PAST EVENT
Nourishment for the Mind, Body, and Spirit: The Cooking Retreat
FOOD | FAITH | MENTAL HEALTH
VIRTUAL EVENT
Sunday, November 14, 2021 | 5:30 PM-7:30 PM EST
Sponsored by the Interfaith Youth Core & Hosted by Project Passport
Event Photo Recap Below:
About the Virtual Cooking Retreat
Food Defines Us
So much of what defines us is food. Food brings us together, it inspires us, and it creates room for dialogue. On this retreat, a unique dialogue will be the core focus of the evening. Together our spotlight “everyday chefs” and the audience will come together to discuss:
The story behind faith-based cultural dishes (memories, experiences, and meanings)
The connection between faith and wellness in regards to how it shapes our mental health
What it means to connect with self and others through food
And how we can move forward together in a broken world
Cook Along the Guided Journey
MYSTERY DISHES WILL ONLY BE REVEALED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO RETREAT.
During this retreat, you will be participating in guided cooking alongside the “everyday chefs!” Hand-selected recipes tied to various faiths will be the highlighted dishes. The cooking ingredients list for the experience will be provided within 1 weeks of the retreat via email.
By the end of the event:
Participants will be more connected to and/or aware of the foods of different faiths
Participants will have had the opportunity to talk about their mental health and how it relates to their faith
Participants will have a greater understanding of what it means to nourish the mind, body, and spirit
Participants will connect with likeminded people who are interested in understanding faith and mental health better over delicious food.
Meet Your Everyday Chefs + Your Host
What is an everyday chef? Someone who lovingly creates dishes from the comfort of their own home that are delicious for the mind, body, and spirit. They may or may not have any official training but they are knowledgeable on how to create great meals and have a story to tell behind them too!
Everyday Chef: Engie Salama
Engie Salama began her engagement with interfaith work during her undergraduate years at the University of Southern California, culminating in her serving as President of the Muslim Student Union from 2013-2014 and co-President of the Interfaith Council in her last year from 2014-2015. The highlight of her experience at USC was collaborating with her best friend Elaine Krebs to put together Interfaith Week and an Interfaith Block Party at the USC Caruso Catholic Center. Engie is a practicing Muslim and current works in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for rare diseases.
Everyday Chef: Makayla Dahleen
Rev. Makayla Dahleen grew up in a small town in Wisconsin where she developed her passion for cooking through helping make breakfast at her mom’s diner and baking for her extended family. She earned her BA at Luther College, in Decorah, IA and earned her MDiv with an emphasis in Biblical Studies and Interfaith at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She serves as Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran in Sterling, IL.
Your Host: Sabriya Dobbins
Sabriya Dobbins, award-winning Founder of Project Passport and Life Discovery Expert, graduated from North Carolina State University with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science and Social Work. As a Master Life Coach, she launched Project Passport, a preventative mental wellness company that hosts transformational experiences that focus on providing tools and solutions to help companies, organizations, and women take control of their mental health.