Art Exhibition

I was one of 21 students selected from diverse art high schools in Milan to display my work on the theme "Figli di Jona". The the art opening will be held this Tuesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at Museo Pecci, the local chair of the Museo Pecci of Florence, a space for contemporary art and design pieces. Come swing by if your near! Via Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 113.

Videos, Rotary Exchange, and a green roof to come!

Hello, hello!

I owe you an update:

1)Here's are two wonderful videos of the Youth Summit in Minneapolis last week.

In the first one, you'll see Abby speaking first (she's incredible!), I'm thrown in there, then there's Ethan, our all-inspiring coordinator.

In the second, a student-made video by my friend Taylor from the leadership team, has actual footage of the Summit and some break out sessions. Hope you enjoy, and please pass it on!

2)I am applying for the Rotary Exchange program. That means, if my interview goes well tomorrow, I will be spending my senior year of high school overseas!

It's both exciting and nerve-racking. I don't want to disconnect myself from the grassroots movement, so I want to take a new perspective: In my exchange, I hope to make connections with other leaders in climate change and youth organization. It’s empowering to solidify this movement globally, and that's what I hope to do.

10.10.10, 350.org's Global Work Party, inspired events all over the world. It's incredible! There are youth organizers everywhere! We're not alone, and they're are photos to prove it!

3) The campaign to build a green roof on the new FHS building is going really well!

The planning team had our first meeting this past Wednesday, and a second is planned for this upcoming Tuesday. Dana Smith, FHS's new Energy Corps representative, is helping facilitate the meetings, and she even got us a field trip scheduled to the roof of the public library!

(The Fayetteville Public Library was the first in Arkansas to be recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). We also have solar panels and a green roof!)

That's all for now. Thank you always for your support!

Best of luck,
Serena

Summer Squash + Brie

 

The squash and brie breadless sandwich I made for the Ozarks at Large interview way back when. Click on the title of this post and just search my name to listen. Yum!

Late September, what?

Hi friends!

It's been awhile, and for this, I apologize. School, while I claim to have mastered it, does take a toll on my dear blog's well being. So I'm back with brief news and updates.

1) Cooking class on Sept. 11 went really well -- a big thanks to all of you who attended! Suzie, the chef at Nibbles Academy, expressed interest in future classes, which I hope we can make (much) more focused on local, fresh foods. I'd really like to take the kids to the market somehow, or maybe show them the OMNI garden, which is right next door. (And hopefully I'll have learned how to use an electric mixer by then...old school, heh...)

2) Radio broadcast! Wow, it's been a long time. Check out http://www.kuaf.org/ozarksatlarge, and just search my name to listen. The amazing and supportive Jacqueline Froelich reports.

3) I was featured in the Food File a few weeks ago! Check out that feature here: http://thefoodfile.com/green-teen-entrepreneur-foodie-spotlight-with-serena-caffrey-of-green-food-solutions/2490.

4) I recently reconnected with a friend from the Farmer's Market in Fayetteville. Read all about his inspiring project here: http://www.arteengarden.com/

5) Today, I met with the Fayetteville Public Schools Food Director, Adam Simmons. He expressed interest in attending the Youth Summit (as described below) with me as to implement changes upon our return, and he even invited me to teach cooking classes through the school for kids and their parents about the importance of using fresh foods. Talk about exactly the opportunity I've been hoping for!

6) As briefly mentioned, I was accepted into the National Teen Leadership Team, and I plan to attend the Green Schools National Youth Summit. The conference is in Minneapolis, so I'm raising money for airfare. If you would like to donate, please email me at serena.caffrey@gmail.com. You would be directly encouraging the sustainability, social well-being, and efficiency of Fayetteville Public Schools. By attending the Summit, I will earn FHS national recognition and solidify Fayetteville's somewhat arbitrary green movement. Learn more about the Summit here: http://www.greenschoolsyouth.org/Youth_In_Action/The_Youth_Summit.html.

7) I've planted some fall crops and have been tending to the beds daily. Such therapy it is -- working in the soil. I walk down the rows barefoot, the damp earth beneath and in between my toes. In the evening light -- magic hour, says mum -- I go out with the camera and capture the nearly phosphorescent glow of the leaves. Photos to come.

Thanks, thanks for stopping by. I hope you get a chance to comment, subscribe, or email me your thoughts. Your feedback is so inspiring, and I thrive on an excited community. Hope to be back soon.

Best,
Serena

News Coverage and Other Stuffs

Exciting things --

1) On Monday I was interviewed for KUAF's Ozarks at Large, and I should be featured sometime this week. The interview went astoundingly well, and we all had a good time. I fed the reporters a browned squash and brie tower (I'm still looking for a good name.) -- it was superb. More details to come!

2) A few days ago I answered some questions for a reporter from The Food File. That's supposed to be featured on their website tomorrow.

3) Today I made my first meat dish! It was a spicy lamb steak with a refreshing, mint sauce to go with it. Too bad our blender is worthless, so really there were just some mint leaves and garlic on top. Here's where I got the recipe: http://norecipes.com

4) I now have five followers, one of which I don't know personally (hello!). To all of my sneaky, unnamed readers, I do appreciate you. It would mean so much if you let me know you exist.

5) For newcomers, this blog my venue for documenting my passions -- food and art and language and how they overlap. I also focus on my project, Green Food Solutions (check out the right hand column, then scroll down a bit), which is really some combination of those other elements.

6) I'm heading up to Minneapollis over Labor Day. I'm helping my brother move into his dorm at Carleton College, and then I'll be spending some time with family and friends that I met at August Gathering. Exciting!

7) I found a new Kickball CD in our van. Huckleberry Eater. They're really wonderful when you get to know them -- myspace.com/kickballl. I don't think they'll ever know how much I appreciate their sound.


I haven't done any homework yet, mostly because I'm too excited about this gorgeous weather and this wonderful vision I'm working towards. I'll post links to news stuffs once I learn more.

Thanks for dropping by! Let me know you were here by posting your comments below!