Photo Essay: At a Half-Mile-Long Table, Chefs, Farmers, and Volunteers Feed a Neighborhood for Free

In St. Paul, Minnesota, artist Seitu Jones wanted to start a community-wide conversation about food access and food justice—and where better to talk than over a good meal?

Why you can trust us

By Valerie Schloredt

3 MIN READ

Nov 26, 2014

Artist Seitu Jones was troubled to see people relying on convenience foods because healthy shopping choices are difficult in his St. Paul, Minn., neighborhood. Jones wanted to start a community-wide conversation about food access and food justice—and where better to talk than over a good meal?

With the help of Public Arts St. Paul, funders, farmers, chefs, and 400 volunteers, Jones created a free dinner of ginger chicken, green vegetables, collard greens, beans, rice, and apple cider for 2,000 guests. Poetry and choreographed table service made the event a meal to remember. Next on the menu for Jones’ multiyear project, Create: The Community Meal, are mobile demonstration kitchens and classes on affordable, healthy cooking.

The following photos were taken Sunday, September 14, on St. Paul’s Victoria Street.

Valerie Schloredt is the former books editor at YES!, where she led print and online coverage of literature, media, and film, with a focus on social change movements. Valerie worked for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies in London for seven years, has followed the police reform process in Seattle as a citizen activist since 2010, and continues to monitor developments in both London and Seattle. She lives in Seattle, and speaks English.

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