Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The UNCW Leadership Lecture Series continues Oct. 30 with chef and author Vivian Howard leading a discussion on food insecurity, community engagement and entrepreneurship.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in the Burney Center on the UNCW campus.

Born in Deep Run, NC, Howard learned early on to appreciate the ebb and flow of eating with the seasons. In 2005, she and her husband, Ben Knight, decided to open a farm-to-fork restaurant in Kinston, NC. Since then, Howard has developed strong relationships with local farmers, making it possible to source more than 70 percent of the restaurant’s food from within 60 miles. The award-winning chef is a four-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Best Chef Southeast and winner of the James Beard Foundation Best Television Personality.

Howard is also known for giving back to the community by supporting numerous charities and aiding fellow North Carolinians after recent hurricanes.

"I decided a long time ago that I wouldn't let my location determine the quality or the reach of my work,” said Howard.

Howard hopes the audience will leave the lecture with a sense of pride for the place they call home and in themselves. “I believe that's the first step in building a stronger more economically viable community,” she said.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and free for faculty, staff and students, and are available in Sharky's Box Office and Game Room.

The Leadership Lecture Series, sponsored by Campus Life Arts & Programs, provides an exploration of leadership through stories and experiences shared by guest speakers. The series kicked off in September with “me too” movement founder and social justice activist Tarana Burke. Activist, model and actor Nyle Di Marco will close out the series on Feb. 18, 2020.

- Venita Jenkins