On March 8, 2009, Eat-Ins.org and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts brought 100 people together for a "Sunday Supper" Eat-In in the lobby of the YBCA's gallery space in downtown San Francisco. In honor of International Women's Day, participants were asked to bring dishes their "grandmothers would have recognized," and no one disappointed: enchiladas, corn fritters, beans and greens, homemade chutney, sweet potato pie, marmalade cakes and sweet hibiscus tea all showed up and made the rounds while our ancestors smiled from on high.

The Eat-In was an opportunity for the local food, justice and arts communities to sit down, share a meal and talk about working together to create a culture in which everyone enjoys real food.

The organizers invited ten activists, artists and educators to take a seat at the table and start conversations with their neighbors. The esteemed "conversationalists" were:

• May Boeve, climate activist at 350.org
• Chris Carlsson, author and activist
• Susan Coss, communications expert at Eat Real and Straus Communications
• Ryland Engelhart, general manager of Cafe Gratitude
• Vera Fabian, garden teacher at The Edible Schoolyard
• Karen Heisler, co-founder of Pie Ranch and Mission Pie
• Nikki Henderson, senior strategist at Green for All
• Gerardo Marin, director of Farm Fresh Choice at The Ecology Center
• David Roach, founder of Mo' Better Food and the Oakland International Film Festival
• Bryant Terry, eco-chef, food justice activist and the author of the newly released book Vegan Soul Kitchen

The table had been laid with butcher paper so that everyone could record their conversations (and doodle, and write rousing haikus). As the Eat-In came to a close, the organizers asked everyone to walk around the table, read what had been written and choose one idea or project as a personal "assignment" to bring home. As the 100 people who gathered for this Eat-In represented a roomful of incredible enthusiasm, talent and good ideas, the organizers encouraged them to take home collaborative projects that we can work on as a community in order to address the challenges we face right this moment. Everyone is invited to join or continue those conversations on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who came, brought food, led discussions and enjoyed themselves, and thank you - especially - to Cicely Sweed and the staff of the YBCA for hosting the event. This Eat-In marked the closing of an installation on "The Art of Slow Food Nation" in the YBCA's "Room for Big Ideas," a project for which the YBCA deserves our thanks, too. Check out the YBCA's website to learn more about their public programs and their ongoing exhibits.

*Credit for all photos goes to the inimitable, extraordinary, always beautiful Darrow VW.