A transformative gathering that centers food justice, cultural foodways, and community resilience. Through interactive workshops, a panel featuring Cal State LA student, staff and faculty, community organizations, and a student poster session, this summit will showcase the vital role of foodways and community-led initiatives in addressing systemic inequities in food access.
Date: May 6, 2026 from 11 AM to 3 PM (check in begins at 10:30 AM)
Location: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz (ASCL)
10:30 AM Check-in Begins
10:50 AM - 11:15 AM Welcome Remarks & Ceremony
11:15 AM - 2:30 PM Community Org Fair, Poster Session, & Live Music
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Workshop Breakout #1
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Keynote Speaker: Chef Pyet DeSpain
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM Workshop Breakout #2
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Food Justice Leaders Panel
Keynote Speaker
Pyet is short for her inherited Native American name, Pyetwetmokwe. She is a proud member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribe.
An award-winning global private chef, Pyet gained international recognition as the first-ever winner of Gordon Ramsay’s groundbreaking TV show, Next Level Chef. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 25 Best Private Chefs in Los Angeles by Entrepreneur Magazine, and she has also competed on Food Network’s Tournament of Champions.
Pyet’s life’s work is dedicated to Indigenous Fusion Cuisine, where she brings together the flavors and traditions of her heritage—both Native American and Mexican. Through her cooking and storytelling, she is deeply committed to uplifting Indigenous culture and preserving its rich traditions.
Attendees can choose from 3 workshops during this breakout session, workshop are 45 minutes. Each workshop can accommodate 20–40 folks and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required—please show your lanyard to participate.
Options to Choose From:
1) How to Grow Food Wherever You Are by Crop Swap LA
2) Rooted in Fire: Exploring Indigenous Foodways Through Chef Pyet’s Cookbook by Pyets Plate
3) Mesoamerican and Caribbean Food Cultures and the Fight For Food Justice by Enrique C. Ochoa, PhD
Attendees can choose from 4 workshops during this breakout session, workshops are 45 minutes. Each workshop can accommodate 20–40 folks and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required—please show your lanyard to participate.
Options to Choose From:
1) A Taste of Tradition: Sticky Rice Dumplings by Gu Grocery
2) Botánica del Barrio: Community Care Through Herbal Access by Mujerez de Maiz
3) Maíz y Metate: An Ancestral Workshop by Comedor Xochitl LA
4) Understanding Food Justice: The Los Angeles Food Policy Council & Good Food for All Agenda by LAFPC
Cello Azul is a Long Beach–based electric cellist who blends cumbia with modern sounds to create vibrant, high-energy performances. Classically trained, they use music to connect culture, creativity, and community, bringing new energy to a beloved musical tradition while honoring its origins.
Jimmy Saldívar is a first-generation Chicano artist and Cal State LA student whose work spans screen printing, painting, ceramics, and printmaking. Inspired by Mexican American culture and history, his art explores identity, storytelling, and community through bold and accessible visual forms.
Food Justice Leaders Panel
Enrique Ochoa, Ph.D
Director & Professor
Department of Latin American Studies
Edin Madrid
Graduate Student
Department of Sociology
Community Organizations
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC) is dedicated to ensuring that food is healthy, affordable, fair, and sustainable for all residents. Serving as a backbone organization, LAFPC collaborates with over 400 organizations and agencies through various program and initiatives: Healthy Markets LA, Farm Fresh LA, Cultivating Farmers, and the Food Leaders Lab.
Student LunchBox (SLB) is dedicated to combating food insecurity among college students in Los Angeles County. SLB addresses the critical issue of campus hunger by rescuing nutritious food and redistributing it to various college campuses. Through on-campus pantries, satellite locations, and mobile food markets, SLB provides not only food but also essential toiletries, hygiene kits, clothing, and bedding.
Through an earth-based program of healing, self-actualization and connection to community and nature, Green Arrow Co-Lab provides a comprehensive gardening and mindfulness curriculum for youth and young adults who have had involvement with the justice system.
Food Forward is a nonprofit organization that rescues fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste. They donate 100% of the recovered produce to hunger relief agencies across 13 California counties that include Los Angeles and Ventura, along with 7 adjacent states and tribal lands.
Food Access Los Angeles is committed to building sustainable food systems that ensure equitable access to fresh, affordable, locally grown foods for all residents. They operate eight farmers' markets across Los Angeles and coordinates community development programs like Market Match and WIC while supporting California small and mid-sized farms and local small businesses.
LA Compost is dedicated to empowering Los Angeles communities through local composting initiatives. They manage a decentralized network of compost hubs where organic waste is processed into nutrient-rich compost. LA Compost offers educational programs and resources to foster environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Celebration Nation is a nonprofit that empowers the Indigenous Latino/a community, with a particular focus on honoring and supporting farmworker families. They organize cultural events and programs in Southern and Northern California including food distributions, health clinics, and toy drives.