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HELP SEND JIM EMBRY TO 2014 TERRA MADRE!!!

Lexington/Richmond, KY

Dear family and friends,

Jim Embry Selected as a U.S. Delegate

As you see from the Slow Food support letter below, I have been selected to represent the USA as a delegate to Slow Food’s Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto held in Torino, Italy, Oct. 23-27. The USA is divided into 20 geographic regions and I am one of five delegates chosen to represent Kentucky. In total, more than 500 people applied to be part of the US delegation, but only 240 were chosen nationwide. So I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be part of this delegation.

What is Slow Food?

Slow Fajahhood  is an international movement that involves millions of people dedicated to and passionate about good, clean and fair food. This includes chefs, youth, activists, farmers, fishers, educators, musicians and business people in over 150 countries; a network of around 100,000 Slow Food members linked to 1,500 local chapters worldwide, contributing through their membership fee, as well as the events and campaigns they organize; and 2,000 Terra Madre food communities who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality food around the world.

In Kentucky our own Kentucky Proud state-wide program, farmers markets, farm to school programs, community and school gardening efforts, food justice and fair trade initiatives, sustainable farming methods, and eating delicious food(!) are all examples of what we mean by good...clean...and fair.  These efforts in Kentucky are very much in alignment with the global Slow Food movement that began in Italy and has been led since 1986 by  Founder and President, Carlo Petrini.

 

Sharing Terra Madre with my community

As a USA delegate I will share information in a variety of ways on the Slow Food movement and the Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto experience with as many people in Kentucky and the USA as possible…before I go and after I return. While in Italy, we will be given many opportunities for cross-cultural learning, to share food movement success stories and lessons learned, to build relationships and bring new ideas back to the challenges still to be met here at home. 

Please Consider a 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 our website (sustainlex.org) at: Donate today. As a delegate, Slow Food will cover the cost of my conference admissions, lodging and meals while in Torino for Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto Oct 23-27. My estimated travel costs including air travel and extended stay to visit schools and small farms will be about $2500.  Any amount of financial contribution from you to cover travel expenses would be very much appreciated!

Other Ways to Provide Support

I know that some of you might want to help financially but cannot do so at this time, and I appreciate that! But consider these other ways to support my efforts to bring the Terra Madre experience back home to Kentucky and the USA. After the Terra Madre gathering, I will be visiting local farms, schools and businesses near Torino to maximize my learning experience which I will share when I return home. My goal is to engage in at least 25 community outreach activities designed to share my Terra Madre experience with others, fulfill my responsibility as a delegate and continue to build on the joy and justice of good, clean and fair food  in my local community. Here is how you can help:

  • ·         Speaking engagements: Please invite me to speak at schools, universities, faith congregations, community groups, restaurants, civic clubs, or conferences. I already have speaking engagements lined up at Somerset Community College and the University of Kentucky.
  • ·         House Party: Organize a house party or fundraising dinner before I go(10/21) to Italy, or after I return (11/2). I would show pictures of my trip, talk about Terra Madre and the local food movement.
  • ·         Photo Exhibits:  Help me organize exhibits of  my Terra Madre photos at galleries, libraries or schools in your community.
  • ·         Social Media: Please feel free to share my campaign through your social media connections or send out the media release given below to local media.
  • ·         Be Creative: and come up with other ways that you can contribute to this experience of bringing Terra Madre-Salone del Gusto and the international sustainable food movement home to Kentucky and the USA!

USA Delegation

You can glean information about the work of the USA Delegation and learn more about this amazing group of people that represent the very best of what our country’s food systems have to offer. The four other Kentucky delegates are: Heather McKeever, Richard Bell, Matt Jamie and Valerie Magnuson. Give all of them your support! 

My Previous Efforts to Bring Terra Madre Home

Here are some examples of creative support I have received from friends regarding my previous trip to Terra Madre:

 

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

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

Slow Food Companion Guide;  Slow Food Almanac 2013; The-Slow-Food-Story by Goeff Andrews;  Terra Madre by Carlo Petrini & Alice Waters.

Two years ago I moved back to Richmond where I was born and I now live on a family farm next to my 90 year old cousin. I have planted a fruit orchard, planted a huge field of wild flowers, native plants and sunflowers to feed the birds and pollinators. This year my creative energy has been directed into designing and writing my first book, A Photographic Journey to Terra Madre, which will be published in October.

Thanks for taking time to read this 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 commonwealth!

 Much love and hugs to all,

Jim Embry

Slow Food Bluegrass

Sustainable Communities Network, (859)270-3699, embryjim@gmail.com

 

Please Consider a 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 below. As a delegate, Slow Food will cover the cost of my conference admissions, lodging and meals while in Torino for Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto Oct 23-27. My estimated travel costs including air travel and extended stay to visit schools and small farms will be about $2500.  Any amount of financial contribution from you will be very much appreciated!

Make a one time contribution by clicking on (donate): 

Thanks for your donation!

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Shawnee Planning

Embry Speech at Immigrant Rights Rally

Embry Talk at Somerset Community College Terra Madre

Fresh Start Plan  Contributions(Jim Embry) 

Embry Web Articles
Embry Ace Articles
Brattleboro 100year plan

Hip Hop Vegan Group


Sam Levin 2008 Terra Madre


ACE Weekly download articles

Gardens of Eatin

Shovel Ready

Lexington Gardens Grow

Dig It: Gardens Root

HOBY Eco-Art 2009
HOBY Eco-Art 2008

Model of the Year
Closing the Food Gap


Greening of Bryan Station High School

Growing Food & Justice conference

Community Garden Tour Report

Gardening with Class

Bluegrass Food Security Summit 2010

The Great Work

The Great Turning

Farm to School

School gardens

Catherine Ferguson Academy

Catherine Ferguson "O" magazine article

Asenath Andrews

 Grown in Detroit_

 

Food and Sacred Earth Connections

Religion and Environment

Closing the Food Gap 2008

Profile of Food Policy Councils by State

interactive map of food policy councils

 Climate Change  portal information

Climate Change Books

African Americans Climate Change:Unequal Burden_REPORT

African Americans Climate Change Ex Summary

African Americans Climate Change Bullard Bibliography

Slow Food Newsletter