Episode 590 –  A food story with Sarah Germany

• Welcome QFY fans
• Today I have a treat for you
• And this is not just because we talk about food – but it certainly is part of it
• Sarah Germany and I sat down over Zoom together and as you will hear in the conversation that follows, she had me speechless
• I have heard many life-transformative stories over the years
• But Sarah’s story is unique – in a special way
• There is a thread that weaves through her life and its called a passion for food
• This passion however, at the same time created many problems for Sarah and for the people she observed around her
• Most of us may tackle personal challenges by finding answers and trying to address the problem
• Sarah did that as well – but she didn’t stop there
• In this interview Sarah shares her story with food
• It’s not a story about losing weight, although Sarah did accomplish that
• It’s a story about dietary transformation through education and communication
• And Sarah is an expert on both
• I have had my share with dietary experiments over the years.
• But I have never heard or read anything as comprehensive as what Sarah shares in our conversation
• She understand food because she lives food
  • She cooks food,
  • she grows food,
  • she experiments with food, and
  • she educates others about it
• Sarah made food her mission because she knows that at its core – that food can make us sick but can also heals us
• Her message is very clear – its not about denying ourselves as so many people tell us these days
• She loves food, and she wants people to enjoy the foods they love
• Her work is about redefining food, opening our minds to a world of food many people know only a part of it because they have never been exposed to
• And she takes that work into communities that need it most
  • Communities like East Oakland, where she lives
• You don’t want to miss this conversation
  • We talk about Okra
  • We talk about fun food – and you need to listen to find out what that is
  • We talk about McDonalds French fries and
  • We talk about how to get kids to eat veggies
• This was the most comprehensive conversation covering all matters of food that I have ever had
• Sarah is hilarious – you can hear me cracking up
• The audio is sadly not the best, but I tried to beef it up as much as my limited editing capabilities allowed me
  • There will be small pieces that are not good to hear but you will get message overall

• And – most importantly – your friends and colleagues need to hear this interview
• Sarah’s work is so critical and we need to help spread the word
• Please forward this episode
• Share it with people you know and encourage them to share it
• Her current project is called Building Bridges Food & Conversation
• You can learn more about this project and support it by going to IG – the foodcommonewealt
• You can check Sarah and her work out via tasteandtexture.com
• I will link to both in the shownotes
• And also
• Sarah speaks about her book that shares her food story and she is in the process of looking for a publisher
• If you can help her with some advice that you may have or even just point her in a specific direction – please reach out to me or Sarah
• Please enjoy this interview
• And as is the case for all episodes I release – where I always encourage you – take some action
• Progress comes from taking Action
• And the conversations I bring you are examples of people taking massive action
• Sarah is one of the best examples
• Your action can start by supporting projects like hers
• Much love my friends
• Stay safe and please – cook something healthy this weekend!

Building Bridges Food & Conversation: There’s Healing at the Table Ya’ll

Building Bridges Food & Conversation: There’s Healing at the Table Ya’ll is one component of our mission to make Wellness the New Black. Kitchen table conversations heal wounds and right now our communities need healing. In this current climate of assessing how equality is lacking in our nation, it is critical to include food, whole food, and its vital importance to increasing the overall quality of life for people of color.

Diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in cholesterol and artificial sugars yield longer, healthier lives, while empty calories, poverty-exacerbated ills like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity are just as fatal as bullets.

In a two-part interdisciplinary dialogue with practitioners from 12 key community resources, we will explore the intersections of food and racial justice, discuss the challenges of wellness in a pandemic and identify concrete healing actions steps for ourselves and our community.

Part one Kitchen Table Conversations: Each guest will work in triads w/ Chef Sarah to create their meal of choice using our weekly CSA box (provided by Castlemont Farm) as the inspiration.   This can happen live using the outdoor kitchen at the Farm, or can be done via Zoom, guests’ preference.  While making the meal together, guests will have the opportunity to engage in informal conversation about their work, the pandemics we are navigating, and the health and wellness practices that keep them energized.  The camaraderie developed will help to set the tone for the more formal conversations that will take place in part two.  This process will be recorded and shared during the second part of our time together.

Part two Community Dialogue  These same guests will engage in a more formal conversation moderated by Zimbabwe Davies and Sarah Germany.  Community groups will be invited to join and will have the opportunity to ask questions.  The conversations will be centered around three key questions:

1. Given the current heighten state of racial injustices, our nation’s history and your own life lived experiences, both personally and professionally, what are your recommendations on creating wide-spread public safety in all communities? Do you believe that there is a viable recipe for that?
2. In terms of economic wellness, we know that our communities are already struggling in this COVID life. What are your practices and recommendations for navigating the new normal? And do you have any information/tips/technics/resources to share?
3. How can voting in November shift the change we want to see?

A final conversation will bring all twelve practitioners together.

Part 1: Select a Cooking Session:

• Vegan Bibimbap: Friday 7/24 or Sunday 8/2
• Farm Box Pasta (making pasta from scratch – great for kids): Monday 7/27 or Wednesday 7/29
• Smoked Fish (charcoal grill required): Thursday 7/23 or Thursday 7/30
• Marinades, Sauces & Rubs – Ribs, Chicken or Tofu: Saturday 7/25 or Saturday 8/1

Part 2: Select a conversation dates – 8/16, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13, 9/20 & 9/27

Part 3: We are all in this together next steps: Monday 10/12 or best option for the majority

Your Hosts:

Chef and Moderator

Sarah Germany is a chef, educator and writer who provides hands-on nutrition, health and wellness education to low income communities of color. She is currently seeking representation her first full-length work, Stories from the Kitchen: There’s Healing at the Table, Ya’ll.

Moderator

Zimbabwe Davies, a native West Oaklander, is a producer, filmmaker, certified coach and foster youth advocate.

Invited Guests

OUSD – Malik Edwards (Retired Black Panther)

Mental Health/Youth Development – Shawana Booker, CSW

Youth (Female)-??

Youth ( Male) – Johnny Brooks

Arts/Entertainment – Papi Fields

City Gov’t- Mya Whitaker

Health & Wellness – RoseSharon Oates

Child Development – Rha Bowden

Emotional Health/Trauma – ??

Arts/Literature -??

Law Enforcement -??

Agriculture – Matthew Lin, Farmer

Economic Development -??