So, where do we go from here? (2025)

01/08/2022

So, where do we go from here? Christa Barfield of turns to urban ag.

“More people live in cities than do not. If that’s where the people are, we have to do a better job of having needs be met through farming and the growth of food and through the education of proper nutrition. If our nutrition is proper, then our health trajectories will also be much better — and when we do come around to having another pandemic, we’ll be ready.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: The words "Meet urban needs through farming" in deep yellow text inside a rectangular conversation bubble.)

29/07/2022

In Episode 11, Christa Barfield of grapples with the impact of gentrification on Philly neighborhoods.

“I deserve beauty, I deserve amazingness, and so do the people who live in my communities, the people who look like me, we deserve all the amazing things as well. It’s a shift for us to believe in ourselves. Systemic racism has told us over and over again on the regular that we aren’t enough, so that’s stuck in our minds.

“Seeing that gentrification is happening, Philadelphia is being developed, we just have to get with it. Make sure that I’m along for the ride. To integrate my skill set, which is agriculture and awareness and educating people about the health of their food — that’s my way of making sure that I’m relevant in these conversations.”

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⁠.
is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Portion of the above quotation in white text against a deep yellow background.)

27/07/2022

Have you stopped by Farmer Jawn Greenery yet? Their grand opening was on April 22, Earth Day, at their new location in Germantown.

“It’ll be a hub for all things you need to grow food at your own home, that is catered to urban farming, urban gardening. Whether you live in a concrete jungle and have nothing but a step or a window, or even if you have a bunch of land, we can teach anybody about having a strong attempt, a successful attempt, at growing their own food at home.”
—Christa Barfield, founder of Farmer Jawn

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⁠.
is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Portion of the above quotation in white text against a deep yellow background.)

25/07/2022

“I’m trying to allow people to see farming. The optics of farming is what’s important. We have to be a multi-site farm, acquiring space and land throughout the city, so that people can actually see their food growing. We're returning the connection of food and farming, and the only way we can do that is if you can physically see it.”

Hear Christa Barfield of Farmer Jawn talk about the connective power of urban agriculture in Episode 11.

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⁠.
is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Portion of the above quotation in white text against a deep yellow background.)

22/07/2022

In Episode 11, Christa Barfield talks about how loss has resulted in personal and professional growth.

“There are times when I have all this momentum, moving forward. And there are also times of rest, which I think are super necessary. Rest and loss go hand in hand.

“I love the correlation between rest and loss because they’re essentially the same when we’re growing food. When the end of a plant’s life is near, whether we’re harvesting fruit or seeds, there is the next step to life. When I harvest and I’m ready to make the rotations for succession planting — planting something new in the same spot where something just died — I’m cutting it at the base and not disturbing the soil.

“When something is seemingly dead, there is something new that can grow from that very same spot. Allowing the land to rest after something that seems traumatic and tragic, something beautiful can then grow from that same space. There’s a lot of power in understanding that concept.”

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⁠.
is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Portion of the above quotation in white text against a deep yellow background.)

20/07/2022

JUST RELEASED: Good things come to those who wait! We recorded Episode 11 featuring Christa Barfield of back in March — but the story of urban agriculture and food sovereignty is just as relevant today.

Hear Christa’s thoughts about the optics of farming, ensuring marginalized communities have access to nutrient-dense foods, and parallels between farming and life.

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⁠.
is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Headshot of Christa Barfield wearing a yellow hat, round classes, and a Farmer Jawn hoodie. The image is in a circle against a deep yellow background.)

31/05/2022

So, where do we go from here? Ellen Hwang of the Knight Foundation hopes that Philadelphia institutions are able to collaborate on big opportunities.

“How we are able to really partner with private institutions, private corporations, government, alongside our community organizations. … For Philadelphia, for a city of our size, it’s time for us to really grapple with the opportunity and the dire need, for us to think together on real alignment to be able to address systemic issues. The digital divide is not just a technology thing, it’s founded on systemic issues that hit every aspect of Philadelphia.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: The words "Address systemic issues" in burgundy text inside a rectangular conversation bubble.)

27/05/2022

In Episode 10, we talk about what’s next for arts organizations grappling with in-person versus virtual programming.

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Youngmoo Kim: “I’m hoping people start to lean into the unique and valuable aspects of those different experiences. If you’re going to do it in person, go all in. Make sure it’s a great in-person experience. If you’re going to do it virtually, do the things you can only accomplish virtually. Don’t try to just mimic an in-person experience and say ‘oh yeah, isn’t this cool?’”

Melinda Steffy: “I was talking with a musician friend who said: ‘I don’t want to watch any more virtual concerts.’ How do you take the digital tool, the online platform and really use that for what it’s for? Not just a translation, but take advantage of the tools, use the tools in ways that are compelling.”

Ellen Hwang: “The art of content creation comes to mind. If you look at the early videos on YouTube, they look like the kind of videos you take on your iPhone. But if you look at some of the top content creators on social media today, they are using high-end equipment. Certain productions are going to require very expensive things: software, talent. There’s a tension here to think about what makes most economic sense, what is going to be really engaging, what are viewers’ expectations for the quality of the content they’re going to engage with. Just going back to that idea of access. I don’t think it’s an either/or. There’s going to be opportunity in both ways of thinking about how we experience community, experience food, experience arts and culture. I think there’s going to continue to be this interesting tension on how people want to engage with each other and different experiences.”

is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a burgundy background.)

