July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

UCLA CALPIRG hosts “Zero Hunger” Art Gallery

By Staff Writer

The UCLA chapter of the California Public Interest Group (CALPIRG) hosted an art gallery on May 19 showcasing the stories and artwork from students who have been personally affected by food insecurity.

The goal of the art gallery was to humanize and personalize the widespread issue of hunger on college campuses. Featured were photographs of students along with their stories of personal struggles with food insecurity, a poem about one student’s difficulties in succeeding at school while being unable to afford basic meals and multiple statements from students asking for the university to make a change.

“2 out of 5 students right here on our campus don’t know where their next meal is coming from or aren’t getting food that is nutritious enough to actually be healthy to be successful at one of the most competitive universities in the world,” said CALPIRG UCLA Chapter Chair and Zero Hunger Campaign Coordinator Sithara Menon. “We know that it is possible to end food insecurity and that we have all the resources to do it. We just need to actually commit UCLA to ending hunger!”

40 percent of undergraduate students are experiencing food insecurity, according to the UC Global Food Initiative. Meaning, nearly half undergraduate students experience limited access to food or disrupted eating patterns due to limited resources. Meanwhile, the average college wastes about 142 pounds of food per student each year. CALPIRG advocates for a comprehensive plan to redirect these unused and underused resources to students who are food insecure.

The Zero Hunger campaign has been raising awareness for this issue on campus, gathering nearly 1,000 student petitions in support of ending hunger on campus and collecting letters from students addressed directly to Chancellor Gene D. Block asking for a change. Menon worked with several members from the UCLA Undergraduate Student Associated Council (USAC) to sponsor a zero hunger resolution, and last month, USAC unanimously passed a resolution that calls for Chancellor Block to commit UCLA to ending student hunger by 2025.

UCLA student and CALPIRG intern Yael Mendoza posing next to his photo and story with food insecurity. 

The Zero Hunger campaign has also been in collaboration with other groups that are fighting to end hunger on campus, such as Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit organization founded at UCLA that runs meal plan swipe donation drives each quarter. They have collaborated on visibility events, homelessness awareness week, and they helped push for a Zero Hunger campus commitment. CALPIRG has also been working with the Community Programs Office, which runs the on-campus food pantry, to start putting together a campus plan to address food insecurity.

“We are partnering with CALPIRG and Swipe Out Hunger to end this issue. This is a huge issue, and it isn’t going to go away with just one of us. We really need a united effort from all UCLA students!” said Elan Karlin, the current president of Challah for Hunger, a student organization that bakes and sells challah bread and donates all proceeds to the LA Food Bank and the advocacy group for college food insecurity, MAZON. CALPIRG and Challah for Hunger have worked together to organize challah bakes and gather letters to Chancellor Gene Block that advocate for the zero hunger initiative.

in News
Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...