CFL 9th Annual Sister Mary Geraldine Symposium

Center for Family Life’s 9th Annual Mary Geraldine Symposium took place on June 10. The topic of this year’s event was Building Community Alliances for Food Justice, focusing our discussion on issues related to equitable access to healthy food in low-income urban communities. The event began with an inspiring keynote address by Karen Washington, urban farmer and social justice activist, who has been a tireless advocate for food justice in her Bronx community. Later, a panel discussion featuring Patrick Curtin from Food Bank for NYC, Kady Ferguson from the Brooklyn Food Coalition, Anna Hammond, from the Sylvia Center, Paula Lukats from Just Food, and John Kixmiller, 64th Street Community Garden Coordinator and former CFL Beacon program director.

After the panel, outdoor gardening and cooking activities for attendees, youth from nearby after-school programs, and neighborhood families turned our Symposium into a community event. Participants learned to prepare and tasted some easy-to-make, healthy dishes, nutritious smoothies and even kombucha tea, while children planted seedlings to take home and care for.

We are grateful to those who came to our Symposium and contributed to a very productive discussion. You can see photos from the event below (click photos to enlarge).