For Release: Immediately
Department of External Affairs
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
For Release: Immediately
Contact: Communications and Development

FREE LIBRARY’S CULINARY LITERACY CENTER HOSTS EVENING OF FOOD AND STORYTELLING FOR WELCOMING WEEK

PHILADELPHIA, September 12, 2017—The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center (CLC) is hosting multimedia artist Catzie Vilayphonh on Thursday, September 22 for a special evening of food and storytelling as part of Philadelphia’s Welcoming Week. The program, Recipes for Change, is presented in partnership with Office of Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and The Philadelphia Commission for Women. The event will run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Welcoming Week is an annual national series—this year September 15 to 24, 2017—supported by Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs that aims to bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Recipes for Change participants will sample mieng, a Lao lettuce wrap made from savory sticky rice, and hear the story of a trickster who uses mieng to teach an important lesson. This program also includes opportunities for conversation about life in Philadelphia and the unique challenges and triumphs immigrants and refugees who identify as women face and how we can foster a better community as a city.

Catzie Vilayphonh is an award-winning writer and spoken-word poet. A child of Laotian refugees, she was born in a refugee camp, on her way to America, and thus considers herself part of the “.5 Generation.” She draws from her personal narrative in her work.

Tickets to the program are $5; preregistration is required via Eventbrite at recipeswelcomingweek.eventbrite.com. There is limited free admission for participants who are SNAP eligible. Those interested in attending can call 215-686-5323 or email kitchen@freelibrary.org to inquire about registering free of charge.

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About the Culinary Literary Center
The Free Library’s state-of-the-art Culinary Literacy Center at the Parkway Central Library—opened in 2014—encourages a love of food and cooking through a variety of free and ticketed programming. Sponsored by the Claneil Foundation, the Pierce Family Foundation, the Dry Family Foundation, and Dietz & Watson Inc., the center provides literacy training and fosters the development of problem-solving skills through cooking, supporting healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and a healthy planet for generations to come. For more information about the Culinary Literacy Center, including ticketing for select programs, visit freelibrary.org/cook.

About the Free Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia system, with 54 locations and the Rosenbach, advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity with millions of digital and physical materials; 25,000 yearly programs and workshops; free public computers and extensive Wi-Fi, including neighborhood Hotspots; and rich special collections, including  those at Parkway Central Library and at the Rosenbach. With more than 6 million in-person visits and millions more online annually, the Free Library and the Rosenbach are among the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and boast a worldwide impact.

09/12/2017


Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850