Service, Justice, and Brown Fried Rice: Community MVPs Deliver Workshop #1

We hear them all the time: “So…Brainfood does food access for teenagers, right?” or “If you’re a public health organization, shouldn’t you be tracking your students’ weight loss?” or “I knew a drop in center that basically offered Brainfood programs for kids.”  

Misconceptions abound about youth development, food education models, and what it means to let youth build their own programs at Brainfood.  Some days, we laugh it off with a co-worker and swap stories about our individual messaging campaigns that haven't hit home yet with some of our closest family members and friends.

But some days, feeling like people don’t see the totality of our work can feel heavier.  Some days, the voice of doubt keeps nagging you, making you wonder if what happens in our kitchen is really social justice work at all.  Does making vegan pumpkin muffins as a group build a more just society?  Is letting students vote on what recipes to make really justice practice?  And how does it all stack up against those images in our head of social justice being about rallies and marches, big signs and bigger crowds?

This weekend, our Brainfood Community MVPs made us proud by tackling those big questions and fielding even more from an enthusiastic crowd at the second annual Service 2 Justice conference.  They represented Brainfood and themselves with honesty, humor, and warmth during their workshop on how Brainfood’s programs encompass both service provision and justice work.  
While we can’t replicate the moment when Jordyn’s mom made our hearts melt with an impromptu testimonial, and we can’t possible convey how veteran volunteers Kim and Mary Jo wowed the audience, we can share a quick peek into the first Community MVPs workshop of the year.

One of the toughest jobs during the workshop belonged to our awesome emcees.  They kept the workshop moving along, made sure we didn't fall too far behind, and introduced our panelists.

Does that seem like a lot of teachers standing at the front of the room?  It's no small thing to present with your peers, and we're so proud of the way that MVPs supported and encouraged each other through the process.

That's Ay, leading her cooking group solo, fielding questions about different types of cooking oil, and making sure that audience members rolled up their sleeves and got cooking.

Thanks for bringing your energy, your hearts, and your wise voices to a new space, Community MVPs.  Justice is joyful too.  Thank you for never letting us forget what that looks like.  Cheers to many more workshops to come!
 

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