From Line Cook to Lion King

When members of the Nourish Up team attended a Blumenthal Arts Community Leaders event at the Knight Theater this spring, they had no idea what community collaboration would come of it.

Fast forward to August at our Hunger Hub.

Blumenthal Arts hosted a Community Cue, a program of Blumenthal’s Education Department, for Disney’s The Lion King in in the Atrium Health Collaboration and Conference Center. Actors from The Lion King cast and Blumenthal Arts Community Impact Manager, Arlethia Hailstock, enlightened more than 50 guests about The Lion King, its powerful and timeless story, and the inner workings of costuming, preparation, work/life balance, and more. In addition, our new friend Shef Shaun performed a cooking demonstration in our Nourish Up Teaching Kitchen, an inaugural – and delicious – event.

So what do food insecurity, musical theater, and chicken alfredo have in common?

It’s a valid question, but the unlikely shared themes were innumerable.

Gerald Ramsey, who plays Mufasa, was raised in American Samoa. He spoke of his internal conflict with his lead role in this deeply African-themed story. Aligned with the essence of The Lion King, he was able to reconcile his struggle – we are all one. Embrace your true identity. Just as the spirit of Mufasa whispered to Simba, “Look inside yourself.”

Darian Sanders, who plays Simba, and Martina Sykes, Shenzi, (Side note: Martina also asked how she could volunteer with Nourish Up. Talk about The Circle of Life!) shared additional insights and the varied paths that brought them to the stage, to the Pridelands…

…and to lunch at Nourish Up.

As Shef Shaun demonstrated Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli for our guests in our Hunger Hub Teaching Kitchen, a savory delight in and of itself, he too peppered in his own story. Conversation with a stranger led to a job as a line cook, eventually launching a career as a chef. His love of the kitchen began as a child, learning from his grandmothers. More tales of heritage.

A basic ingredient prevailed: we are all human. At Nourish Up, our mission is to feed anyone who needs it, with food and compassion. Without judgment. Without question. Everyone deserves grace, dignity, and a chance.

The unexpected paths that led to an inspirational Community Cue stretch farther and wider than we ever imagined and led us to our common ground. Nourish Up is grateful to Arlethia and Blumenthal Arts, to the talented and inspiring artists, to Shef Shaun, and to a tribe full of new friends, volunteers, donors, neighbors. This event revealed the power of community in action.

Do not miss this show:

North American Tour of The Lion King

Blumenthal Arts Belk Theater

Now through September 8
Tickets

More info about Shef Shaun

The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors the true spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals and groups who make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. An individual or group from the public, nonprofit, and private sector may be nominated for this recognition award by a community member to their county-designated coordinator.

Lori Brantner’s passion to provide nutritional fresh produce to the underserved led her to create Harvest Haul in 2020. Harvest Haul is a program of committed volunteers who come to the Farmers Market every Saturday, cultivate relationships with farmers, and coordinate the pickup, delivery, and distribution of freshly harvested unsold fruits and vegetables.

Determined to fill the food insecurity gap with nutritional security, Lori supports local family farms, eliminates food waste, and ensures that the food is delivered where it is needed most.

Fellow volunteer Bob Caruso says of his friend, “Lori is highly regarded by all who help her as volunteers or partner with her as colleagues. She is the consummate servant leader, selflessly striving to serve others and deflecting praise to those with whom she works. She is intelligent and enthusiastic about her activities and driven by the super-ordinate goal of nutritional security for those in need.”

Under Lori’s leadership, the measurables this year have been truly impressive:

65 volunteers
600 volunteer hours
15,000 pounds of vegetables
410 pounds of farm fresh vegetables were donated from HH and Nourish Up’s first-ever Thanksgiving Vegetable Drive at CLT Regional Farmers Market
More than 100 Nourish Up families (200-300 individuals) per month now have access to local vegetables gathered by HH since the partnership started

Jan Johnson, President of the Uptown Farmers Market, says, “Lori is so deserving of being recognized for her commitment, and I hope her tireless efforts will shine a light on the need to make healthy, nutritional food accessible for all.”