'Thought for Food' Series Explores Impact of Local, Global Food Practices and Policies
February 23, 2012
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
"Thought for Food," a semester-long event series sponsored by the University of Baltimore's Helen P. Denit Honors Program, will explore and challenge commonly-held perceptions of food and agricultural policies from a variety of perspectives, local to global. The series, held at various locations on the UB campus, invites audiences to attend films and guest speaker events, as well as show support for a capstone service project that will place UB students in a location in Guatemala this summer. An R.S.V.P. is requested for all "Thought for Food" events. Details are as follows:
Monday, March 5, 2-4:30 p.m.: "Feed Your Head: A Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion," in the Langsdale Library Auditorium, 1420 Maryland Ave. With Food, Inc., documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner reveals the connections between the nation's food manufacturing companies and the regulatory agencies that dictate policies concerning production and nutrition, and, in turn, how those connections drive consumer decisions and, ultimately, our health. For millions of Americans, establishing a sustainable diet is an everyday struggle: From the "food deserts" that plague cities like Baltimore and contribute to obesity and poverty, to the federal subsidies that build unseen walls among various socioeconomic groups, food and nutrition are an important but often unrecognized part of modern politics. Following the screening of this Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Feed Your Head" will offer a panel discussion about smaller-scale, local agriculture as a viable alternative to industrialized food production. Guest speakers from Maryland Hunger Solutions, the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, and Civic Works Real Food Farm will lead the talk. Following the dialogue, attendees can learn about the Denit Honors Program's Alternative Spring Break at Baltimore's Real Food Farm. Free and open to the public. R.S.V.P. here.
Tuesday, April 10 (time to be announced): "Get FRESH! Documentary Screening and Fundraiser for Guatemala Student Service Experience," in the Bogomolny Room in the Student Center, 21 W. Mt. Royal Ave. Join us for an evening of film, local food and a provocative and inspiring discussion with special guest Ana Joanes, producer and director of FRESH! This documentary has been described as the follow-up to Food, Inc., because it celebrates the successes of the farmers, policymakers and consumers who are reinventing the nation's food system. Along with a screening and discussion about the film, this fundraiser will provide details about the Denit Honors Program's summer trip for students. In July, a group of honors students will travel to Central America to help improve the lives of indigenous Mayan community members near Antigua, Guatemala. Each student will build an energy-efficient stove for a deserving family—a specific cooking location that will reduce the likelihood of chronic lung illnesses, blindness and other maladies, and even early death, brought on by the residents' use of open fires for cooking in their homes. The students' individual $1,650 program fee pays for all materials as well as the labor of a local mason who will help them build the stoves. Additional details and an R.S.V.P. for this event are coming soon.
The Helen P. Denit Honors Program prepares University of Baltimore students for the 21st century by empowering them with the skills and habits of mind necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing and increasingly interdependent world. Denit Honors signature events enhance the academic experience with opportunities that cultivate leadership, personal and professional development and foster a commitment to civic engagement and cultural diversity. For more information, contact Kelly McPhee.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and the Merrick School of Business.