Empowering Community Leadership: Perspectives of Peer Mentors Facilitating a Food Pantry-Based Nutrition Education Program

Tracy L Oliver; Lisa K Diewald; Amy McKeever; Cerena A George; Rebecca Shenkman

doi:10.3390/ijerph20032604

Empowering Community Leadership: Perspectives of Peer Mentors Facilitating a Food Pantry-Based Nutrition Education Program

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 31;20(3):2604. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032604.

Authors

Tracy L Oliver¹, Lisa K Diewald^{1

2}, Amy McKeever¹, Cerena A George¹, Rebecca Shenkman^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.
² MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.

Abstract

Peer Mentors (PMs) are valuable health educators within food-insecure communities; however, little is known about PMs' perspectives and experiences after serving in their peer mentor role. Therefore, this qualitative study explored PMs' (n = 10) perceptions and analyzed data using thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Four themes emerged: (1) Successes and Struggles in Sharing Nutrition Knowledge; (2) Establishing a Conducive Learning Environment; (3) The Peer Mentor and Mentee Connection: Impact of Shared Experiences; (4) Empowerment of the Peer Mentor Experience. PMs have many advantages; however, more research is needed to evaluate the sustainability and efficacy of PMs within food-insecure communities.

Keywords: community health educators; food insecurity; food pantry; peer mentors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Leadership
Mentoring*
Mentors*
Peer Group
Power, Psychological
Program Evaluation
Qualitative Research

Grants and funding

This project was financially supported through the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Research Grant and Villanova University’s Falvey Memorial Library Scholarship Open Access Reserve (SOAR) Fund.