Beyond the numbers: Reporting on food insecurity in Chicago

There is a lot about data that has always scared me. The fear of getting it wrong. Making incorrect calculations. Coming up with a data-driven conclusion that is not accurate. The need to face this fear is exactly why I applied for the Data Fellowship through the USC Center for Health Journalism.

As a reporter with almost 20 years of experience, I’ve always been a storyteller with a desire to share the important stories of the communities who are rarely heard. For years, I’ve incorporated and analyzed data from reliable sources into my reporting. However, working with raw numbers and letting the data tell the story is a bridge I had never crossed.

For the fellowship, I planned to take a deep dive into the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition program, a food supplemental program which provides support to pregnant and postpartum women as well as children 5 and under. Since 2018 some states are seeing less participation in WIC despite high rates of eligibility. 

There were many areas of America that I wanted to zero in on but had to choose one. When the Chicago Sun-Times accepted my pitch, I began a deep dive into Chicago’s history and geography, particularly when it comes to health disparities and transportation. 

I started contacting local, state and federal agencies as well as nonprofits, asking for raw data related to the WIC program. As the numbers came in, I found flaws in the original data that was supplied to me. An extra number here and missing numbers there. I spent hours second-guessing every data point. 

I looked at my data for what it represented: people, lives, children. With this perspective, the numbers were less intimidating and allowed me to look at the calculations with a more critical eye. Afterall, if I didn’t tell the story of the numbers correctly, I wasn’t doing justice to the people behind the numbers. 

Once I was confident about the raw numbers, then came the organization, cleaning and examination of the data. Through the use of pivot tables I was able to generate visualizations of the spreadsheets which provided a roadmap to viewing trends or gaps. I felt like I had crossed the finish line and it was time to celebrate.

Then, imposter syndrome came knocking. 

This is where I imagined I was sitting down at a coffee shop interviewing the people behind the numbers. What if I got it wrong? What if I am not communicating the story in the most effective way? With the support of my senior fellow, I was able to have an extra eye on my calculations and ease some of my anxiety.

A major part of my time in Chicago was spent at various food pantries across Cook County. From Lincoln Square on the northside to Maywood on the westside and Englewood on the southside, I visited and waited for hours in food lines with participants hearing their stories. The first person featured in my report is Adwoa Sarkodie, a nursing assistant who lives in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood. Despite the cold December weather, Sarkodie allowed me to stand in line with her and her mother as she shared her story. When it was finally her turn to move inside to the warmth of the food pantry and one step closer to her turn to shop, Sarkodie became emotional as she told me how hard it is struggling to provide basic needs for her children.

“A lot of people don’t know how your kids look when they want something that you can’t give to them, like food,” Sarkodie said. “They tell you that they want this kind of food, and you don’t have money to give it to them. A lot of people don’t know, and I wish they knew.”

It was vital for my reporting to engage with the community on a deeper level to understand the systemic issues that prevent individuals and families from breaking the cycle of poverty.

With the support of my engagement editor and an engagement grant, I had the privilege of sharing a table with community leaders who are doing on-the-ground work, and hearing how, as a journalist, I can share stories that bring light to systemic issues related to food access. 

For the first time in my career, I was able to bring frontline food bank workers and directors, volunteers and community leaders to the same table to discuss long standing systemic barriers in the Chicago area that have perpetuated the cycle of poverty, as well as potential short- and long-term solutions to the food crisis. As we sat together having an open and honest discussion, advocates shared their personal experiences, stories from food pantry clients, and the impact of their work on the local communities.

At a listening session at the Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, Bob Joynt who works in the operations and management side of the food pantry said, “Our numbers increased by 50% when the government flipped off the COVID SNAP program when it basically cut in half, pretty much.” The discussions were eye-opening. Participants later thanked me for giving them space to vent and share their thoughts and yet I felt tremendous gratitude to be given the opportunity to have an open discussion with key members of the community. 

Moving forward, I see it as essential to incorporate listening sessions in my reporting process particularly as a means to connect with marginalized communities. Not only do the discussions build trust but they open the door for more vital community specific issues to be brought to light. 

Last spring, my article — “Why aren't more families in need getting food aid from WIC nutrition program?” — was published as a front-page story in the Chicago Sun-Times. 

I plan to continue reporting stories on food access across the US and highlight the crucial work being done on a local level to help provide equity for basic needs.