Step 1: Submit a first draft of your Spark Grant Community Project Proposal by Tuesday, May 28th at 11:59 pm. If you are writing an essay proposal, your draft should have at least one paragraph for e

“Who I am “Story

“Everett Washington” by Nochiami Traore is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

I am Nochiami Traore. I immigrated from Ivory Coast to the United States when I was 23 years old. My main goal was my child survival. Adjusting to a new country, culture, and food was challenging, especially because I came when I was already few months pregnant. Being pregnant meant that I had specific dietary needs, and finding familiar foods or ingredients was difficult. Additionally, the family I joined in the U.S. was living in a low-income household, which exacerbated the issue of food insecurity.

With limited financial resources, I had to navigate my pregnancy while worrying about access to nutritious food. I often found myself unable to afford fresh fruits, vegetables, and other essential items. This situation not only impacted my health but also the health of my unborn child. I experience highlights the intersection of immigration, pregnancy, and food insecurity, particularly within low-income households.