Food Inc. Viewing in New Orleans on May 18th
New Orleans, LA—The New Orleans Food and Farm Network, in collaboration with the Tulane School of Medicine, the Food Policy Advisory Committee and Our School at Blair Grocery, will host a dinner for faith leaders to discuss food, hunger and health in our communities on Tuesday, May 18th from 6 to 8 pm. The event will take place at Café Reconcile, located at 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, and will include a brief screening of the documentary, Food, Inc. This is an opportunity for faith leaders to join in a discussion about how to address hunger in our communities.
According to Feeding America,
1 in 8 Louisianans are at risk of hunger.
1 in 5 Louisiana children are food insecure.
There are an average of 10,000 people for every grocery store.
In New Orleans, there were 18,000 people for every grocery in 2008.
The event kicks off the our city’s participation in the Ingredients for Change Campaign, a nationwide initiative to address America’s alarming rates of obesity and other major health problems directly linked to our country’s food system.
The New Orleans Food and Farm Network was selected as one of 30 organizations around the country to participate in the Ingredients for Change Campaign, and will convene a range of related local projects to join a nationwide network of local, agricultural and public health groups working to increase the availability of nutritious food and improve their communities’ overall health. The Campaign is a collaboration of Active Voice and Participant Media.
In addition to a short film screening which will share a few clips from the movie, this event will feature a delicious meal catered by Café Reconcile. Following the film, a panel of faith leaders will share innovative ways they are bringing fresh, wholesome food to their communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss ideas over dinner and to learn about organizations in New Orleans that provide resources for food projects such as gardens and farmers markets. The event is free, but space is limited so you must RSVP in order to attend. Please contact Danielle Dinner by Monday, May 10th at the New Orleans Food and Farm Network at 864-2009 or Danielle@noffn.org to RSVP.
The event’s organizers are encouraging neighborhood organizations and religious congregations to help spread the word amongst their communities, and to also consider organizing transportation for their constituents to the screening. Organizations working on food-related initiatives are invited to get in touch to arrange for on-site education and outreach opportunities.
Food, Inc., the critically acclaimed 2009 hit documentary from Participant Media, Magnolia Pictures and River Road Entertainment, gives audiences a vivid view of industrial food production, a system that in the last 50 years has drastically changed the American diet. Scrutinizing our national agriculture and food policies, the film examines why soda and fast food are now significantly cheaper and more accessible then fresh fruits and vegetables, and how this change has directly contributed to soaring rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems. For more information, visit www.foodincmovie.com.
ABOUT ACTIVE VOICE AND THE INGREDIENTS FOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN
Active Voice, a non-profit media strategist and national organizer of the IFC Campaign uses film, television and multimedia to put a human face on pivotal social justice issues and spark social change. The year-long IFC Campaign began in June 2009 with support provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
ABOUT PARTICIPANT MEDIA
Participant produces social issue films intended to entertain audiences and inspire them to actions. Through social action campaigns accompanying each film, Participant partners with relevant organizations to create opportunities for education and direct involvement in film-specific issues. To date, Participant has developed active, working relationships with 112 non-profits, and has reached over 60 million people worldwide.
