Community ReSoup to fuel community conversations and ideas


On Sept. 25, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Cov10, LiveWell NKY and the Northern Kentucky Incubator Kitchen will host A Community ReSoup. The free event will provide community building and discussion, as well as soup made from seconds.
 
“This event is really three-fold: It brings the community together over a meal, gets insight from community voices, and provides grants to community members to keep the momentum going,” says Rachel DesRochers, founder of the NKYIK and Grateful Grahams.
 
Two NKYIK tenants —  Debbie Carpenter-Coulter of Passion in My Pans and Gary Leybman of The Pickled Pig — will prepare soup for 600 people from “gleaned” foods. They’re working with local farmers, growers and Suzy DeYoung from LaSoupe to get enough produce for the soup.
 
“I’m so excited to get my tenants involved in more of these community meals and ideas,” DesRochers says.
 
One hundred tables will be set up and covered in paper tablecloths. Attendees will be invited to write and draw on the tables, providing their ideas for Covington.
 
A Community ReSoup will culminate in a pitch night — eight finalists will present their ideas in 3-5 minutes for a chance to win two $500 grants. The competition is open to anyone with an idea that builds community, makes a difference or helps someone in Covington.
 
Applications are being accepted until Sept. 11; you can apply here. The board will choose the finalists, and everyone who attends A Community ReSoup will vote for the two winners.
 
“I believe Northern Kentucky is alive and welcoming to creatives, and in a huge way,” DesRochers says. “LiveWell is giving my tenants a new chance and idea to get involved. I really see them as a group that’s trying to bring multiple groups and ideas together, rather than a new group trying to start new ideas.”
 
A Community ReSoup will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 25 in Orchard Park. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information.
 
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Caitlin Koenig is a Cincinnati transplant and 2012 grad of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. She's the department editor for Soapbox Media and currently lives in Northside with her husband, Andrew, and their three furry children. Follow Caitlin on Twitter at @caite_13.