Nourishing Narratives 2026 Winner Screening
Description
Join Mosaic Film Experience and Newman’s Own Foundation at The Henry Ford’s iconic Giant Screen Experience screening room for an inspiring evening showcasing the creativity and impact of youth storytellers from across the country. Following the premier of the 2026 Nourishing Narratives winning films, a panel discussion will explore the intersection of digital storytelling, youth empowerment, and equitable food systems.
Nourishing Narratives is a national mobile film competition developed in collaboration with Mosaic Film Experience and supported by the Newman’s Own Foundation. Nourishing Narratives invites youth ages 13 to 18 from across the United States to explore food justice through short films created entirely on mobile devices. This year’s filmmakers were challenged to interpret the theme “Creating Better Food Futures,” incorporate a plate or bowl as a required prop and include the phrase “Change Starts With Us” in their films. Teen storytellers submitted short films exploring topics including access to healthy food, urban farming and community gardens, organizations feeding their communities, food education and Indigenous food justice. Learn more: https://www.nourishing-narratives.com/
Whether you work in entertainment, media, food justice, or youth development, this event is a chance to connect, celebrate, and support the next generation of changemakers.
The 2026 Nourishing Narratives winners are:
· “Against the Wind,” by Rita Backes Kozhimannil – White Bear Lake, Minnesota
· “Avery & Abi Creating Better Food Futures,” by Abigail Cooper and Avery Walker – Ravenna, Michigan
· “Changing Food Futures 4 Wheels at a Time,” by Jackson Alexander Brisco – Kennesaw, Georgia
· “Creating Better Food Futures,” by Ada Grace O’Connor and Jane Mathis Alexander Fettus – Washington, D.C.
· “Feeding Hope,” by Gabriella Grace Dibrell – San Antonio, Texas
· “Food Show,” by Natalie Goldban, Sammy Goldban and Teddy Kroin – Scarsdale, New York
· “Mickey-Don’ts,” by Myles Alexander Fredrickson – Castaic, California
· “Planting the Seeds of Food Literacy,” by Brianna Wang and Adrianna Wang – Jackson, Mississippi
· “The Divide on Our Plates,” by Ewura-Adjoa Darkoa Dwumfuoh, Maame-Abena Konadu Dwumfuoh and Nana-Ama Pokua Dwumfuoh – Oakley, California
· “The Same Bowl,” by Ike Grace Apata – Calumet City, Illinois
A special thank you to The Henry Ford for hosting this event.
About Mosaic Film Experience
Founded in 2012 by Skot Welch, The Mosaic Film Experience (MFE) is a 501(c)(3) organization that uses the platform of digital media to provide students with an opportunity to tell their unique stories and equip them with the critical thinking, collaborative and creative skills necessary for career- preparedness. There are three aspects to The Mosaic Film Experience: The Mosaic Event: An annual interactive experience that provides students access to industry professionals through creative, career-inspiring workshops. Mosaic Mobile: An annual mobile film competition where films are shot, edited, and entered on mobile devices. Mosaic Community: Events ranging from afterschool curriculum to industry guest speakers and film screenings. For more information about MFE, visit http://mosaicfilmexperience.com/.
About Newman’s Own Foundation
Newman’s Own Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation whose mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. The Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to use all the money that it receives—100% of the profits and royalties—from the sale of Newman’s Own products in service of its mission. Through the efforts of Paul Newman and Newman’s Own, over $600 million has been given to social impact organizations since 1982. Today, Newman’s Own Foundation grantee partners promote nutritious food in schools, advance Indigenous food justice, and through SeriousFun Children’s Network, create medically inclusive camp experiences. Learn more at newmansown.org.
Video
Gallery
Agenda
- 4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Meet-and-Greet with Nourishing Narratives Youth Filmmakers
- 4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Welcome
- 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Film Screening
- 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Food and Film Justice conversation with Special Guests
- 5:30 pm
Closing Remarks
Lineup
Chef Jermond Booze, Advanced Program Lead, Detroit Food Academy, who competed on Food Network’s Chopped
Chef Jermond Booze is a culinary luminary with a diverse background, from Little Rock to Lake Tahoe, Norfolk to Ann Arbor, and bustling Detroit. He's not just a chef but also a skilled manager, having honed his leadership talents at Whole Foods Midtown. His passion led him to found the June Consulting Group, where he serves as a distinguished grocery and retail consultant in Metro Detroit, with clients like Season's Market and Detroit People's Food Co-Op. As co-founder of Taste the Diaspora, Chef Booze spotlights the African diaspora's culinary contributions, earning recognition as one of the "25 Food & Drink Innovators Who Inspired Us in 2021." He's garnered acclaim in media like NPR, Eater, and Detroit Free Press and showcased his culinary artistry at the BayHaven Food and Wine Festival in 2022 and 2023. Chef Booze's monthly "Vinyl Tastings" series combines sumptuous dishes with music, creating an unforgettable sensory experience. Dedicated to education, he leads the Detroit Food Academy Advanced cohort, mentors aspiring chefs and small business owners, and co-hosts "Prep Your Food Business" through ProsperUs Detroit.
