PORTFOLIO
While interconnected, my work broadly fits into the four boxes of ‘education’, ‘art’, ‘events’, and ‘consulting’. In each box ‘Cake & Conversation’ are fused to create learning, strategic action, and joy for social change.
I look forward to helping you create the ‘Cake & Conversation’ experience that is right for you, your group or your organization.
EDUCATION
Food is a basic need, a social glue, and a gateway to everything that can be learned about the world. From art to culture to science to well-being: food – and cake specifically – can unlock the troubles and wonders of human existence and open up the way for learning. I have created educational experiences for a variety of academic and community audiences, including academics, teachers, college students, high school students, and practitioners.
I offer workshops and lectures on a variety of topics around food and social justice and am more than happy to be part of a panel discussion or community event.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GREEN GARDEN BAKERY
Baking and learning experience for and with Green Garden Bakery Youth (Summer 2021)
Green Garden Bakery is a youth enterprise based out of the Heritage Park neighborhood in North Minneapolis that operates an urban garden and produces and sells eco-friendly, vegetable-based desserts.
The summer experience was centered around basic concepts and techniques of baking with local and seasonal ingredients. The main goals were to experiment with flavor combinations, visual presentation as well as considerations around production, marketing, sustainability, and social change.
SOCIAL STUDIES: A PIECE OF CAKE
Class taught at Paladin Career and Technical High School (School year 2019/2020)
Cake is the perfect medium to get students excited about social studies. By investigating its main ingredients – flour, sugar, butter, and eggs – a lot can be learned about history, civics, economics, and geography.
This month-long class was designed to integrate thinking and baking skills. One week was devoted to each ingredient which – after four days of learning about the ingredient – was highlighted in a compare-and-contrast baking session and taste test.
COOK, EAT AND THINK.
BUILDING COMMUNITY AND LEARNING THROUGH FOOD
Presentation given at the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs (MAAP) Annual Conference in Duluth (2020)
Food is not only a basic need and a great relationship and community builder. While cooking and eating are great ways to build connection and trust, food also is a great medium to make content area learning such as science, social studies, and even math relevant to students. The presentation highlighted ways in which food can be leveraged to not only promote social emotional learning but also promote the acquisition of academic knowledge.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMMING
Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg University (2018)
Co-planned and organized a field trip, workshop, and panel discussion on the relationship of food and peacemaking.
Aeroponics vs. Regenerative Agriculture?: Pre-Forum field trip to “Living Greens Farm” (Faribault) and “Mainstreet Project” (Northfield)
“The New Green Revolution”: Day-long workshop devoted to exploring various ways of promoting sustainable agriculture in the face of a growing world population, climate change, and rapid urbanization.
“Farmers as Peacemakers”: Panel discussion with Meg Moynihan (Minnesota Department of Agriculture), Precious Phiri (Africa Centre for Holistic Management) and Jason Amundsen (Locally Laid)