Cafeteria Man (2012) (78 min)
Directed by Richard Chisolm

In collaboration with the Rosamond Gifford Foundation, ArtRage Gallery will screen films depicting community efforts to improve their communities and the world. The fall series of three films will begin in September and run thru November 2013. Films were selected by a committee of community members and are shown twice at different days and times followed by a facilitated discussion. All films are free to the public. No reservation is required.

Cafeteria Man chronicles an ambitious effort to ‘green’ the public school diet serving 83,000 students in Baltimore. Leading the charge to replace the pre-plated, processed foods with locally grown, freshly-prepared meals is Tony Geraci, food-service director for the city’s public schools. A charismatic chef from New Orleans, Geraci’s bold vision includes school vegetable gardens, student-designed meals, meatless Mondays, and nutrition education in the classroom. His mission is as audacious as it is practical.

Partnering organizations for the fall “What If…” Film Series: ACTS (Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse) Food Access Task Force; Alchemical Nursery; AGREE (Alliance for a Green Economy) whose member organizations include: CNY Chapter of Citizens Awareness Network, Syracuse Peace Council, Peace Action of Central New York, Peace Action New York State, Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, and Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club; Downtown Writer’s Center; FORCE (Focusing Our Resources for Community Enlightenment); GreeningUSA ; Professor Mark Muhammad,Communication Studies at Onondaga Community College and Underground Poetry Spot.