Le’Genvieve Squires, Director of Workforce Development, Detroit Food and Entrepreneurship Academy
Le’Genevieve “Vie” Squires is a bonafide foodie with business sense and a contagious smile. She’s a native Detroiter committed to spreading love through mouthwatering meals, intimate interactions and top notch customer service. Vie’s love of food expanded during her undergraduate studies in Food and CPG Marketing at Western Michigan University. From there, it accompanied her to Ohio and Illinois as she served in positions of food leadership at Heinen’s Grocery Stores before studying Culinary Arts at the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. In culinary school Vie found comfort in learning the intricacies of food, & sustainable foodways. The joy she feels in the kitchen transcends in her dishes, and sharing that with others brings her great pride. Le’Genevieve is also the co-owner of her own catering business, Experience Relish. She spends time volunteering with Detroit Phoenix Center & PeaceTree Parks. You can find her reading several books at once, planning a road trip somewhere, dancing to Beyonce, and making those around her laugh. Her teammates value her positive attitude, insistence on sharing her many snacks, and how effortlessly she creates community amongst her peers and the youth she serves.
Eden Sabolboro, Partner/Director, Reel Clever
Eden Sabolboro's work focuses on capturing authentic, immersive human interest stories especially from underrepresented perspectives. Eden is the co-founder of Reel Clever Films LLC, a boutique production company specializing in non-fiction storytelling and branded content. With over ten years of high level expertise in the film and video production industry, Eden has produced an immersive body of work for the media, non-profit and education sector, Fortune 500 companies, the local creative arts and small business communities, and leading political and civic advocacy organizations. Her work has received two Michigan Emmy awards, as well as exhibited and juried in various local, international, and Academy-qualifying film festivals. Eden has participated in a few key labs and fellowships, namely the New York Foundation for the Arts’ Immigrant Artist Program, the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Lab (Detroit), and Firelight Media’s Groundwork Lab. She is a part of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, as well as the Asian-American Documentary Network. In 2021, she served as the Supervising Producer for “Shifting Urban Narratives,” a multimedia fellowship for young Detroiters by Wayne State University and the Schultz Family Foundation to tell their stories about change, resilience, joy, and community development. In 2022, Eden worked with women-led production house MAJORITY to co-direct “Year One of the Biden-Harris Administration” for the Biden-Harris Inaugural Committee. Some of Eden's recent projects as producer & director include the Webby-nominated "Senghor Reid: Make Way for Tomorrow" for the second season of PBS American Masters' and Firelight Media's "In The Making" Series; “Into the Sugarbush” an official selection for the TED Countdown Summit in Detroit, and “WELL” a narrative-documentary hybrid film funded by Black Public Media and is official selection for the 2024 BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta.
Sam Lyman, Executive and Operations Coordinator, Newman's Own Foundation
Skot Welch, Founder and President, Mosaic Film Experience
Founded in 2012 by Skot Welch, The Mosaic Film Experience (MFE) is a 501(c)(3) organization that uses the platform of digital media to provide students with an opportunity to tell their unique stories and equip them with the critical thinking, collaborative and creative skills necessary for career- preparedness. There are three aspects to The Mosaic Film Experience: The Mosaic Event: An annual interactive experience that provides students access to industry professionals through creative, career-inspiring workshops. Mosaic Mobile: An annual mobile film competition where films are shot, edited, and entered on mobile devices. Mosaic Community: Events ranging from afterschool curriculum to industry guest speakers and film screenings.
Shauna Wilson, Senior Advisor, Advancement Initiatives, The Henry Ford
Moderator: Tamarra Campbell, Impact Producer and Grant Writer, TMedia Impact Solutions
Tamarra Campbell is an Impact Producer and Grant Writer specializing in bringing community-driven arts and culture projects to life. With a passion for storytelling, her work focuses on supporting filmmakers, artists, students, and organizations to build capacity, enhance programming, and secure the resources they need. Through her business, TMedia Impact Solutions, she helps transform your vision into reality, whether it’s through grant writing, impact strategies, or long-term planning. From documentaries to educational programs, she is committed to empowering underrepresented voices and fostering projects that create lasting, meaningful change in the community.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
