Creative Development
As I sat listening to the first round of CRAVE proposals, I was almost certain that my idea wasn’t going to be selected. Who wouldn’t want to help bring joy to hospital children, restore a neighborhood playground, or hold a festival for musicians and artists? These were all exceptional ideas with strong benefits for a whole community of people. My idea seemed simple by comparison — teach a basic cooking series using a wok, cleaver, and induction cooktop for those who can’t afford the cost of high-end classes. But, it was after the proposal presentations, while people were eating, that an amazing thing became obvious. Everyone there at CRAVE were truly enjoying the time talking with each other over some great, simple food. We all know that food, and the preparation of it, is an amazing time to build and strengthen community, but CRAVE demonstrates that itself.
I also kept hearing over and over, as I talked to people as they ate, that they wanted to take the cooking class themselves, or knew a friend (or three) that absolutely needed to. My assumptions were right that people needed a better understanding of cooking methods, knife skills, food safety, cooking techniques, spices, culinary art, etc.. This was absolutely confirmed when I heard my name selected to receive the first CRAVE micro-grant. And, then hearing that the micro-grant was for over $900 just blew me away. That was going to allow for more equipment and more class attendees than I originally planned.
But that was really just the beginning of an amazing story of blessings. When I went to buy the induction cooktops they were only $30, half the price they had been two weeks before. The highly reviewed Cast-Iron Woks I wanted for the class went on a “Deal of the Day” sale at $16 each. Great heavy duty cleavers were under $9 each. All of the other items, cutting boards, measuring cups and spoons, bowls, strainers, etc. all have been found at great discounts. In total, I’ve been able to assemble all of the supplies for the class for just under $500 which will allow the remaining funds to offset food costs for the classes.
So, everyone keeps asking when the classes are going to happen? In some ways, they already have. The cooktops, knives, and woks were already used in July to cook food for the FEST TOO music and arts festival that was also proposed at CRAVE. I enjoyed leading and teaching a team of people to dice, chop, mince, and prep enough food for 32 quarts of chili, 28 quarts of creole gumbo, 40 pounds of french fries, 140 fresh filled wraps, 30 pounds of mac & ‘cheese,’ and 25 pounds of salad and fixings. Together we served over 350 meals — all vegan and all freshly made. The equipment is also being used by a team of people that prepare Convergence’s Celebration Supper the fourth Sunday of each month. I’ve also been working on the class materials and menus, working out how to get power to 7 cooktops without blowing every fuse in the building, and looking at scheduling/timing for the classes. Somehow the summer flew by and now we are in Fall already with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.
I’m really looking forward to building a community among the people that sign up for the class, but also enabling them to build their own — over a great meal with some friends.
-Chris Miles
Tags: arts funding, CRAVE, CRAVEAlx, creatives, dinner, funding, micro-grant
Christina Perry