TEDx returns to Grinnell College with Food for Thought theme
Attendees at TEDxGrinnellCollege 2023 will have the opportunity to hear stories, spark connections, and feed their mind, body, soul.
After a five-year in-person absence, the event returns to the College on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the College’s Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, 1108 Park St.
This independently organized event, licensed by TED, will feature Grinnellian voices along with TED Talk videos under the theme Food for Thought. Tickets are free and available to the campus community and the public by visiting tedxgrinnell.com. Attendees also will have an opportunity to network during a reception following the talks and sample dishes from College catering.
Five speakers will make presentations this year.
Sarina Farb ’16
Sarina Farb ’16 is a vegan educator, public speaker, and activist working to empower individuals to think critically and live ethically. Farb’s projects include digital content creation, hosting the Science is Gray Podcast, and touring the country in her vegan campervan while giving lectures and workshops about veganism. She is also the co-founder and international march coordinator for the upcoming 2023 Vegan Climate March.
Kamal Hammouda
Kamal Hammouda is local restaurateur who has served as owner and executive chef at Relish and two previous Grinnell restaurants. Seeing a lot of hunger in Grinnell inspired Hammouda and his wife, Laura Fendt, to form The Iowa Kitchen. Since February 2021, the nonprofit has served a free community meal each week. Hammouda also is an Imam at Grinnell College, leading Muslim students and community members in prayer.
Robin Shields-Cutler ’08
Robin Shields-Cutler ’08 is microbiologist at Macalester College. Understanding how microorganisms interact with humans is a unifying theme in the courses he teaches. His research interests include microbial biodiversity in humans and non-human primates, and how gut bacteria affects health. He returned to his alma mater to teach in the biology department during the 2015-16 academic year.
Stephanie Snow ’03
Stephanie Snow ’03 is an education coordinator for the Meskwaki Nation. As an independent scholar and public speaker whose interests include food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture, Snow presents at schools, corporate organizations, and diversity conferences. As a performer in a local Native American song, storytelling, and dance troupe she’s also had the opportunity to work with acclaimed Native American artists, performers, and actors.
Scott Turley
Scott Turley is the executive chef and chief culinary officer for Grinnell College. He also oversees the College’s catering program. From a humble beginning as a line cook at an Italian restaurant, he progressed to become a chef at a French restaurant, a major hotel chain, and a major university before joining Grinnell College to develop a professional culinary department. His recently was selected to the American Culinary Federation’s prestigious American Academy of Chefs.
TEDxGrinnellCollege is sponsored by the Donald and Winifred Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership. A committee comprised largely of Grinnell College students has been meeting for months to plan and coordinate the event.
This will be the fifth edition of TEDxGrinnellCollege. Previous events were held in-person in 2015, 2016, and 2018. A virtual event with pre-recorded talks was held in 2021.
— by Jeremy Shapiro