Food for Thought VIII: Changing School Districts and Dining Halls at Home & Abroad with Marielle Williamson
We are delighted to shine a spotlight on Marielle Williamson, a remarkable Plant Futures student advocating for plant-centric living and positive change both at home and abroad in China. Her journey, experiences, and ongoing efforts in advocacy make her a truly inspiring individual.
Marielle, currently a student at Duke University graduating in the Class of 2027, has a deep passion for international food policy. Throughout her studies abroad at 昆山 Duke University, she has immersed herself in the Chinese culture and language, and sought to build connections abroad, recognizing the significance of global collaboration in addressing food and climate challenges.
Read our interview with Marielle below:
Q: How did you decide to study abroad in China?A: Chinese is the second most spoken language in the world, making building connections abroad instrumental to tackling global food and climate policy. In China, the plant-based movement is small but ever-growing, with thousands of organizations seeking to find ways to expand there. I chose to study abroad in China to immerse myself in an entirely different culture, connect with plant-based organizations and people in the APAC region, and to build language skills that will support me towards an international food policy career.
Q: Can you share your most surprising experience with Chinese cuisine?A: What surprised me most about Chinese cuisine (outside of the sheer amount of tofu available) is the prevalence of Buddhism. I spent the Mid-Autumn festival in Beijing, and found that like Shanghai, there are several Buddhist buffets that are vegetarian, mostly vegan. I was also surprised by the extent of the value put into meal times and cooking—I’m used to dinner being just another part of the day, yet in China, food was always an experience.
Q: How did you get involved with Plant Futures at DKU?I got started with Plant Futures DKU by, surprisingly, finding there was already a group in the works! Helene Gu (junior) and Keyi Shi (graduate student) were in the process of finalizing the establishment of a vegetarian club, which became Plant Futures. Their efficiency in scheduling meetings with cafeteria staff is what allowed us to begin introducing plant-based options within a few weeks—whole food products like tofu skin, eggplant, quinoa, chickpeas, and even specialty foods like tofu bibimpap and alternative chicken.
Q:Can you tell us about some of the organization's other wins? A: By the end of the semester, our push for a salad bar was successful, with vegan protein options like red beans, chickpeas, and stringed tofu among others. I ALSO established a solid connection with Oatly’s sales manager in Shanghai, and we were able to introduce one of their ice creams in our family mart. We also attended the China Vegan Society in November, making lasting connections with businesses whose products we are currently working to include on campus. Because of our approach to advocacy, the student response was mostly positive, with many eager to try new and healthier foods.
Q: You recently made headlines for suing the Los Angeles School District for the right to advocate for plant-based options. Can you tell us about the case?A: Inclusion of all perspectives is critical in any context—without hearing every voice, we can’t find common ground and resolution in conflicts that affect us all. The American food system is incredibly biased, even down to research towards dietary requirements for school cafeterias. The USDA, also the funders of the “Got Milk?” Campaign, have policies in place that prevent any discussion or “spread of information that may restrict the sale of dairy” on school premises. Our lawsuit argues that students need to be allowed to not just learn, but talk about why dairy is problematic: for health, equity, the environment, and for animals.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced during the suit?A: The biggest challenge in the early stages of the case was the backlash. It’s easy to twist this story into something it’s not with a catchy headline, however those who actually read the articles held unwavering support. I hope that our victory with the Los Angeles School District has shed stronger light on the dairy industry’s stranglehold over not just schools, but restaurants, hospitals, institutions all over the country. School and college campuses are now predominantly Gen Z — a generation that does not like cow’s milk, and has a knack for speaking their minds.
Q: Why is it so important to focus on educating and empowering students in our efforts to reform the food system? A: Future leaders are shaped in classrooms and lecture halls every day. Students recognize the urgency of climate change, the need for equity, and the ethics behind the choice not to consume animal products. We see the wrong with valuing profit over people, and are constantly digging into these systems and finding ways to counter oppressive laws that have been put in place for decades.
Q: How can youth leaders get involved in advocacy today?A: There are hundreds of ways the next generation of leaders can contribute to sustainability. With social media at the forefront of networking, students know how to share and find resources, communities, and people across platforms. We’ve never had more opportunities than we do today, and are taking advantage of them with the support of a multitude of advocacy organizations and each other. The interconnectedness we’ve built on social media has led to impactful projects, collaborations, and incredible, lasting communities like Plant Futures Initiative.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Marielle for her ongoing efforts in advocacy and change-making. Her commitment to promoting plant-centric living, challenging biased systems, and empowering the next generation of leaders is truly commendable.
Marielle in the News:
