Ending Campus Hunger with Sam Laban

Hunger shouldn’t be part of getting a degree. Campus Hunger isn't about bad budgeting. It's about broken systems.

 

In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, Sam Laban, manager of the Guelph Lab, shares how institutions can stop treating student hunger as a rite of passage. He walks us through the power of data, student leadership, and bold university-led programs that tackle food insecurity at the root.

 

Sam also challenges the toxic myth that hunger is just “part of the experience.” It’s not. It’s a barrier to graduation, mental wellness, and long-term stability. 

 

The cost of ignoring it is far greater than the cost of solving it.

 

This is for people who believe that access to food should never be the thing that stands between someone and their future. 

 

Tune in now and explore what it really means to build hunger-free campuses because no student should have to choose between learning and eating.

 

▶️  Ending Campus Hunger with Sam Laban

 

Sam Laban is in charge of the day-to-day management of the Guelph Lab. He is responsible for developing and managing projects, designing and facilitating workshops, developing partnerships, and brokering research/scholarly work. He works with City of Guelph staff, University staff, faculty and students, as well as with citizens of all stripes (businesses, community organizations and groups, individuals) to develop promising solutions to pressing challenges facing the region.

 

Website: https://www.cesinstitute.ca/sam-laban

https://www.guelphlab.ca/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-laban-a5368833/

 

Suman Roy is a globally recognized leader in food security, poverty reduction, and community resilience. As the founder of Feed Scarborough and a key force behind Hunger-Free Canada and the Zero Hunger Project, he is dedicated to ensuring no one goes to bed hungry. He played a pivotal role in crafting Toronto’s first Food Strategy and has represented Canada at the United Nations and FAO to champion sustainable development goals. With multiple global leadership awards, including CEO of the Year (NGO) and Visionary of the Year, Suman is a sought-after expert on global food security. His mission is clear: to create a hunger-free, resilient future for all.

 

Website: https://sumanroy.ca/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roy4ward20#  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefsuman/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefsuman/ 

X: https://x.com/chefsuman 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWrU2TbiLazorpOHjsDJhkA 

 

Stacia Neale, M.A., is a seasoned professional dedicated to fostering equality, representation, and social justice. With a background in sociology and decades of experience across entrepreneurial, non-profit, and corporate sectors, she brings a unique perspective to addressing systemic challenges. During the pandemic, she launched The Skills Audit, a transformative program empowering individuals to articulate their professional ident