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Eliza Greenman Burlingame
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Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
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Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CEO of DC Central Kitchen, Michael Curtin, to Speak in Aspen 

ACES hosts leader in rebuilding urban food systems at free Jessica Catto Dialogue lecture August 9th

Aspen, Colorado, August 2, 2016 — On Tuesday, August 9^th, Michael Curtin will present a lecture entitled “8 Rules for Righteous Entrepreneurs” for ACES’ second Jessica Catto Dialogue of the summer. The event will take place at 6PM at Paepcke Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is the nation’s leader in rebuilding urban food systems through social enterprise programs centered around food security and social welfare. In the free lecture, Curtin will explore specific decisions from DCCK’s most challenging situations to illustrate the rules of righteous entrepreneurship and how those rules have created tangible new best practices for social enterprises.

Curtin joined DCCK in 2004 and, drawing on his experiences as an entrepreneur in the restaurant business, concentrated on expanding the organization’s social enterprise portfolio, focusing on food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build environmentally- and socially-sound communities. The organization runs a wholesale program that delivers fresh produce and healthy snacks to corner stores in Washington DC’s food deserts and operates a full-service catering outfit that collects food items from vendors and producers that would otherwise go to waste to produce over 12,000 meals per day for school lunch programs and the homeless. Additionally, DCCK trains formerly incarcerated, addicted, homeless or unemployed individuals for culinary careers, often hiring graduates of the program to work in the organization’s catering divisions. These innovative social enterprise programs engage communities at all levels to create more access to healthy food and bolster rural and urban economies while reducing recidivism and environmental footprints.

In an interview with FoodTank, Curtin explains his mantra, which comes from lyrics in the Grateful Dead’s anthem, St. Stephens: “Did he run or did he try / Answers a plenty in the by and by / Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills / One man gathers what another man spills.” He says, “There is the very easy reference to gathering using what others may see as “spilt” or wasted to make change in our community. More importantly, however, the song talks about having the courage to try, to force the conversation and to push for change; to do what others say is not possible. I hope that we never run from what’s hard, but run towards it and always try for what is better.”

“In the face of a reality where nearly 40 percent of the country's food supply is thrown away each year, Mike and DCCK are making impressive strides to address food security by creating opportunity,” says ACES CEO Chris Lane. “Innovative leadership and community-based efforts such as this are at the heart of our Jessica Catto Dialogues series, and Mike offers an inspiring example of how passion, determination, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit can incite powerful change. ACES is honored to bring Mike to Aspen and anticipates that his work will resonate with entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes in our community, as well as those interested in environmental justice.”

ACES Jessica Catto Dialogues honor the environmental legacy of Jessica Hobby Catto through a speaker series featuring visionary thinkers and doers from all realms of environmental concerns. The series is supported by the Catto Shaw family in Jessica’s memory. 

RSVP and more information at https://www.aspennature.org/learn/events/JCD-Curtin

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Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), a non-profit organization founded in 1968, provides programs in ecological literacy, sustainable agriculture, forest health, ecosystem restoration, and civic leadership for everyone from school children to leaders and decision makers. With four locations between Aspen and Carbondale, ACES offers guided hikes and snowshoe tours, classes and camps for kids and adults, and a variety of community events. Partnership programs with 45 regional schools help teachers meet state science standards while offering local children the opportunity to explore their outdoor environment. ACES is a Charity Navigator 4-star non-profit, the highest level of ranking. For more information visit www.aspennature.org.