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globalheroes.com
January • 2024 ADVERTORIAL
The power of positive, solution-based journalism.
Rescuing Leftover Cuisine: Turning Excess Food into Hope In a nation filled with abundant food and resources, facing the harsh reality of wasted food and persistent hunger is disheartening. Shockingly, nearly 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. is tossed aside each year, while millions go to bed hungry. This stark paradox calls for a collective response, and that's where Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC) steps in. RLC’s founder, Robert Lee, saw this harrowing reality first-hand as a child growing up in New York City. His immigrant parents left careers in South Korea to provide a better life for their children. However, the language barrier and limited job opportunities proved difficult. As a result, Lee grew up determined to do away with wasted food and hunger. He carried this lesson with him throughout his time in the New York City public school system and at New York University, where he took on a leadership role with a food rescue club. In 2013, Lee was working on Wall Street when he took the bold step of founding RLC.
By the next year, he had left his high-paying job at J.P. Morgan to pursue his dream of helping his home fight food insecurity fulltime—and his boldness paid off. The RLC community came together to collect food donations, taking food that would have been thrown away and redistributing it to those in need. Through Lee’s leadership and dedication, the organization has expanded from
redistributing 150,000 pounds of food in its first two years to nearly 3,000,000 in 2022 alone! That makes an impressive total of over 13,000,000 pounds of food diverted from landfills since 2013. Looking ahead, Lee’s vision for RLC is even more ambitious, but he knows that with his team and the support of the community, it can become a reality. He aims to broaden the organization’s reach,
further reducing wasted food and hunger across the U.S., with a goal of rescuing 4,500,000 pounds of food in 2024. RLC’s process is simple yet transformative. With no pound requirements for food donations, they collaborate with food businesses, big and small, to collect surplus food that would otherwise end up in landfills. Their trained rescuers eff iciently
distribute this rescued food to local shelters, food banks, and community centers. By connecting the dots, they turn potentially wasted food into nourishment for those who need it most. “These gifts are literally life-changing,” shared one nonprofit partner from Cambridge, MA. “When we don't have food donations, our street outreach staff has to make PB&Js every day to give out on the street. So this is not only feeding our neighbors on the street but saving our staff about an hour of sandwich making a day, enabling them to be working on the street an hour extra a day.” This year, RLC invites you to become part of the solution. By supporting RLC, you’re not only preventing food from going to waste, but also helping to put meals on the tables of countless individuals and families. Together, we can make this winter a season of hope and nourishment for all. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit rescuingleftovercuisine.org
© COURTESY OF RESCUING LEFTOVER CUISINE
From Prison to the Kitchen:
Chef Keith Corbin’s Inspirational Journey Powered by Food ALLIE MURRAY
Chef Keith Corbin has worked his way up the ranks of the chef world—earning himself two James Beard nominations, co-owning his own restaurant, and releasing a best-selling novel California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival. His accolades boast a successful career; however, if you had asked him about his future some 20 years ago, he never would’ve considered where he is now.
© COURTESY OF CHEF KEITH CORBIN
Corbin grew up in the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts, California, and, like so many youth in underserved communities, was pulled in with gangs and drug dealing. These experiences led to Corbin being incarcerated and spending 10 years in prison on drug charges. It was there that his cooking journey began, where he worked in kitchens and experimented with ingredients and flavors. “When I first started learning to cook, I never could have imagined the level of success and satisfaction it would bring me in the future,” Corbin explained. “Today, I’m grateful for the journey I embarked upon when I first started learning to cook. It has led me to discover a deep sense of fulfillment, personal growth, and creative expression.” Coming out of prison, Corbin began working at LocoL, a restaurant with a unique twist on fast food. The restaurant was run in Watts by celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson. Corbin
worked at the local restaurant until it closed in 2018, but during the three years he spent working closely with Patterson, they formed a new idea: Alta Adams, a restaurant serving California soul food, fusing the southern flavors the pair knew and loved, with traditional west African food that Corbin learned to cook with his grandmother in his youth. “One of the most significant impacts of this relationship has been the immense knowledge and skill I have gained from working alongside such a talented chef,” Corbin said of his partnership with Patterson. “Chef Daniel Patterson’s culinary expertise is unparalleled, and being able to observe and learn from him has elevated my own culinary abilities to new heights.” Despite LocoL closing in 2018, Corbin and Patterson are now reimagining the restaurant as a nonprofit, striving to provide healthy and affordable food in underserved communities. “With the relaunch of LocoL as a
nonprofit, our main goal is to continue the mission that we started in Watts,” Corbin said. “Ultimately, our vision for the relaunched LocoL as a nonprofit is to inspire change, challenge the conventional norms of the fast-food industry, and prove that access to nutritious and affordable food can be a reality for all.” Corbin’s passion for giving back doesn’t end there: he is a sought-after public speaker and mentor to youth in underserved communities, speaking at colleges and educational programs across the country. In 2022, he released his debut novel, telling his story of coming into the spotlight, struggling with the “gangbanger redemption” portrayal of him in the media. Corbin wanted to reclaim the narrative, telling his own story of culinary achievement. “Through my narrative, I wanted to offer hope and encouragement to those who may find themselves in similar circumstances,” Corbin explained. “I aimed to
show that despite the difficulties, it is possible to rebuild one’s life, find purpose, and create positive lasting change. I wanted to inspire individuals to believe in their own potential for transformation and to understand that their past does not define their future.” The novel has received accolades from the Los Angeles Times and the James Beard Foundation Book Awards, among others. Corbin is always creating, noting that his favorite culinary creation is always the next one. He urged that while creating something new, it’s important to remember that trying and failing is part of the journey. “Amidst all the excitement and adventure, it’s important to remember that failure is an integral part of success,” he explained. “Every great achievement is built upon a foundation of mistakes and setbacks. It’s in those moments of failure that we learn valuable lessons, gain resilience, and develop the determination to keep moving forward.”
