Just Food: Food and Culture (2023-2024) Campus Kitchen’s annual event series examines the ways in which food systems interact with issues of social justice.

By Emily Innes
September 27, 2023

Join the Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee (CKWL) for the 2023-24 event series Just Food: Food and Culture. This year’s series examines the intersection of food systems and social justice, offering valuable opportunities for W&L students, the campus community and the wider Lexington-Rockbridge community to explore how food interplays with cultural development.

“We are excited to announce this year’s Just Food series theme of food and cultural heritage,” said Ryan Brink, assistant director of the Shepherd Program and CKWL coordinator. “We will be exploring the ways food can serve as a connection between humans and their environment, facilitating the development of traditions and cultures based on the ecosystems that different groups find themselves in.”

To learn more about the events listed below and to and stay up-to-date on programming, visit the Just Food webpage.

“Gather” Film Screening
Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. | Stackhouse Theater
Join CKWL and the Native American and Indigenous Cohort for a screening of the 2020 film, “Gather.” The film is an intimate portrait of the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.

Garden Exchange with Virginia Tech
Friday, Oct. 13 from 2-5 p.m. | W&L Campus Garden
Students and faculty involved with the Virginia Tech Indigenous Community Garden will visit the W&L Campus Garden for shared learning, outdoor cooking and a communal meal. This event is presented by the Department of Earth and Environmental Geoscience at W&L and features Mae Hey, assistant professor of history at Virginia Tech, as the guest speaker.

Food and Social Entrepreneurship with Rebecca Bakare ’19
Monday, Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Join CKWL and the African Society at W&L for a panel discussion with Rebecca Bakare ’19, who will be discussing her work with Mama’s Creation Foods to advance women’s economic empowerment and sustainable sourcing in Africa. Bakare is an award-winning, impact-driven entrepreneur focused on using market-based interventions to enable prosperous and healthy lives for all in harmony with nature. Register for the Zoom Webinar here.

Third Annual Indigenous Community Meal
Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. | Evans Dining Hall
Presented by CKWL, the Native American Student Organization and the Native American and Indigenous Cohort, the evening will feature a menu that highlights indigenous ingredients and techniques and include guided discussions around the history of colonization in America, indigenous sovereignty and the complexities of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Food and Cultural Development with Fabio Parasecoli
Monday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Join CKWL and the university’s sociology and anthropology department for a lecture by Fabio Parasecoli, Professor of Food Studies at New York University Steinhardt, and a fellow at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Parasecoli’s research explores the cultural politics of food, particularly in media, design and heritage, and his talk will focus on the role of food in cultural development. Register for the Zoom Webinar here.

Food and the Jewish Diaspora with Leah Koenig
Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Cookbook author Leah Koenig will discuss her experience exploring the similarities and differences in Jewish cuisine and culture across the Jewish Diaspora and her newest cookbook, “Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen.” The event is presented by CKWL and W&L Hillel. Register for the Zoom Webinar here.

“Seeds of Vandana Shiva” Film Screening
Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. | Stackhouse Theater
CKWL and W&L’s Environmental Studies Program present a screening of the 2022 film “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva.” The feature-length documentary presents the remarkable life story of Gandhian eco-activist and agro-ecologist, Vandana Shiva.

Food and the Muloma Heritage Center with Chef Adrian Lipscombe
Monday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Join CKWL for a presentation from chef Adrian Lipscombe about the work of the Muloma Heritage Center, a non-profit organization that serves as an educational, culinary and pastoral destination exploring the African Atlantic influences in American culture and their contribution to American cuisines that bridge the gap between the past, present and future. Register for the Zoom Webinar here.