Storytelling, Identity & Connection: Ferene Paris's Farm to School Institute Keynote Presentation

Later this month, we’ll be kicking off our 15th annual Northeast Farm to School Institute! Our Institute is a unique year-long professional learning opportunity that brings school, district, and early childhood teams together to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan for their community. With the support of a coach, teams spend the school year putting their plans into action and strengthening their capacity to impact classrooms, cafeterias, and communities, with change that lasts.

Congratulations to the newest cohort, which will be beginning their Institute journey June 24-26, 2025 at Shelburne Farms for a kickoff summer retreat:

• Arlington Area Childcare Inc., Arlington, VT
• Bellows Falls Union High School, Westminster, VT
• Hunt Middle School, Burlington, VT
• Jefferson Elementary School, New Rochelle, NY
• Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District, Jericho, VT
• New Lebanon School, Greenwich, CT
• Robbins Children's Programs, Attleboro, MA
• Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, CT

In celebration, we invite you to hear from Ferene Paris, the 2024 Institute keynote speaker. Founder of All Heart Inspirations, Ferene shares the power of storytelling in connecting to the ‘why’ of farm to school, or whatever your calling may be. Ferene believes food is a universal language for storytelling, identity, and connection—especially with youth. Watch her full presentation below:

Enjoy the full recording, or jump into the presentation at key points:

• [0:02:02] Human Connection & Gratitude: Ferene reflects on the impact of the pandemic, the power of human connection, and her deep gratitude for community, nourishing food, and creating spaces for meaningful connection.
• [0:08:44] The Power of Stories & Vulnerability: Ferene invites you to reflect on courageous truth-telling and your purpose, reminding us that knowing why we do this work is as vital as the work itself.
• [0:18:39] Balancing Thirst & Water in Work: Using the poem Why I Am Magic, Ferene explores the metaphor of being both thirsty and water—needing nourishment and offering it.
• [0:40:00] Collective Wisdom & Reflections: Live participants share their experiences of feeling “thirsty” and being able to give.
• [0:47:50] Food in Storytelling: Ferene discusses food as a universal language for storytelling, identity, and connection—especially with youth.
• [0:57:13] Owning One's Narrative: Ferene asks you to consider how your identities shape your work and to create space for youth to share and be heard.
• [1:04:33] Music & Art in Storytelling: Using “Blackbird” and its civil rights roots as an illustration, Ferene encourages you to bring joy, intention, and artistic expression into your work, reminding us that storytelling is a form of healing.
   

Graphic recording by Iceberg Consulting.