About Slow Food Urban San Diego

What is Slow Food Urban San Diego?

"Slow food" is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment. Slow Food Urban San Diego is a local chapter, or convivia, of the national organization Slow Food USA, and its parent organization Slow Food International. Locally, we’re involved in activities such as:

Raising public awareness, improving access and encouraging the enjoyment of foods that are local, seasonal and sustainably grown
Caring for the land and protecting biodiversity for today's communities and future generations
Performing educational outreach within their communities and working with children in schools and through public programs
Identifying, promoting and protecting fruits, vegetables, grains, animal breeds, wild foods and cooking traditions at risk of disappearance
Advocating for farmers and artisans who grow, produce, market, prepare and serve wholesome food
Promoting the celebration of food as a cornerstone of pleasure, culture and community

Slow Food Urban San Diego Board of Directors.

Co-Leaders

Dominick Fiume has been a member of Slow Food since 2003 and in 2008 helped found the Urban San Diego chapter after being on the board of the San Diego chapter for 2 years. He currently co-leads the chapter and is chair of the communications committee. Dominick is a real estate broker, a University of California Certified Master Gardener and makes cheese, raises chickens and farms in his spare time.

Donna McLoughlin a member of Slow Food since 2004 and Co-Leader and founding member of the SFUSD Executive Board. She served on the SFSD board for 2 years. She is liaison to SFUSD committees and volunteers with membership, outreach and education activities. Donna was founder of Best Wishes, card, gift & jewelry store and the Crest Café. She is a property manager for residential and commercial real estate. Donna enjoys learning and working with the local food community of gardeners, chefs, farmers, artisan food makers, vintners and brewers. She makes pinot noir in Russian River, California, and is now learning about craft beer.

Secretary

Ronie Clark has been a member of Slow Food since 2006 and joined the Board of the Urban chapter as a founding member. She provides direction to the board in the areas of organization structure, strategic planning and leadership development. Ronilee works as the local Superintendent for California State Parks in the San Diego area, overseeing the management of state parks from the coast to the desert regions of our county. In her spare time, Ronilee enjoys organic gardening, is actively converting her own garden to an "edible landscape", supporting farmers markets and connecting people with good food in our community.

Treasurer

Andy Vasquez has been a Slow Food member since 2008 and leads the finance/admin committee for the Slow Food Urban Chapter. He is the Administrative Officer for California State Parks — San Diego Coast District. He loves his job because it is directly related to helping people. Andy is vegan and is highly interested in the relationship between what he eats and the quality of energy it provides him.

General Members

Anita Boen has been a Slow Food member since 2005 and is currently a member of the provisional board. She is the leader of the Food Justice Committee. She believes that collaboration with other like-minded local organizations is our best strategy to achieve the common goal of creating a good, clean, fair and sustainable local food system. Anita works as a Sales Representative for a distributor of Specialty Foods. She loves teaching classes in organic gardening, medicinal and culinary herbs, nutrition, healthy cooking and empowering others to make wise choices for themselves, thier families, thier communities and the planet.

Steph Johnston has been a member of Slow Food since 1998. She is co-chair of the Urban San Diego education committee which focuses on providing opportunities to expand awareness and increase connections in our food community. Steph works to coordinate student transition services for the San Diego County Office of Education's Juvenile Court and Community Schools, helping to ensure that students and their families have access to needed resources and opportunities to plan for future goals. Expanding her home garden, learning about food preservation methods, and reading extensively on anything food related occupies her remaining time.

Kate McDevitt as SFUSD Outreach Chair, Kate has 10 years experience in the nonprofit sector, focused on educational programming and membership associations. Kate has certifications in both Indigenous Permaculture Design and Nonprofit Management. A member of Slow Food since 2008, her hope is to help bring the Slow Food movement to a more diverse audience in San Diego through increased accessible programming, education and expansion of outreach efforts to new communities. She currently serves as SFUSD Liaison on the Cultivating Food Justice Conference Steering Committee and pro bono consultant for The Eat Well Guide. She is also working with the San Diego 1-in-10 Coalition to reform the permitting process for community gardens in the city of San Diego.

Candice Woo is an award-winning food and drink writer who currently authors a weekly food news and restaurant review column in San Diego CityBeat, and is also a regular contributor to the local food magazine, Edible San Diego. A Slow Food member since 2007, she serves as Education Co-Chair on the board of Slow Food Urban San Diego, where she helps to create continuing food enrichment opportunities for the Slow Food community, advises Slow Food on Campus chapters and works on bringing better food into local schools. Candice enjoys learning about the food histories of cultures both abroad and close to home, and is passionate about artisan food and craft beer. She loves nothing better than sharing a good meal with friends and family.

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