2023 SPEAKERS FORUM:
BAN HUNGER NOT BOOKS featuring Ashley C. Ford + John Green Moderated by Jane Henegar
Proceeds will benefit
TUESDAY • OCTOBER 24TH AT 6 PM
“Books are not just words on paper; they are windows to the world that teach empathy, understanding, and foster imagination. When society censors books, it is in essence closing those windows to the greater world-what a massive disservice to young minds eager explore and learn about the life beyond their backyards. The concept of ‘Ban Hunger, Not Books’ advocates for a world where people can thrive both physically and intellectually.” MARTHA HOOVER
2023 SPEAKERS FORUM
EVENT SUMMARY For nearly a decade, The Patachou Foundation has been bringing visionary leaders with transformational ideas to The Speakers Forum. The event has been imprinting a spirit of social change with topics ranging from food equity to gun violence. The 2023 Speakers Forum: ‘Ban Hunger, Not Books’ features a dynamic conversation about the impact of banning books with New York Times bestselling authors Ashley C. Ford and John Green. The discussion is moderated by Jane Henegar, executive director, ACLU Indiana. The theme “Ban Hunger, Not Books” encapsulates the belief that society should prioritize access to necessities like nutritious food, rather than focusing unnecessary energy and resources into censoring or restricting access to knowledge and information found in books. “Books are not just words on paper; they are windows to the world that teach empathy, understanding, and foster imagination. When society censors books, it is in essence closing those windows to the greater worldwhat a massive disservice to young minds eager to explore and learn about life beyond their backyards,” says restaurateur and The Patachou Foundation founder, Martha Hoover. “The concept of ‘Ban Hunger, Not Books’ advocates for a world where people can thrive both physically and intellectually.” This event benefits The Patachou Foundation’s continued mission to solve childhood hunger in Indianapolis. To learn more about The Patachou Foundation’s mission and the impactful work, please visit our official at ThePatachouFoundation.org.
2023 SPEAKERS FORUM
BIOS
ASHLEY C. FORD
Ashley C. Ford is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, published by Flatiron Books. Ford is the former co-host of The HBO companion podcast Lovecraft Country Radio, and the current host of Ben & Jerry’s Into The Mix. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, poet and fiction writer Kelly Stacy, and their chocolate lab Astro Renegade Ford-Stacy.
JOHN GREEN
John Green is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, and Turtles All the Way Down. He was the 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than 55 languages and over 24 million copies are in print.
JANE HENEGAR
Jane Henegar has been the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana since 2012. In addition to her role with the ACLU, she has also served as a deputy mayor of Indianapolis, held positions in the office of Senator Evan Bayh, and worked in various executive roles in state government agencies. Henegar is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Indiana University Maurer School of Law. 2023 SPEAKERS FORUM
EVENT SPONSORS
PALTINUM SPONSORS Marianne Glick
GOLD SPONSORS David and Julie Eskenazi Boaz Construction + Milky Way Complex Bose McKinney & Evans LLP Hoover Hull Turner LLP Zesco
SILVER SPONSORS Delco Piazza Won’t Stop Inc.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTER Chap and Sallie Jo Tardy Mitzell National Bank of Indianapolis Taft
SPECIAL THANKS RK Florals Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits Tactive Vess Ruhtenberg
2023 SPEAKERS FORUM
A RADICAL APPROACH TO HUNGER RELIEF! 1 in 5 children in our community is living with hunger. The Patachou Foundation is an anti-hunger organization that goes beyond serving gapfilling meals to make a deep and lasting impact by addressing the root causes of hunger to provide innovative hunger solutions. OUR SOLUTIONS
FOOD FELLOWSHIP: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH FOOD
The Food Fellowship is a paid workforce development program for high school students centered around careers in the food system. The program that allows teens to immerse themselves in hands-on learning alongside culinary, hospitality, and agriculture industry experts, gaining valuable resume-building experience that can open doors to future opportunities.
PATASCHOOL: SOLVING HUNGER IN THE CAFETERIA
PataSchool leverages over a decade of experience and culinary professionalism to activate school cafeterias to fight hunger, create positive, measurable outcomes, and place hunger solutions into communities. The PataSchool Model: • Restores working kitchens in schools • Helps hire and train culinary staff at school partners • Provides free meals to 100% of the student body To learn more about The Patachou Foundation’s mission and impactful work, please visit our website at ThePatachouFoundation.org.