“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” ~ Graham Greene
For Catherine, the door was opened by famed chef, Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, California. When six Each One Teach One Summer Program students were invited to help serve 500 international guests at Alice Waters’ “Lunch as an Academic Subject” luncheon at the Slow Foods Nations Festival in Civic Center Park in downtown Denver, the students received hugs from Ms. Waters who offered them a private tour of the outdoor kitchen. The students devoured the wood-fired heirloom beans and asked if the beans could be served at Greenwood’s school lunch EVERY day.
Catherine’s response to the experience was deeply personal. As she hugged Each One Teach One’s autographed copy of Fanny at Chez Panisse by Alice Waters six weeks after the event, Catherine explained, “Now when my family shops for food, we only look for healthy food like salad, no junk food. I want to help all people, even homeless people, have healthy food to eat.” Catherine’s future may have been let in when she met Alice Waters.