A Day for Change | LA Times Food Bowl at UCLA with Jonathan Gold

In May 2017, I had the honor of organizing and hosting A Day for Change, a chef-driven symposium at UCLA as part of the inaugural LA Times Food Bowl. This day-long gathering brought together chefs, food workers, students, and advocates to dig into the tough but necessary conversations around systemic change in the food system.

We structured the event around four core pillars: sustainability, food justice, labor equity, and collective action. The goal wasn’t just to raise awareness—it was to mobilize real, actionable strategies that could move the needle in how we grow, serve, and share food in this country.

Panel discussions were filled with a mix of voices—from farmworkers and frontline advocates to celebrated chefs and policy thinkers. The energy in the room was electric and urgent. Whether the conversation focused on fair wages, environmental impact, or racial equity in food access, one thing was clear: change starts with us.

And to close the day, I sat down for a one-on-one conversation with the late, great Jonathan Gold. His presence, perspective, and reverence for Los Angeles’ layered food culture added a depth and soul to the event that I’ll never forget. Sharing that stage with Jonathan was a personal highlight—and a reminder that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have in this movement.

A Day for Change remains one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever produced. It was the beginning of something bigger—a conversation that continues to evolve as we build toward a food system that honors both people and planet.