In response to growing health concerns about Chicago's kids -- including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and decreased physical activity -- several local organizations and individuals within the Chicago food community have joined together to develop new ways of sourcing, providing and thinking about food.
This newly formed group recently gathered at the Logan Square Kitchen for the inaugural Growing Healthy Kids Meet & Greet to begin their efforts.
Spearheaded by Melissa Graham, founder of Purple Asparagus,
a non-profit dedicated to bringing families back to the table, the
event focused on bringing together all city groups dedicated to
educating children about nutrition, gardening, the environment and how
to lead a healthy, sustainable life. "We wanted to provide non-profits
working with Chicago kids around issues of food and wellness an
opportunity to meet and learn more about one another so that they could
find ways to collaborate. The issues facing our city's children are
huge and daunting and not one organization can solve them alone," said
Graham.
The gathering brought together both non-profit groups and other active
school lunch partners like Chartwells Thompson Hospitality, the main
food service company for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Many of the
participating organizations work specifically with CPS to improve kids'
understanding of where food comes from and how it affects their health.
Participants included:
Academy for Global Citizenship
Chartwells Thompson Hospitality
Chicago Botanic Garden
Common Threads
Crop To Cup
Food Atelier
Fooditude
Fresh Connections
Good Food Project
Gourmet Gorilla
Grant Kessler Photography
Green City Market
Growing Power, Inc.
Healthy Schools Campaign
Logan Square Kitchen
Nora Gainer, NGD Marketing, Inc.
NURTURE
Organic Life
Purple Asparagus
Sandy Noel, District 96 Oak Park
Seven Generations Ahead
Share our Strength
Slow Food
Tev Bond, Consultant
The Kids Table
Trisha Reynolds, Consultant
Urban Worm Girl
We Farm
Chicago kids certainly deserve better food and lifestyle choices and I am eager
to hear more about this powerhouse collaboration and their future plans
-- definitely a step in the right direction.
Filed under: Chicago Botanic Garden, community, early childhood education, Eco-Friendly, Edible Garden, Fun for the Whole Family, Fun With Food, gardening, Go Green, Green City Market, health and well-being, Health and wellness
Tags: Academy for Global Citizenship, Chartwells Thompson Hospitality, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Public School lunch program, Common Threads, Crop To Cup, District 96 Oak Park, Food Atelier, Fooditude, Fresh Connections, Good Food Project, Gourmet Gorilla, Grant Kessler Photography, Green City Market, Growing Healthy Kids Meet and Greet, Growing Power, Healthy Schools Campaign, Inc., Logan Square Kitchen, NGD Marketing, Nora Gainer, NURTURE, Organic Life, Purple Asparagus, Sandy Noel, Seven Generations Ahead, Share our Strength, Slow Food, Tev Bond, The Kids Table, Trisha Reynolds, Urban Worm Girl, We Farm
Caitlin Giles
1 week, 2 days ago