Application Process for the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029

“To grow your own food gives you power and dignity. You know exactly what you’re eating, because you grew it.” – Karen Washington: Food justice activist and farmer, co-founder of Black Farmer Fund.

The Periclean Scholars Class of 2029 will dedicate their three-year cohort experience to the critical issue of food apartheid and food insecurity, addressing its historical roots, systemic inequities, and community-led solutions in both our local Elon community and internationally in St. Lucia.

Food insecurity is not merely about scarcity, it is about access, justice, and dignity. In the U.S., food apartheid refers to the deliberate and structural racialized design of communities with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Globally, colonial legacies, climate change, and global capitalism continue to disrupt traditional food systems and contribute to food vulnerability in countries like St. Lucia.

The Class of 2029 will work in partnership with:

Local community stakeholders, including Elon Dining, the Campus Kitchen Project, and local non-profits addressing hunger and food justice.

Community organizations in St. Lucia, who are engaged in food sovereignty, agricultural resilience, and nutrition education.

Through these partnerships, Periclean Scholars will co-develop projects that amplify the work of those already embedded in this fight, rooted in reciprocal learning, solidarity, and justice. Scholars will examine the connections between food, health, economics, land, and community power, at home and abroad.

Application Process for the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029

Applications are currently being accepted for current first-year students (members of the Elon University Class of 2029)! The application period will close on April 4, 2026. Acceptances to the program will be made on a rolling basis as individual applications are received, and the early submission of applications is strongly encouraged.

Admission decisions will be shared prior to Fall 2026 course registration (which begins April 15, 2026).

To apply, submit an application letter that addresses the following:

1) Why Periclean?

Briefly describe why you are interested in becoming a Periclean Scholar and your motivation to commit to this 3-year academic and community engagement program focused on food apartheid/insecurity.

2) Your Strengths and What You Bring

Identify your strengths and how they may contribute to the Class of 2029’s efforts, relationships, and projects, especially in relation to food justice, equity, and global-local partnerships.

3) Reflection on Positionality, Power, and Ethical Engagement

After reading this interview with Karen Washington (https://www.karenthefarmer.com/blog/food-apartheid) write a 500-1,000-word response to the following:

Dr. Josh Lohnes argues that “food charity may relieve symptoms of hunger but fails to address the systemic roots of food insecurity.” Similarly, many international food justice interventions risk reinforcing global hierarchies, dependence, or ‘saviorism’ particularly when designed without community input or accountability. As a future Periclean Scholar, how will you approach local and global community partnerships in ways that uphold justice, dignity, and mutual empowerment? How will you:

  • Build ethical, sustainable, and reciprocal relationships with stakeholders in the U.S. and St. Lucia?
  • Challenge traditional notions of “help” and adopt a co-learning mindset?
  • Avoid common pitfalls of community-engaged work, including: romanticizing poverty, reinforcing savior mentalities, ignoring local leadership and expertise, and engaging in charity over justice?

In your response, reflect on your own identity and how your background shapes how you view the world, and how the world may view you. Consider how this might influence your work in diverse cultural contexts and what steps you’ll take to practice humility, care, and reflexivity.

4) Reference
Please provide the name and contact information (email and phone) of one Elon University faculty or staff member who can serve as a reference if needed.

************************************************************************

Please email your letter of application (as a .pdf file) to Dr. Vanessa Drew-Branch, Class of 2029 Mentor, at vdrewbranch@elon.edu.

For questions or more information, please contact:
Dr. Vanessa Drew-Branch, Class of 2029 Mentor – vdrewbranch@elon.edu