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Ninth Annual Fairbanks Symposium “Seed to Sustenance: Farming, Food and Hunger in Indianapolis”

in Special Events

Fairbanks Symposium

This event has ended

  • Date

    March 20, 2024

  • Time

    9:30 am - 2:30 pm

  • UIndy Hall

    Schwitzer Student Center, University of Indianapolis

Wednesday, March 20
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Schwitzer Student Center, UIndy Hall

REGISTER HERE!

The University of Indianapolis and Indiana Humanities invites you to the 2024 Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium with a focus on Indianapolis food disparity, hunger, farming and more.

Building off the last decade of Fairbanks experiences, the 2024 symposium uses the theme of “Seed to Sustenance: Farming, Food and Hunger in Indianapolis” to ask compelling questions about food sourcing, hunger in the city, food education and urban agriculture.

The symposium includes a buffet lunch and two panel discussions in addition to the keynote. This event is open to the public at no charge.

Day-of schedule is as follows:

9:30 a.m.: Registration opens

10 a.m.: Welcome remarks

10:15 a.m.: Panel 1: “Where Does Your Food Come From?”
This panel will examine Indianapolis’ food pathways as different providers discuss the state of food sourcing in the Circle City. Panelists will include Kelsey Timmerman, local author; Chris Baggott, co-founder of Cluster Truck and founder of Tyner Pond Farm; Connie Lee, Director of Operations at Garden Table; and Candace Boyd, Director of Food Justice at Flanner House.

11:30 a.m.: Lunch provided

Keynote introduction, Joe Hogsett, Mayor of Indianapolis

Noon: Keynote: “INconversation with Fred Glass and Milele Kennedy”
Our keynote event will feature a presentation by Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, on the state of hunger in Indianapolis followed by a discussion between Fred Glass and Milele Kennedy, director of the Division of Community, Nutrition, and Food Policy for the City of Indianapolis. The duo will discuss hunger policy efforts in Indianapolis and think about where we can go from here. A question-and-answer session will follow.
  
1:15 p.m.: Panel 2: “Equity and Access: How Do Take Control over What We Eat?”
This panel will look at major efforts and challenges in Indianapolis when it comes to the interlinked notions of food education and urban agriculture. Panelists will include Danielle Guerin, Executive Director of Soul Food Project Indy; Chris Larson, Director of Environmental Education at Paramount Schools of Excellence; Kevin McKelvey, Professor of English and Director of Environmental Sustainability; and Tatjana Rebelle, Director of Equitable Initiatives at Earth Charter Indiana.

2:15 p.m.: Closing remarks

2:30 p.m.: Event concludes