Lexington's Jim Embry Chosen as Delegate to Slow Food International Congress

From our own Jim Embry, here's how we can help in his latest quest for edible and renewable sustenance for all -- the Good Food Movement:

Dear Friends,

As you see from the media release below, I have been selected to represent the USA as a delegate to the 2012 Slow Food International Congress which will happen concurrently with Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto

in Turin, Italy, Oct. 25-29, 2012. The USA is divided into 20 geographic regions and I am one of six delegates chosen to represent Region 7( KY, TN, AL, LA, MS). In total, more than 600 people applied to be part of the delegation, but only 200 were chosen nationwide. So I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to be part of this delegation. Please visit the following hyperlinks for information on the other Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto and International Congress delegates and offer them your support.

As you may know Slow Food is an international organization with a network of 100,000 members in 153 countries – grouped in 1,300 local chapters called convivia – that develops activities, projects and events at a local, regional and global level operating under the slogan "good, clean and fair." Our own Kentucky Proud, farmers markets, farm to school programs, food justice and security for consumers and production workers, food sovereignty, community and school gardening efforts, fair trade initiatives, sustainable farming methods, and eating delicious food(!) are all examples of what we mean by good...clean...and fair and are very much in alignment with the Slow Food movement.

Terra Madre/Salone is held every two years while the International Congress is held every 5 years. This is the Sixth Slow Food International Congress , and as voting members of the congress, we will be voting on a policy document called the Central Role of Food. This document focuses on the right to food - food sovereignty - and all the components of ensuring that everyone has the right to clean water, air, fertile soil, biodiversity, human health, pleasure associated with food, food knowledge, indigenous issues and social relations. I encourage you to read this document and send me your thoughts so  that I can share your ideas at the Congress

 

As a USA delegate I want to share information on the Slow Food movement and our International Congress/Terra Madre experience in Italy with as many people in Kentucky and the USA as possible. With this purpose in mind, I seek your support and ideas in these ways:

1. Speaking engagements: Please invite me to speak (or set up a photo exhibit) at schools, universities, faith congregations, community groups, restaurants, civic clubs, conferences, a house party and other venues before I go(10/20) to Italy, or after I return (11/2).
2. Attend a presentation: I have already scheduled a few presentations that will describe in words, video and photos the Terra Madre experience:

• Saturday October 6, 11:30am-1:30pm Brunch and Fundraiser for Jim Embry at Natasha's Bistro & Bar. Join me for “catch of the day” as Gene from Natasha's picks up  local produce from the Lexington Farmer's Market in the morning and prepares Saturday brunch. We will have music, poetry and a presentation on Terra Madre to accompany a delicious meal. Please RSVP. 
   
  
• Monday October 8, 7-9pm Dinner and Presentation at Good Foods Market and Cafe. Come join me for a delicious meal from our Good Foods kitchen, hear about and watch a short video on Terra Madre. Please RSVP.

3) Financial contribution: consider supporting my trip to Italy with a financial contribution which can be sent by check to: Sustainable Communities Network, PO Box 4422, Lexington KY 40544 or you can donate on line at our Sustainlex donate page. No amount is too small or too large and will be very much appreciated! And reach out to and support the other delegates in your region!

4) Be Creative: and come up with other ways that you can contribute to this experience of bringing Terra Madre, the International Slow Food Congress and the international sustainable food movement home to Lexington, Kentucky and the USA! Here are examples of loving support I have received from friends regarding my trip to Terra Madre:

• my dear friend Renee Shaw interviewed me on her show KET Connections with Jim Embry
  
• Slow Food International posted my delegate interview on their website
  
• this Urban Farm magazine Terra Madre video interview is delightful
• my longtime kindred spirit, Elaine Adams invited me to speak at the Somerset Community College International Festival

 In addition to Terra Madre check out the other grand projects of Slow Food such as:

• Thousand Gardens in Africa: we have 642 gardens in 25 African countries and encourage USA communities to adopt a garden. 
• University of Gastronomic Sciences a brand new educational concept


SLOW FOOD FOUNDATION FOR BIODIVERSITY: defends food diversity, traditional knowledge, sustainable agriculture
ABC TO SLOW FOOD: describes  terminology, history, structures and objectives
Become a Member






For more information about Terra Madre and Slow Food look at these books:

The-Slow-Food-Story by Goeff Andrews

Terra Madre by Carlo Petrini & Alice Waters

Thanks for taking time to read this long message and for all the things you do to make our beautiful state of Kentucky and the USA a place where the common health of our people, environment and economy leads to a beloved common-wealth!

