In partnership with Fairfax County Public Libraries and One Fairfax, NCS is co-sponsoring “Chat and Chew,” a speaker series on race and social equity. The series stemmed from the Food Equity Summit held in May 2019 and serves as a broader platform to engage and educate the community about how race and social inequities are impacting marginalized people, communities of color, and other societal institutions.

The most recent event, held October 22 at Sherwood Regional Library in Alexandria, featured a conversation with Michael W. Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African-American Culinary History in the Old South. Thirty people listened as Twitty explored the question of who “owns” southern food – a provocative touchpoint in the ongoing struggle over race. Afterward, Twitty greeted audience members and signed books.

The next event in the Chat and Chew series is November 13 and features Deepa Iyer, author of We Too Sing America, for a discussion of the perpetuation of racial and religious discrimination in the post-9/11 era. Books will be available for sale and signing. Registration is required at https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/5796267.

One Fairfax is a joint social and racial equity policy of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board. The NCS Community Impact Unit develops, strengthens, engages and nurtures nonprofit organizations and faith communities to build a strong community for Fairfax County residents.

For more information about the Chat and Chew speaker series, contact Dawn Hyman at dawn.hyman@fairfaxcounty.gov.