Being a social change agent means you work to influence others in order to address social issues, such as food insecurity. Part of being a social change agent for food insecurity means taking on a win-win approach where you show others that helping to decrease food insecurity is in their best interest (Walden University, 2021). So, the question here is how exactly do individuals benefit from taking action against food insecurity? How do they win? When we help to end hunger and malnutrition, we help increase productivity within our communities and help to make positive impacts on health and social development (United Nations, 2022). What happens when we increase productivity and help make positive impacts on health and social development? We are able to live and raise our children in a world that is sustainable and has strong health and education systems. Many may refrain from taking action against hunger because they do not see the direct and immediate impact it has on them, but there are negative long-term effects that ultimately affect us on an economic and social scale. We can avoid the negative impacts it makes on our world and that is how everyone wins – that is how you influence people to make a change.
As social change agents for hunger, we value having awareness about what is happening around us and the world, and we use this as a tool to influence others. We notice things that others might not and this is how we figure out what changes need to be made and how they will occur (Walden University, 2021). For example, as a social change agent for hunger, I have noticed that government assistance programs, such as SNAP, have let many impoverished individuals down by turning away hundreds of thousands of them from receiving assistance due to their exclusive, bureaucratic processes. The change that needs to be made is not relying on the government to feed ourselves and our families. We should lean on each other to get ourselves out of this crisis and this is why I have created this blog. In addition, a social change agent also values being fearless. As advocates and local activists, we run the risk of being ridiculed for trying to help the ones in need. Many individuals possess an “every man for himself” mentality which inhibits them to shame activists for helping those struggling with hunger. However, as social change agents, we must not let these ridicules or any setbacks lower our determination and keep us from trying to influence others.
In order for this movement against hunger to be effective, we need to dedicate our time and effort to make a real difference in our communities by influencing others using the 6 tactics listed in the article: 1) show others how supporting this movement benefits them, 2) listen, 3) have a clear vision, 4) be aware, 5) be fearless, and 6) have something someone wants. A movement does not stop at you and me – momentum needs to be built and this begins with a chain reaction of influencing others to address hunger. As ultra committed change-makers, we need to initiate dialogue with others about food insecurity to raise more awareness and influence others to make changes.
CALL TO ACTION! This week’s call to action is to read the article about the six tactics social change agents use to influence others, then practice at least one tactic this week to influence a fellow neighbor, family member, or friend to participate in Step 1 or Step 2 of this blog to decrease food insecurity. After you have completed this call to action, reflect and comment on this blog about your experience and which tactic you practiced. We can all work to make a difference and make the world a better place; this will all depend on how many people you can influence to think and act in impactful ways.
Information References
United Nations. (2022). Zero hunger: why it matters. Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Goal-2.pdf
Walden University. (2021, March 25). Six-ways-social-change-agents-influence-others. Walden University. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/resource/six-ways-social-change-agents-influence-others
Image References
Buchanan, L. (2022). Never underestimate the influence you have on others [Image]. Quote Master. https://www.quotemaster.org/Influence#&gid=1&pid=4
Demaree, D. (2011). Agents of change [Image]. Blogger. http://d-demaree.blogspot.com/2011/12/agent-of-change.html
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