We will be hosting our spring Affiliate Faculty gathering on Monday, March 3 from 5-6:30pm at the University Student Center, Room 310. Join us for an evening of good food, community building, and updates from the GFI Team. RSVP here by Friday, February 21.

Join GFI and Affiliate Faculty Events 

Join a System Dynamics Connections Seminar on Thursday, February 20 with presenter Dr. Erica L. Gralla, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering and GFI Affiliate Faculty. She will present on system dynamics for international development and applications in agricultural markets in Uganda.

The session will take place at 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue on the Mezzanine level from 12-1 pm. 

If you have any questions or would like to share ideas for upcoming sessions and/or collaborations, please reach out to Sydney Pryor at sydneypryor@gwu.edu. Feel free to invite others who might be interested!

Celebrate National Nutrition Month with the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security (IFSAN) of the Milken Institute School of Public Health by participating in the following events:

Wednesday, March 5: Food Connects Us: Nourishing Connections in the GW Community
12-2 PM

Explore GW’s nutrition and food - related research and network with faculty, staff, and students. A light lunch will be provided. Complete this short Google Form by Friday, February 21 to express your interest in providing a speed talk. Selected participants will be confirmed shortly after the deadline. Or reserve your ticket to attend today!  Tickets are free.

Wednesday, March 19: Connecting our Cities Through Food: The Power of Local Food Policy
10:30am-2:30pm

Join a panel discussion on local food policy successes and priorities throughout the DMV region and collaborate on innovative solutions over a shared lunch. Reserve your ticket to attend today!  Tickets are free.

Monday, March 24: From Policy to Plate: Advancing the Success of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
12-3pm

Learn about the Dietary Guidelines of Americans (DGAs) and their impact on public health with featured panelists discussing the scientific process, latest research updates, and future implications of the DGAs. Reserve your ticket to attend today!  Tickets are free.

Black farmers have been integral to shaping America’s food systems. Throughout history, Black farmers have nurtured their land and communities with extraordinary perseverance, embodying a legacy of strength, innovation, and cultural wisdom.

Join a new series led by series host Dr. Mya O. Price and co-hosted by GW’s Global Food Institute, GW’s Equity Institute, and GW’s Department of History. This series will educate, inspire, and motivate students, faculty, policymakers, farmers, and other stakeholders who want to elevate the impact of black farmers in their community. 

The first event, Tracing the Legacy: Black Farmers and the Fight for Equity, will take place on Thursday, April 10 in GW’s Lehman Auditorium/B1220 in the Science and Engineering Hall from 12-2pm. A live streaming link will also be provided.

RSVP for this event below.

GFI Affiliate Faculty Masha Belenky and Lynn Westwater, part of GW’s Department of Romance, German and Slavic Studies (RGSS), have launched a romance language movie series centered around food.

Snacks will be provided. Bring a friend and take a delicious dive into this film series!

Find information about the upcoming screenings below.

Haute Cuisine/Les Saveurs du palais (2012)
Dir. Christian Vincent

A film based on the true story of Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch and how she was appointed as the private chef for French President François Mitterand.

Tuesday, March 18, 6:10-8pm
Phillips Hall, Room 348

lo sono I'amore/ I Am Love (2009)
Dir. Luca Guadagnino

The matriarch of a rich Milanese industrial family, Emma, has an affair with the talented chef at her son's restaurant which leads to family turmoil and tragedy.

Wednesday, March 19, 5-7pm 
Phillips Hall, Room 416

Karen Vahouny, an affiliate faculty member at the Global Food Institute, recently volunteered at La Microfinca farm, an initiative initially funded through grants from renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés, founder of GFI. Accompanied by her husband Dan, Karen dedicated her time to the labor-intensive process of dividing pacholi plants and preparing flats for sale to local residents.

Pacholi plants play a crucial role in mitigating flooding and erosion, and while the process of cutting and dividing their thick roots is demanding, it yields exceptionally high profit margins—especially when supported by volunteer labor.

Karen’s hands-on experience at La Microfinca will serve as a practical case study in her Business and Finance class within GWU’s PR and Communications master’s program, where she will use it to illustrate real-world applications of profit margin concepts.

The 18th annual Rooting DC will take place on Saturday, March 8 at Eastern Senior High School in Ward 7.

Rooting DC is a FREE, all-day event that provides education and community building around urban agriculture and food systems, with the goal of cultivating personal, community, and environmental wellbeing. It is the District’s central meeting ground for land stewards and garden lovers to strengthen their connection with crops and community in the nation’s capital. 

We want to lift up your work and share information about events, opportunities to collaborate or whatever you think is important to share. Email us at globalfoodinstitute@gwu.edu.