What better way to kick off the residency then a family dinner for RAGGA so we can come together and ki over food. The dinner is organized and hosted by our incredible RAGGA family Devonn, Antonia, Pamela Koch and Reni Ma.
Host note:
Our desire is for this dinner to refl ect the rhythm,tactility and intimacy that using your sense of touch,sight, smell and taste can bring to a meal. Tonight weturn to the restorative power of food and dialogue. Forthis dinner we will not use plates, or cutlery but insteaduse the natural shapes and fi bers of ingredients andplant material to present each course. The meal will beserved family-style.
Devon Francis is the Lead Food Culturalist for Enroot,a Food Media and Event Company in New York. Francis’work focuses on the series of justices and injusticesconnected through queer and migrant culture. Enrootwas founded on the premise that education andcultural support for food production are vital anchorsfor community building, justice work, and healing inmarginalized communities. Morenike Faly (Reni Ma) as sue check for the night is in the process of building a family style platform.
Antonia Estela Pérez is the co-founder of Herban Cura, anorganization committed to bridging this ancestralwisdom in the urban dynamic, through workshops,gatherings and services. The vision behind HerbanCura is to connect more deeply with the ecology we livein in order to design more resilient urban communitiesthat are in harmony with earth and human needs.She is currently enrolled in herbalist school and is anenvironmental educator at Brotherhood Sister Sol, sheis also a visual artist.
Pamela Koch is an NYC based fl orist and horticulturaltherapist. As a fi rst generation Bolivian, she was struckby the effects of fi rst world on third world countrieswhile growing up and visiting Bolivia and plans to giveback to her roots by building a therapeutic center basedaround a garden in La Paz. She found horticulturaltherapy through her work as a fl orist where shewitnessed how being around fl owers improves mentalhealth and well-being.
