By LOUISE FONUA
Sustainability and having access to healthy foods are a few of the social justice issues
that I am passionate about because being sustainable is a basic right for humanity.
Surrounded by a galore of fast food chains and Liquor stores are a few reasons why I am
interested in social justice issues such as sustainability and food justice because these
fast food restaurants are contaminating the health of my community. Living in a
community where access to healthy foods is either unavailable or over priced has made
me realize that not only is this a health issue, but an environmental health issue as well.
Having only one grocery store that sells decent fruits and vegetables is very upsetting
because the prices for “healthy” food are inflated. Realizing that the access to healthy
foods was not available is when I realized the importance of community gardens in the
Tongan community.
Having a community garden is a great way to refrain from purchasing fruits and
vegetables from large producers such as Ralphs and Whole Foods. Having a community
garden in the Tongan community is more than just planting a seed and watching it
grow. It allows the Tongan community to be sustainable while having access to healthy
foods and it gives the Tongan community a sense of home, voice and a place to call their
own.
The JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program will provide me with the necessary skills to be
a community leader for my Pacific Islander community. Through the JACL-PSW Local
Leaders Program, I hope to gain a better understanding of what it means to make a
difference in a community by becoming a leader. I hope to increase my knowledge of
what a community leader is through the JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program and
testimonies of other community leaders. I also hope to gain a sense of understanding of
how one becomes an effective leader in the community. Coming from an
underrepresented and marginalized community, this opportunity will assist me in
bringing vital networks to the Tongan community.
Through the JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program, it will allow me to plant seeds of
hope for present and future generations and watch them grow into future community
leaders.
Note: This is the personal statement Ms. Fonua prepared for the Local Leaders Internship application. We're ho
Sustainability and having access to healthy foods are a few of the social justice issues
that I am passionate about because being sustainable is a basic right for humanity.
Surrounded by a galore of fast food chains and Liquor stores are a few reasons why I am
interested in social justice issues such as sustainability and food justice because these
fast food restaurants are contaminating the health of my community. Living in a
community where access to healthy foods is either unavailable or over priced has made
me realize that not only is this a health issue, but an environmental health issue as well.
Having only one grocery store that sells decent fruits and vegetables is very upsetting
because the prices for “healthy” food are inflated. Realizing that the access to healthy
foods was not available is when I realized the importance of community gardens in the
Tongan community.
Having a community garden is a great way to refrain from purchasing fruits and
vegetables from large producers such as Ralphs and Whole Foods. Having a community
garden in the Tongan community is more than just planting a seed and watching it
grow. It allows the Tongan community to be sustainable while having access to healthy
foods and it gives the Tongan community a sense of home, voice and a place to call their
own.
The JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program will provide me with the necessary skills to be
a community leader for my Pacific Islander community. Through the JACL-PSW Local
Leaders Program, I hope to gain a better understanding of what it means to make a
difference in a community by becoming a leader. I hope to increase my knowledge of
what a community leader is through the JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program and
testimonies of other community leaders. I also hope to gain a sense of understanding of
how one becomes an effective leader in the community. Coming from an
underrepresented and marginalized community, this opportunity will assist me in
bringing vital networks to the Tongan community.
Through the JACL-PSW Local Leaders Program, it will allow me to plant seeds of
hope for present and future generations and watch them grow into future community
leaders.
Note: This is the personal statement Ms. Fonua prepared for the Local Leaders Internship application. We're ho