MKThink Salon: Reimagining School Meals

This event will bring together School Food Service Directors, nutrition leaders, community partners, and parents to share insights, challenges, and strategies. The aim is to foster a collaborative environment where leaders like you can exchange ideas and shape the future of school meals.

We'll dive into how districts can modernize kitchens, strengthen farm-to-school pipelines, and elevate the dignity of eating, without breaking budgets or burning out staff?

Join leaders from SFUSD, the Alice Waters Institute, and MKThink for a candid, solutions-oriented discussion on the infrastructure, partnerships, and logistics that make equitable school meals work at scale.

When & Where

• Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22, 5:00–7:00 PM (PT)
• Venue: Ocean Plant, 800 Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94121

Format: Panel discussion + audience Q&A

Panelists

• Jennifer LeBarre, Interim Sr. Executive Director (Student Nutrition Services & Transportation), SFUSD
• Jennifer Sherman, Culinary Director, Alice Waters Institute
• Nate Goore, CEO & Founder, MKThink

We’ll explore:

• Infrastructure for equity: How facilities and layout shape dignity, access, and participation.
• From farms to forks: Building reliable supply chains that connect local producers to students.
• Production & logistics: Choosing cook-serve vs. cook-chill, routing meals to receiving kitchens, and keeping quality high.
• Data & dollars: Tracking participation, cost/meal, and waste, and funding what works.
• Change that sticks: Training, community engagement, and menu design students actually love.

Who should attend

District food service leaders, facilities/planning teams, superintendents, school board members, community partners, and anyone driving healthier, more resilient school food systems.

What you’ll take away

• Practical playbooks from districts tackling similar challenges
• Examples of scalable farm-to-school integrations
• KPIs and tools to align equity, resilience, and efficiency
• Contacts and next steps you can apply immediately

Space is limited, reserve your spot to join the conversation and help reimagine school meals in your community.

Host or Publisher Ocean Plant