PHILADELPHIA – The Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative, a school-based program of the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships, will host its fourth annual Eats and Beats community dinner to showcase youth leadership and skills.

AUNI encourages West Philadelphia students to grow, cook, consume and sell healthy foods. The AUNI Youth Development Program employs more than 100 teens to grow and sell organic food at high school gardens and to teach nutrition to community groups. AUNI empowers teen interns to explore and identify solutions to health disparities, promote healthy lifestyles and build a just and sustainable food system.

Youth empowerment is a big factor at play at the Eats and Beats community dinner to be held 5:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The menu will feature a locally sourced, organic five-course meal grown and prepared by the AUNI youth crews. 

“Join us for a dinner to support our teen nutrition educators and gardeners' travel to educational conferences,” Ty Holmberg, AUNI coordinator, said. “At Eats and Beats, the youth plan the menu, prepare the food and give musical performances.  They’re also taking care of ticket sales.” 

Tickets are $15 to $25 per person on a sliding scale and are available at the AUNI stand at the Clark Park Farmers' Market 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and at the Mariposa Food Co-op during open hours. RSVPs are also being collected online at www.urbannutrition.org/eatsandbeats.

AUNI organizes school-day, after-school and summer learning opportunities for more than 10,000 students and their families at 20 public schools in Philadelphia.

Additional information is available at www.urbannutrition.org or kristins@urbannutrition.org.