Tables of Transformation: How Faith, Food, & Story Shape the Future

Every faith and spiritual community tells stories about and over food — not only those preserved in sacred texts, but also those we continue to create in our kitchens, our migrations, our rituals, and our movements for change. These stories teach us not only what to eat, but who we are in relation to one another, the climate, and the earth. They shape our imaginations and, in turn, shape our actions.

How can hearing, engaging, and reinterpreting old stories — and telling new ones — transform how we live, eat, and repair our world today?

Join us for a rich, interfaith conversation as spiritual leaders explore the sacred connections between food, stories, rituals, and sustainability.

Panelists Include:

✴️ Rev. Dr. Jamall A. Calloway, PhD, is an assistant professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University and an honorary research lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is also Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C., and author of Imagining Eden: Black Theology and the Search for Paradise (Columbia University Press, 2025). –

✴️ Gena St. David, PhD, LPC, LMFT, is a therapist, social scientist, and award-winning researcher. Her upcoming book, The Nonviolent Brain, explores the neurobiological benefits of nonviolence toward animals, the climate, and human beings. She directs the Clinical Mental Health Counseling department at the Seminary of the Southwest and consults with individuals and organizations working towards a nonviolent future.

✴️ Imam Talha Taskinsoy is a theologian, counselor, and educator from Germany, serving as an imam and speaker for the Muslim community. He is also a vegan! Imam Talha raises awareness about Palestine, Sudan, Uyghurs, and the climate crisis, as well as veganism/animal ethics from an Islamic perspective. He loves skateboarding and playing basketball with his kids.

Hosted by:

Center for Jewish Food Ethics
Green Islam
Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry
Better Food Foundation

*ASL Interpreter provided*