ADVERTORIAL
Sister James, S.C. is Back on Broadway Sr. Peggy McEntee (Formerly Sr. James) is back in the spotlight. For over two centuries, the Sisters of Charity of New York have tirelessly dedicated themselves to healthcare, childcare, social services, and education across the five boroughs, profoundly impacting the lives of countless New Yorkers through the generations. Founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, this pioneering Congregation embarked on their journey by tending to orphaned children, subsequently establishing hospitals and schools to meet the escalating needs as waves of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, and other nations arrived in Manhattan. Through the years, they founded schools, colleges, and hospitals, initiated missions in the Bahamas and Guatemala, protested against the Vietnam War, and were even arrested for their convictions during a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1972. They steadfastly continued to serve marginalized individuals, including immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, and the elderly.
SR. PEGGY MCENTEE (FORMERLY SR. JAMES) © IMAGES COURTESY OF SISTERS OF CHARITY OF NEW YORK
The Sisters of Charity of New York have also played crucial roles in pivotal moments in our country’s history. They served as dedicated nurses to wounded Civil War soldiers in an improvised hospital. When the AIDS pandemic emerged, they immediately offered both health and spiritual care to afflicted and dying patients at St. Vincent’s Hospital when other institutions turned them away. Given their remarkable history, it's no surprise that one of the Sisters would inspire a future playwright to craft a play and movie about them. This is precisely what occurred to Sr. Peggy McEntee (formerly Sr. James) in
ZOE KAZAN (L) WILL BE STARRING IN THE ROLE OF SR. JAMES (R)
2005 when John Patrick Shanley penned his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, "DOUBT: A Parable," which later received an Oscar as a film adaptation. John Patrick reached out to Sr. Peggy while the play was still Off-Broadway, making her an integral part of the production process from its inception. She later served as a technical advisor for the film and was duly credited for her contributions. The concluding frame of the movie reads: This film is dedicated to Sister Margaret McEntee, S.C., formerly known as Sister James. More than a decade later, 'DOUBT: A Parable' returns
to Broadway, and the Sister who inspired it all couldn't be more thrilled. "I just can't believe 'Doubt' is coming back to Broadway. This is so exciting for me and for the Congregation. I can't wait to see Tyne Daly as Sr. Aloysius and Zoe Kazan as myself. They're both going to be wonderful.” —Sr. Peggy McEntee The lead actresses had the privilege of visiting Sr. Peggy and the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Charity of New York at Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx.
Sponsor a Sister and Give the Gift of Broadway! Donate today at SCNY.org/DonateDoubt
This visit enriched their understanding of the Congregation's ministries and allowed them to pose questions as they prepared for their roles. The Sisters even contributed to ensuring an accurate representation of the Sisters of Charity of New York by assisting with the habit that will be featured in the Broadway production. The Broadway Revival is set to premiere at The Roundabout Theater in February and will run from February 2 to April 14. The play is under the direction of Tony Award winner Scott Ellis, and it stars Tyne Daly, Liev Schreiber, Zoe Kazan, and Quincy Tyler Bernstine. To celebrate the momentous occasion, the Sisters of Charity of New York have launched a fundraising campaign to offer the Congregation the rare opportunity to attend this Broadway production together as a community. The target goal to sponsor all the Sisters is $15,000, and you can help. If you would like to Sponsor a Sister, you can make a gift by visiting SCNY.org/DonateDoubt
