The Power of Food: Bridging Communities Through Shared Plates

Richard McCarthy is an author, speaker, and community development specialist who sees food as a pivotal organizing tool. Devoted to the theory that behavior change comes first, he co-wrote the book KUNI, A Japanese Vision and Practice for Urban-Rural Reconnection with Tsuyoshi Sekihara of Niigata, Japan.

He is President of the World Farmers Markets Coalition, based in Rome, designed to grow the capacity of farmers markets to be agents of change. He also serves on the board of Slow Food International.

Founder of Market Umbrella and its flagship Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans, McCarthy played a pivotal role in rebuilding the regional food community after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Tony Vu is a chef, entrepreneur, and community builder whose passion for food goes beyond the kitchen. He sees food as a catalyst for creativity, resilience, and cultural connection. Based in Michigan, he co-founded The Good Bowl in Traverse City, a modern Vietnamese restaurant with a dollar-per-bowl charitable model that donates to local causes. His first concept, MaMang at the Flint Farmers’ Market, introduced authentic Vietnamese street food to Flint and set the foundation for his larger vision of food as a vehicle for empowerment and belonging.

In addition to running restaurants, Tony has been at the forefront of reimagining Flint’s food economy, launching Flint Social Club as a platform for food entrepreneurs to test ideas, gain experience, and grow their businesses. Through programs like The Kickback and Street Food Readiness, he has created low-barrier entry points for vendors to launch and scale, while mentoring emerging chefs in a teaching kitchen designed to build skills and confidence. He also serves as a member on the Michigan Good Food Fund Stakeholder Board and co-chairs the Flint & Genesee Food Policy Council, shaping policy and resources for a more resilient and just food system.

With more than 40 years of experience as a scientist, farmer, philanthropist, businessman, educator, and passionate advocate, Oran is a pioneer of the good food movement. He founded Fair Food Network in 2009; under his leadership, the organization has seeded and scaled food-based solutions that improve healthy food access for families and economic equity for farmers and food businesses, both in Michigan and nationwide. Working at the intersection of food, health, and economic justice, Oran ushered Fair Food Network into impact investing, fueling the success of food entrepreneurs through catalytic capital, wrap-around business services, and a commitment to place-based impact investing collectives. He is the author of Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, an inspiring guide to changing not only what we eat, but how food is grown, packaged, delivered, and sold.

A former fellow in the Kellogg National Fellowship Program and the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy in Washington, D.C., Oran has published more than 400 reports and articles on subjects that include crop rotation, the impact of philanthropy on food systems practice and policy, and trends in the good food movement, among others.

Oran serves on the board or in an advisory role for a number of national and Michigan-based organizations, including Fair Food Fund, Five Acre Farms, Groundwork Center, NextCycle Michigan, and Pardes Hannah Jewish Renewal Community. He participates in the Editorial Board of the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.