25/05/2022

In Episode 10, Ellen Hwang of the Knight Foundation describes local efforts to combat misinformation:

“You talked about the democratization that platforms like YouTube have provided. The dark side of that is that we are experiencing – at a scale that we have never experienced before – mis and disinformation. …

"One of the things I have been seeing a lot, particularly in our community in Philadelphia, is this idea of ‘trusted messengers.’ It’s an acknowledgement that a lot of organizations, institutions, governments, universities, folks who seem to hold power in our communities – they are not relying on their own communications or engagement folks …

"We need to make sure institutions have another layer of people who are delivering information, retrieving information, serving almost as a go-between or liaison to make sure information is going to our communities, to our residents.

"I see that over and over and over again. … A lot of this is very strongly rooted in mutual aid, in community organizing, in your neighbor being the person that you talk to and get information from.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a burgundy background.)

23/05/2022

There’s nothing more local than your own front stoop. In talking about the trend toward hyperlocalism, Ellen Hwang says: “My favorite public space in Philadelphia is my stoop on my street. It’s the best place and best way to get to know your neighbors.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a burgundy background.)

19/05/2022

How has our relationship to public spaces shifted during the pandemic?

Ellen Hwang observes:

“One of the big trends I have been seeing is the return to hyperlocalism. We have been able to return back to a place where your whole life is encompassed in your neighborhood and the several blocks that surround you. ...

"There are definitely compromises. Public transit is down in ridership, and that has major implications for reinvesting in public spaces and infrastructure.

"But COVID aside, through all the racial reckoning that’s happened, our civic spaces have become critical places for us to express ourselves, for us to be able to be a part of our democracy.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a burgundy background.)

17/05/2022

🌟 NOW AVAILABLE: Our special guest in Episode 10 is Ellen Hwang of the Knight Foundation. She talks with us about hyperlocalism and public spaces, combating misinformation through trusted messengers, and systemic responses to Philadelphia’s digital divide.

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: sowheredowegofromhere.com

is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by and Kim.

(ID: Headshot of Ellen Hwang with long dark hair hanging across her shoulders and a burgundy shirt. The image is in a circle against a burgundy background.)

05/04/2022

So, where do we go from here? Chef Rob Cottman of World Cafe Live reminds us to “Be very agile.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by Melinda Steffy and Youngmoo Kim.

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04/04/2022

Anyone else trying to eat more smoothies and salads these days? In Episode 9, we talk about the effect of the pandemic on our eating habits, from what we put into our bodies to how we shop.

Chef Rob Cottman says: “I’m walking a different path as far as the way I eat, what I put in my body. I’m more conscious about it.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by Melinda Steffy and Youngmoo Kim.

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01/04/2022

In Episode 9, we talk COVID precautions at restaurants, and weigh in on our current comfort levels vs. how much we’re side-eying potential germs.

Our guest, Chef Rob Cottman of World Cafe Live, says: “In the food industry, we have standards in line to protect people from food illness. Cleanliness, sanitation, and all those things. You just add another layer on it. That’s what we follow to try to make our patrons feel safe, as well as our staff.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by Melinda Steffy and Youngmoo Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a brown and orange background.)

30/03/2022

Listen to Episode 9 to hear guest Rob Cottman and hosts Youngmoo Kim and Melinda Steffy reflect on loss and grief in the time of COVID.

Rob: “I think it shifts the way people look at life and death now … A lot of people were affected by so much loss during this lockdown that it made me respect life even more.”
Youngmoo: “It’s this prolonged period … If you lose someone close, that’s terrible and tragic, you have a grieving period, but you can keep up the habits to try to integrate that loss into your life. One of the hard things with COVID is there’s no integrating that normal yet.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a brown and orange background.)

28/03/2022

It’s safe to say the performing arts industry has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic lockdown. In Episode 9, Chef Rob Cottman from World Cafe Live talks about how the music venue pivoted to food service to make it through.

“When the pandemic hit, it was like: what do we do? Our business model is all about people congregating in our space to enjoy music. We were the first to shut down and one of the last to reopen, as far as our line of business. So during the pandemic we offered take-out service. I created a different menu every week. We did it curbside, you pull up out back and we bring you your food. That worked pretty well for us. It wasn’t as profitable, but we engaged and kept ourselves relevant with people who loved us and we introduced ourselves to other people. They knew us for music, but now they know us as a food destination as well.”

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by Melinda Steffy and Youngmoo Kim.

(ID: Above quotation in white text against a brown and orange background.)

24/03/2022

NEW EPISODE! In which we discuss smoothies, COVID’s impact on restaurants, and how loss makes you respect life even more. We’re kicking off our spring 2022 season with Rob Cottman, executive chef at World Cafe Live.

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is a conversation series about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic, featuring Philly’s creative community. Hosted by Melinda Steffy and Youngmoo Kim.

(ID: Headshot of Rob Cottman wearing a white chef’s coat and baseball hat with “PHILA” on it. The image is in a circle against a brown and orange background.)

So, where do we go from here?