Hunger Is the Real Opponent

“Hunger is not a problem that any one university, organization, discipline or community can solve alone,” said Alicia Powers, managing director of Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute. “But when we bring together the knowledge, resources and lived experiences of people across sectors, we can move beyond simply responding to hunger and begin building systems that make food security possible for everyone. That is what makes partnerships like the one we have with Baylor so important, and why, in the fight against hunger, there is room for all of us on the winning team.” 

That belief in collaboration is also central to the Baylor Hunger Collaborative. 

Founded in 2009, the Baylor Hunger Collaborative began with the goal of ensuring every Texan had access to three nutritious meals each day. Its work has since expanded across Texas, the nation and the globe. The Hunger Collaborative partners with communities, researchers, policymakers and organizations to develop and test innovative approaches to food insecurity and scale solutions that work. 

Its mission is to cultivate scalable solutions to end hunger. Its vision is a world without hunger. 

And its core assumption is one that closely mirrors HSI's approach: no one sector can end hunger alone.  

“I have never seen a social movement or social justice happen because of one person or sector,” said Jeremy Everett, Executive Director of the Baylor Hunger Collaborative. “At the Hunger Collaborative, we work directly with those serving their communities, policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as businesses, school districts, researchers, and individuals who want to make a difference. There is room at the table for everybody, and we want everybody to be there together.” 

On the football field, Auburn and Baylor will spend four quarters trying to outplay each other. 

In the fight against hunger, the philosophy is different. 

The more people and organizations that bring their knowledge, resources and experience to the table, the stronger the response can become. 

That is why both the Hunger Solutions Institute and the Baylor Hunger Collaborative emphasize partnerships. 

At Auburn University, HSI facilitates collaboration and impact at local, state, national and global levels. Its programs address hunger from multiple directions because food insecurity itself is not a problem with a single cause or a single solution.  

At Baylor, the Hunger Collaborative approaches solving hunger through three interconnected principles: multisector collaboration, shared power and collective impact. Its work combines public service, research and education, and strategic partnerships.  

The message from both institutions is clear. Hunger is bigger than any one organization. It is bigger than any one campus, and it is bigger than any one community. That is precisely why solving it requires everyone at the table.

The football field provides a powerful backdrop for that message. 

Auburn and Baylor will arrive in Atlanta representing different conferences, different traditions and different fan bases. Their players will spend the afternoon competing for the same thing every team wants on opening day: a win. 

But the universities also represent something larger. 

Both have built organizations dedicated to addressing hunger through research, partnerships, innovation and community engagement. 

Both recognize that food insecurity affects more than whether someone has enough to eat on a particular day. It can influence health, education, economic stability and the ability of individuals and families to thrive. 

The Hunger Collaborative's work, for example, combines research with real world practice, allowing researchers and community partners to test strategies, learn from results and refine approaches that can be used elsewhere.  

The Hunger Solutions Institute similarly brings together partnerships involving varied academic and industry expertise to devise and advance innovative solutions to hunger and food insecurity.  

In other words, the work is not about finding a single hero. It is about building a stronger team. 

When Auburn and Baylor take the field September 5, only one team will leave with a victory, but the fight against hunger is different. There is room for everyone on the winning side. 

The Auburn and Baylor football programs may be opponents for an afternoon, but the Hunger Solutions Institute and the Baylor Hunger Collaborative demonstrate what can happen when people set competition aside and work toward a common goal. 

The lesson is simple. Some opponents are meant to be defeated alone. Hunger is not one of them. Hunger is the real opponent, and beating it will take all of us.