May 2: Brooklyn Food Conference

Does everyone know about the free Brooklyn Food Conference, a local event focusing on food issues in Brooklyn, which will take place in Park Slope on May 2nd? Location: John Jay High School and PS 321.

Well, now you know.

From school lunches or the rise in diabetes, escalating food costs, immigration or farmers markets, local food challenges and delights, food touches us all. At the Brooklyn Food Conference you'll have the opportunity to learn from experts and neighbors about all the ways that the Food System affects us and how you can get involved.

The conference is co-sponsored by the Park Slope Food Coop, World Hunger Year, Brooklyn Rescue Mission, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, and Brooklyn’s Bounty.

Here' s what they're planning to do: The day will start with a New Orleans-style parade featuring massive puppets! This will be followed by speakers, food demos, and kids’ activities; lunch, dinner, and a dance. The conference will be FREE to all participants.

Meet well-known activists and writers like Dan Barber, executive chef and owner of Blue Hill Restaurant, Anna Lappé,  author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, Raj Patel author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System and LaDonna Redmond, head of the Institute of Community Resource Development in Chicago.

Partners include over 50 organizations, including Just Food, CAMBA, Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, Center for the Urban Environment, Children’s Aid Society, Garden of Union, Grassroots Netroots Alliance, New York Coalition Against Hunger, East New York Farms, Restaurant Opportunity Center, United Food and Commercial Workers.

They welcome donations from individuals and funding from foundations and food companies. Interested in volunteering?

--There's a volunteer outreach meeting at Congregation Beth Elohim on March 19th at 7 p.m.