Social entrepreneur Rachel Sumekh to deliver Carleton convocation
In her presentation, “The Power of Student Advocacy: How Students Are Ending Hunger,” Sumekh will discuss innovative solutions to address food insecurity and low-income stigma among college students.
Rachel Sumekh, a social entrepreneur and the founder of Swipe Out Hunger, will deliver Carleton College’s weekly convocation address on Friday, May 14, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. over Zoom. In her presentation, “The Power of Student Advocacy: How Students Are Ending Hunger,” she will discuss the work of her organization to offer innovative solutions to address food insecurity and low-income stigma among college students.
Sumekh is the founder and CEO of Swipe Out Hunger, a national non-profit committed to ending college student hunger. Nationally, 1 in 3 college students face food insecurity, threatening students’ ability to focus in class, stay in school, and feel part of the campus community. Swipe Out Hunger advises colleges and universities on the design of commonsense and innovative anti-hunger programs. Its most commonly adopted model is the organization’s flagship program, “The Swipe Drive,” which allows students to donate their extra meal plan swipes to their peers who face food insecurity on campus.
From its beginnings as a grassroots movement at UCLA in 2010, Swipe Out Hunger has since served 1.8 million nourishing meals across 38 states and more than 110 campuses. Sumekh’s work has been recognized by President Barack Obama, featured in The New York Times, and landed her on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Sumekh received her BA from University of California, Los Angeles.
Convocation is sponsored by Carleton College Events. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4308.