Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, the Green Dining Alliance has made strides in reducing our impact on the environment by working with restaurants and bars in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the GDA would conduct on-site audits with each restaurant which would include a walk-through of their facilities, checking their trash bins, and more in-depth looks into their operations. While many restaurants are closed to the public and others are limiting their interactions with non-employees, it makes the GDA less hands-on in informing and training restaurants on ways they can become more sustainable. In addition, the GDA’s role is even more important during this time as more waste is being produced from take-out and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in restaurants.
In response to these changes, the Green Dining Alliance is hosting a day of programs geared towards sustainable practices related to food called the #EatGreenSTL Virtual Symposium: Celebrating the Local Food Movement. It will be held on Monday, June 15th at 1pm-4pm. The day will include programs featuring Victoria Donaldson (The Green Dining Alliance Program Manager), Jenn DeRose (Known & Grown STL Program Manager), a cooking demonstration with a GDA chef and more! There will be panels discussing food justice advocacy and how the community can support the local food system during this time.
Information on the #EatGreenSTL Virtual Symposium will be on the Virtual Earth Day Festival website. Below is a schedule of our programs.
1:00pm – GDA Workshop with Victoria Donaldson (Program Manager of the Green Dining Alliance)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvd–orzovGNNNVtoRYczcCcsosSojsoW1
The Green Dining Alliance’s Program Manager, Victoria Donaldson, will be hosting a workshop to help restaurants and their customers understand the impact they have through the production and consumption of food.
1:30pm – Chef Talk with Michele Coen-Racanelli (of The Dam and Michele C Catering)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsd-uvpjMvH9a5bzVImoN3cqRJ3d4-rKqx
Victoria Donaldson of the Green Dining Alliance will be hosting Michele Coen-Racanelli in discussion regarding her work as an owner and chef for The Dam and Michele C Catering. Following their discussion, Michele C. will be presenting a cooking demonstration.
2:30pm – Supporting Local Growers – A Presentation with Jenn DeRose (Program Manager of Known & Grown STL)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsc-urpjIrGtx1JwWOSryFvibAjlQtJhA-
Jenn DeRose of Known & Grown STL will be conducting a presentation on Known & Grown STL.
3:00pm – Seeing Food – Short Film Screenings & Discussion with Tosha Phonix (MCE) & Robert White III
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkce6grD4jGtVRi9gdNLjKVv-BeW8biN-p
Victoria Donaldson (GDA), Tosha Phonix (MCE), and Robert White III will be screening three short films and discussing the subject for each film.
