Feeding Resilience

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Food insecurity remains a persistent and unevenly distributed challenge, shaped by overlapping social, spatial, and institutional factors. In Durham, North Carolina, a growing network of public agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations works to address food access amid ongoing uncertainty. This study examines how this network operates under constraint, drawing on semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and qualitative analysis. Findings reveal that Durham&rsquo;s food security system is interconnected yet structurally strained. Funding instability&mdash;driven by shifting federal policies and the expiration of pandemic-era support&mdash;limits long-term planning while increasing demand for services. Tensions between funder priorities and community needs further complicate service delivery, while food policy&rsquo;s &ldquo;nested&rdquo; position within sectors like public health and agriculture creates coordination challenges. Beyond funding, organizations must navigate community mistrust rooted in historical inequities, as well as spatial barriers such as limited transportation and uneven food environments. Food insecurity is also experienced unevenly across populations. Intersectional barriers intensify hardship for groups including low-income households, refugees, and college students&mdash;an often-overlooked population facing unique constraints. Despite these challenges, Durham&rsquo;s food system demonstrates resilience through strong relationships, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained community support. These dynamics highlight both the fragility and adaptability of local food systems, underscoring the need for more coordinated, long-term, and community-centered approaches to food security planning. </span>