Data Collection and Mapping Internship: Food Insecurity Within Wayne County

This project will focus on data collection within Wayne County. The data will be used to create GIS maps which will be publicly available and can be used for grant writing, policy making, and program planning within CCE and the county government. The data collected will focus on food insecurity within Wayne County, particularly food deserts.

The data collection process will involve online and on the ground research into the modes of transportation available within the areas of question, demographic data, locations of fresh-market options, the pricing of goods in the markets relative to the average income, and infrastructure in the areas such as parking lots.

Roles and responsibilities

This position will assist our Agriculture, Master Gardening, SNAP-Ed and 4-H programs with data collection from around Wayne County. The data collection processes will be completed both online and 'in the field.'

Qualifications and previous coursework

• Driver's license and ability to drive throughout the county
• Understanding units of measurement
• Knowledge of GPS coordinates and familiarity with Google Maps
• Ability to use Microsoft Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, and Word)
• Ability to work without supervision and take detailed notes from research done

Learning outcomes

The goal of this information is to map out food insecurity within Wayne County so that thoughtful and meaningful action can be taken to address these issues, allowing fresh produce to be available for everyone in the county. The idea of food deserts in an area surrounded by farms seems strange, but these food deserts can and do exist within the county.

• Willingness to uphold CCE Mission
• An understanding of food insecurity
• Knowledge of GIS tools
• A willingness to talk with community members of differing backgrounds
• Experience in reading census data, zoning maps, and historical records