Participants will gather around a topic of common interest or involvement, sharing current challenges and possible actions that will help us overcome food insecurity together.

Round Table Topics & Lead Facilitators

Urban Farming & Environment | Room 217A
Dimka Braswell, Co-Director, Philadelphia Food Advisory Council and Farm Administrator, Futurist Farms & Community Garden/FAC

Food Banks, Distributors & Transportation | Room 217C
Rev. Vito Baldini, Executive Director, Small Things, Inc.

Grocery Stores, Markets & Corner Stores | Room 223
Alicja Spauding, Associate Professor, St. Josephs University

Food Pantries & Meal Providers | Room 217D
Chef Kory Smith, Managing Director & Executive Chef, Philly People of Hope; Owner of Slowcooking, LLC

Health & Nutrition | Room 217B
Erin Morton, Executive Director, Philadelphia Coalition for Health and Nutrition

Restaurants & Businesses | Room 206
Elias Bitar, Normas Restaurant

Community Empowerment | Room 200A
Ericka Gaines, Director of Community Empowerment, Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia; Director, Communities That Care Coalition of North Philadelphia

Food Services for Seniors, Disabilities, & Other Vulnerable Communities | Room 220
Yvonne Hughes, COO, SCOPE, assisted by Jean Kirkley, CEO, Boomers R’ Heroes

Youth Skit Preparation | Student Cinema on Ground Floor
Led by Dianna Coleman, Clean Water Action

During the time of Round Table discussions, we are bringing together youth to prepare a skit covering food in some humorous way from farm to market to table and various challenges therein.  They will present the skit during the welcome session before the panel, and hopefully in the future at various schools.