On Thursday, July 24th, Good Food Catalyst celebrated its annual fundraiser, The Good Food Gathering, at the stunning Loft Lucia in Chicago’s West Loop. This event brought together friends, food lovers, and community change-makers to celebrate GFC’s work transforming Chicago’s food systems. With a lovely rooftop view, a lively open bar, and exciting programming, the night was set to be a memorable one. 

 After drinks and food samples from Good Food Accelerator alumni, guests grabbed some delicious catering while Good Food Catalyst CEO Shelby Parchman and Good Food is Good Medicine Program Director Jeannine Wise spoke on the organization’s dedicated work building a more equitable food future. 

 From there, guests were wowed by acclaimed chef Cory Morris’ cooking demo where he prepared his “La Milpa Harvest Healing Plate” – a vibrant, nourishing dish inspired by the Indigenous agricultural tradition of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. As Chef Cory shared the cultural significance of the ingredients, attendees tasted the final dish and gained knowledge based in healing and heritage. 

 Meanwhile, interactive booths were hosted by local organizations working towards healthier, more equitable communities in Chicago. Also, guests were encouraged to take grow bags with them to cultivate their own nutrient-rich food at home, putting nutrition education and urban ag principles into practice. 

 We capped off the evening with an exciting raffle giveaway, sending lucky winners home with nourishing cookbooks, self-care kits, exclusive GFC swag, and more. It was an unforgettable night, and we are deeply grateful to all who came out to support our mission of putting Good Food on Every Table.