 1) addressed a basic needs challenge identified by the group and 2) advanced the work of the partner.

Allegany County, MD

• Pop. density: 177 people / square mile
• 87% white, 8% Black, 2% Hispanic, 1% Asian
• Median property value: $120,700
• In 2020, Donald Trump received 68% of vote and Joe Biden received 30%.

Montgomery County, MD

• Pop. density: 1,978 people / square mile
• 43% white, 20% Black, 17% Hispanic, 16% Asian
• Median property value: $484,900
• In 2020, Donald Trump received 19% of vote and Joe Biden received 79%.

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