Urban Nutrition Initiative, (The) : Bringing Academically-Based Community Service to the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Anthropology

The Urban Nutrition Initiative (UNI) is a University of Pennsylvania/West Philadelphia schools academically-based community service program that integrates academics, research, and service through service-learning and participatory action research. UNI is based academically within Penn's Department of Anthropology and administratively within the Center for Community Partnerships. University and school student learning is based upon problem-solving, with theory and methods utilized from across the disciplines. As active learners, students generate knowledge through engagement with the community, which can then be applied as appropriate to other situations. UNI focuses on nutrition-related diseases, including obesity, that constitute an epidemic in the United States, especially among disadvantaged minorities, and contribute to prevalent health disparities. Student research has demonstrated UNI has positive impacts on school children's diets and Penn students' educational experiences. [author]