 Much love and hugs to all

Jim Embry

***********************

 

Jim Embry of Lexington, KY to Represent Local and National Good Food Movements at 2012 Slow Food Conference

Lexington, KY(September 15, 2012) – From October 25-29, Jim Embry of Lexington will represent the local and national good food movements at the 2012 International Slow Food conference in Torino, Italy. Every two years, Slow Food supporters from around the world come together for Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto to share innovative solutions and time-honored traditions for feeding the planet in a good, clean, and fair way .Embry will also serve as a U.S. delegate at the International Slow Food Congress, which will be held simultaneously with Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto which is one of the world’s most important events dedicated to diverse food cultures, sustainability and biodiversity. The Slow Food Congress is a crucial meeting of Slow Food leaders from more than 150 countries that happens every five years, where management bodies are elected and decisions are made regarding Slow Food's worldwide strategies for developing the association. Embry, who is a member of the nearby Slow Food Bluegrass chapter, is a region seven representative (KY, TN, AL, LA & MS) and he will be accompanied by three other local good food advocates: Mark Williams (southeast regional governor of Slow Food USA), Maggie Galloway (co-leader of Slow Food Bluegrass) and Libby Allen (member of Slow Food Bluegrass). 

 

“What a blessing and honor it is for me to be selected to represent Kentucky and the USA at this important international convocation of world food communities who proclaim that another world with a sustainable food system that works for all is possible and necessary. As a delegate to the Congress I am very excited about the opportunity to help shape and decide the future direction of Slow Food’s global work that will continue to provide concrete and appropriately scaled solutions for some of our most vexing problems. Slow Food's Congress, Terra Madre and Salone represent the corner stones of a 21^st century food Renaissance and I am thrilled to help paint the picture,” said Jim Embry, 2012 Slow Food USA delegate.

 

This year’s delegation—a group of more than 220 individuals appointed by 20 regional selection committees to represent the food and farming issues of their communities—will provide the largest and most diverse selection of U.S. food producers, chefs and activists in attendance in Slow Food history: members from 50 farming communities spanning all sectors of the food movement from labor to production to students will participate in the extraordinary event. Please visit the following hyperlinks for information on other Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto, and International Congress delegates.

In addition to his work with Slow Food, Embry is the founder and director of the Sustainable Communities Network, a non-profit organization in Lexington that provides ideas, programs and tools to inspire community members to bring about systemic change in all of the institutions that are necessary to create sustainable cities. Locally, the organization sponsors an annual Bluegrass Local Food Summit, establishes community and school gardens around the state and is a leader of the city’s food justice work. Because of his selection as a USA delegate Jim was recently featured on the KentuckyEducational Television Connections and is highlighted on the Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto website. 

To create local awareness and support for his trip, Embry will be speaking and hosting informational dinners, photo exhibits and fundraisers at Natasha's Restaurant Oct 6, Good Foods Market & Cafe October 8, and University of Kentucky Oct 10. Other institutions, restaurants and community organizations who want to learn more about the Slow Food movement.are encouraged to invite Jim Embry to speak before or after his trip to Italy. 

 

For more information about Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto, or to schedule an interview with Embry, please contact Emily Walsh at Slow Food USA’s national office.

 Slow Food USA Emily C. Walsh, PR & Marketing Manageremilyw@slowfoodusa.org 

(718) 260 – 8000 x154

jim embry
859-270-3699
Lexington,KY
Sustainable Communities Network, http://sustainlex.org/

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