Director of ‘Cafeteria Man’ to Share Insights with Mercyhurst Audience
He’s a chef and a visionary – and he’s hungry for change.
Tony Geraci’s ambitious efforts to “green” the public school lunches for 83,000 Baltimore-area students are chronicled in Richard Chisolm’s “Cafeteria Man,” the next film in the On Screen/In Person series presented by the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture.
“Cafeteria Man” will screen on Friday, Feb. 15, at 2:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre at Mercyhurst University. Chisolm will hold a Q-and-A session following both screenings.
The film follows Geraci, food-service director for the Baltimore’s public schools, who led the charge to replace pre-plated, processed foods with locally grown, freshly prepared meals over the course of two years. His innovative plan includes school vegetable gardens, student-designed meals, meatless Mondays and nutrition education in the classroom.
Geraci, a charismatic chef from New Orleans, collaborates with parents, teachers, administrators, farmers, chefs and dozens of creative and motivated students. His bold vision comes to life as inner-city youth plant and harvest vegetables at the school system’s 33-acre teaching farm, and high school seniors develop practical job skills through a new citywide culinary vocational training program.
In a review, Variety heralded Geraci as “the eloquent, occasionally outspoken engine that pulls this train of common-sense sincerity, institutional ennui and slow, yet steady change.”
“Cafeteria Man” received a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle award in 2011. Several local food advocates make appearances in the film, including Michael Pollan, Michelle Obama, Will Allen and Ann Cooper.
Don’t miss this compelling film and your chance to dialogue with the director.
The 2012-2013 season of On Screen/In Person is supported by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $4 for President’s Cardholders and free for Mercyhurst students with ID. Tickets can be purchased by calling 814-824-3000 or by visiting miac.mercyhurst.edu.
