Community Cooks Programming

Since 2011, Appetite For Change has been facilitating connections and celebration for community members and the rich history and traditions of food in North Minneapolis. North Minneapolis is known as being one of the most economically distressed communities in Minnesota, with 46.5% of people living below the poverty line and a median household income of $38,226 in 2021 (compared to the state average of $117,800) (FFIEC, 2021). Though, these statistics don't capture the true essence of the community that makes up North Minneapolis. Community leaders, advocates, and change-makers along with artists, chefs, and business leaders reside on the Northside ? many looking to preserve our history and create paths for future success. Appetite For Change will connect with these community members to create a space for conversation through the lens of cultural food storytelling and the interwoven aspects of life.

While conversations facilitated between Appetite for Change and the community have been happening for many years through our flagship program, Community Cooks, we only just recently began documenting these experiences through video mediums to preserve for years to come. The feedback we've received from individuals after watching previous recordings has been positive, the ability to absorb meaningful conversations through different media forms was appreciated by those who participated. Because we are an organization that listens to community needs, we have created an opportunity for a new listening medium: ?Appetite For Change's Podcast Series: Enriching North Minneapolis' Cultural Storytelling?. Across the United States, podcast listening has increased from 57% to 64% from 2021 to 2023, and that number is continuing to rise. With the prevalence of podcast listening among consumers, Appetite For Change plans to bring this new medium to our community and beyond.

Appetite For Change (AFC) will host, record, and produce 17 podcast episodes throughout the year, with topics ranging from family traditions and holiday meals, to current news and events impacting our community. We plan to invite one or two guests to each recording depending on the individual, topic, and session. AFC's Program Manager, Nicole Powell, will be the primary host of the podcast, she will work with an AFC Program Facilitator and Podcast producing contractor to recruit participants, create topic outlines, record the conversation, edit the audio, and upload the full episode. The recorded podcast sessions will be edited both onsite at Appetite For Change and in the studio with our contractor, with the goal of archiving each session and discussion to be released as an audio series. We plan to produce and distribute these podcasts on listening platforms such as SoundCloud, Spotify, or BuzzSprout. The goal will be to spread this series as a cultural interest piece across the Twin Cities, and if possible, across the state of Minnesota.