Faith Farms administrator Freida Graves looks over potatoes and other vegetable grown insight outside Progressive Community Church in Gary, Indiana Wednesday Sept. 22, 2021. On Oct. 16, Faith CDC will premiere its first feature-length documentary, “Nourishing Lives: The Power of Food is Medicine,” directed by state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary. (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune)
When Freida Graves thinks about her favorite part of a new Families Anchored in Total Harmony project, she can’t help but enjoy listening to stories of those the organization has helped.
“The testimonies of these participants is really uplifting,” said Graves, director of Food is Medicine for Faith CDC. “I think they’ll really help move people.”
On Oct. 16, Faith CDC will premiere its first feature-length documentary, “Nourishing Lives: The Power of Food is Medicine,” which is directed by state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary. The film shows viewers the work that Faith CDC is doing to lessen food insecurity in Gary and Northwest Indiana, and it features testimonies from those who have worked with and benefited from the program.
“This documentary is some of the results of what we’ve been doing for the last three years,” Graves said. “We want to show what we’ve done to advocate for our community, to advocate for them to have a healthier lifestyle. We’re losing people too young to diabetes and heart disease.”
“Nourishing Lives: The Power of Food is Medicine” shows a deeper look into programs that Faith CDC offers and how providing access to medically tailored meals can help transform lives.
“We’ve got the data already,” Graves said. “Now, we want people to see visually how the community is impacted by our programs.”
Organization leaders believe the documentary premiere marks a major milestone for Faith CDC and its mission to food justice, health equity and lasting community change, according to a news release.
The documentary premieres at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Indiana University Northwest’s Savannah Hall, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The premiere is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP.
“This documentary explores the intersection of food and health with the goal of reshaping policies in Indiana by elevating Food is Medicine as a critical intervention,” Rev. Curtis Whittaker, founder of Faith CDC, said in a news release.
“For individuals suffering from chronic diseases, access to nutritious, culturally relevant, medically tailored meals is not simply about sustenance — it is about healing, prevention and long-term quality of life. By reframing food as medicine, this documentary underscores its power to reduce health disparities, improve disease management, lower health care costs, and restore dignity to communities most affected.”
Spencer has always admired the work that Faith CDC does in Gary, he said, and he’s tried to support their organization as a politician and private citizen.
“It’s been invigorating to hear the development of their stories as well as the passion from a number of the individuals who are impacted,” Spencer said. “It’s been an eye-opening experience in terms of the passion and compassion in their work, along with the results and data they’ve provided with their initiative.”
Graves said it was wonderful to work with Spencer on the documentary.
“We’re not used to being on film, so he was very helpful and informative,” she added.
While Spencer and Graves both hope to see the film impact people locally, they’d also like to see an impact statewide through changes in the legislature. Spencer plans to use his position as a state senator to raise awareness for food security statewide, he said, and he wants to help Faith CDC achieve its goals.
Spencer also wants people locally to understand that Faith CDC can help with food access when they need it, he said.
“It’s an achievable goal, and I want people to realize it’s there for them,” Spencer said. “The exposure is what I’m looking for. I want more people to be aware of the great work of this program, and I’m hoping that they will be enlightened once they see the actual product of their organization.”
With Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program changes statewide and nationally, Graves believes now is the time for Faith CDC to advocate for those who need it.
“We want to focus on what’s made the program so successful,” she said. “We’re still going and looking for funding to continue, and we want to see change legislatively.”
Graves also hopes that the documentary helps bring people together and advocate for better food and health programs.
“We need people to come together,” she said. “If we all come together and help people get healthy, that would be great.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
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