Urban farmer, author Allen to highlight National Food Day events at UW-Green Bay

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is partnering with The Readers Loft bookstore to bring renowned urban farmer and author Will Allen to campus as part of National Food Day Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc. and author of The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities, will deliver a keynote address at 6 p.m. in the Phoenix Room of the University Union on campus, 2420 Nicolet Drive.

Allen is a MacArthur Genius Award recipient whose small partnership on Milwaukee’s north side has won attention nationally and beyond from those who advocate for sustainable food systems. Growing Power bills its mission as transforming communities by providing healthy and affordable food and promoting Community Food Centers through training, demonstration, outreach and technical assistance. The organization states its goal is “to grow food, to grow minds, and to grow community.”

Allen’s talk is part of the larger UW-Green Bay discussion of National Food Day, a movement favoring citizen involvement in sustainable food and locally sourced food, where practical. The UW-Green Bay event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Phoenix Room of the Union. Other highlights include:

• A locally sourced, sustainably grown meal will be served, buffet-style, from 4:30-5:45 p.m. The meal is free to students, with event organizers asking community members for a voluntary $1 to $2 donation. The meal is first come, first served, as it is difficult to know how many people will be attending. The UW-Green Bay Public and Environmental Affairs Council (PEAC), SLO (Sustainable, Local, Organic) Food Alliance and Dietetics Club are organizing the meal. Locally sourced dessert and coffee will follow Allen’s talk.

• Several student groups are organizing a canned food drive. Those who are able are asked to bring canned goods to donate.

• Throughout the event, various community and campus-based organizations and businesses will be represented at informational tables. These include the following: New Leaf Food Co-op; Brown County Bee Association; Kellner Back Acre Garden CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm; Seymour Park Community Garden organization; UW-Green Bay Environmental Management and Business Institute (EMBI); PEAC; SLO Food Alliance; UW-Green Bay Dietetics Club.

For more information on Allen and Growing Power, visit www.growingpower.org.

#12-146