Our Vision

What is Desert Kitchen Collective?

Desert Kitchen Collective (DKC) is a growing group of Dayton-based students, faculty, artists, designers, citizens and activists seeking to eradicate hunger, promote food justice, and build awareness around multiple food-related issues. We view food culture as a means to build bridges between disparate communities and help us talk about important but challenging topics such as race, equity and health care. Member faculty at the University of Dayton have teamed up with local community partners such as Gem City Market, The Dayton FoodBank, Hall Hunger Initiative and Expressions of Life to both provide experiential learning opportunities for our students and to remain active and present in the local community.

The program was conceived in the Department of Art and Design and is founded on principles of socially-engaged art, anti-racism, and trans-disciplinary education. Since its inception in 2014, DKC has created opportunities for art and design students have to work alongside those from the natural and social sciences to organize art exhibitions and fund-raising events that benefit our partners. In addition to our annual event, Dinner in the Desert Kitchen, DKC works with local partners to conduct field research within downtown Dayton, and to raise awareness of food justice, food apartheid, food sovereignty, and the challenges associated with limited access to healthy, affordable, culturally relevant food.