The TEDxManhattan Challenge, a national challenge to see what communities are doing to change the way they eat, is a one-day event that will be held in New York City on March 1, 2014. Good Food for Oxford Schools won the challenge. GFOS Program Director and Oxford resident Sunny Young will appear on the TED stage on Saturday to talk about the program and bring national attention to a local cause.
GFOS is an initiative of the Oxford School District in Oxford, Miss. that works to improve cafeteria menus and simultaneously educate students and their families. In early November, GFOS was listed as one of five “projects deemed as making a difference.” On Dec. 6, it was announced that GFOS won the challenge.
In the seven months prior to the challenge, 60 percent of all Oxford public schools menu items are now cooked from scratch, up from 40 percent last year; eight student-initiated gardens and green houses are being sustained by students and teachers; and, student-led Food Clubs have begun at schools to engage students in their own health by learning to cook.
According to Young, future plans include to make local farm produce a part of an everyday school menu, put money back into our local farm economy, and to boost the reputation of vegetables by making them “cool.”
“We now have kids asking parents to put vegetables in their cart at the grocery store, and we have high school students choosing to eat a nutritious salad and elementary students eating fresh fruit,” said Young. “Overall, our goal is to become an example for ALL public schools in Mississippi and to create lasting, habitual change for Mississippi families.”
Watch parties are being organized across the nation to promote this event. In Oxford, The Oxford School District and Daniel Doyle of Mississippi Sustainable Agricultural Network are throwing a watch party at the Oxford Library (located at 401 Bramlett Blvd). If you are interested and need more details, contact Daniel at info.msan@gmail.com
Other cities hosting watch parties include:
St. Louis, MO – Young’s father is throwing a watch party at his store, The Sound Room. For more info, email: dyoung@thesoundroom.com
Little Rock, Ark. – Vino’s. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/289875647829708/?previousaction=join&source=1
For Collins, Colo. – Here’s the group doing it: https://www.facebook.com/hendpg
Minneapolis, MN. – Here you are: Facebook.com/eatforequitympls
If you are unable to attend a watch party, TEDxManhattan makes it possible to stream the events live. Here’s how to do that here: https://tedxmanhattan.org/webcast/
Stay up to date on Twitter by using the hashtag #tedxman and @TEDxManhattan. Sunny Young’s handle is @SunnySpeaksFood
Information provided by Sunny Young. Be sure to send her warm wishes and positive vibes before her debut on Saturday. HottyToddy.com is proud of this local organization receiving national recognition!
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