THE DINNER ROLL CAMPAIGN
During the heart of the pandemic, in the summer of 2020, Josh co-founded an organization called the Dinner Roll Campaign. Working in collaboration with producer Blake Swerdloff, and a group of highly talented and dedicated creatives and strategists, we dreamed up a series of projects aimed at supporting non profits who were on the frontlines of helping combat food insecurity and supporting independent restaurants. Using our connections and networks in the food and entertainment industry, we first produced a storytelling event called Eating Stories, a moth style story telling fundraiser event for City Harvest and the James Beard Organization.
In addition, Josh spearheaded the creation of a digital art project called the Dinner Roll Dance - which took Josh and the team 3 years to complete. This dynamic digital art mosaic consists of video performances from top NYC chefs, entertainers and restaurateurs. This project will be featured and auctioned at City Harvest's 2023 Spring Gala. In an ode to Charlie Chaplin’s iconic dinner roll dance featured in his film, The Gold Rush, this dynamic moving collage was made during the height of pandemic, and is a poignant snapshot in time and a historic artifact from a uniquely complicated moment in time. With each individual New Yorker dancing separately within their own world, they are united in the larger frame of this beautiful mosaic. The "Dinner Roll Dance" is a reminder of the bond that unites us when we work together to strengthen our communities.
Most recently, after learning about the devastating cuts to arts programs throughout NYC, Josh and the team expanded the focus of Dinner Roll Campaign into the education space supporting underserved communities through a program called Dinner Roll TV (aka DRTV).
For the pilot program, Josh is currently teaching a weekly after school program at YCD High School in Flatbush Brooklyn - a Title 1 High School. The goal with DRTV is to teach and cultivate a new crop of diverse content creators. and in turn, to create a new pipeline for these kids to go on in their lives to pursue future opportunities in the creative, entertainment and or food/ restaurant industry and marketplaces. The current DRTV curriculum is focusing on content/ media / marketing projects that support local restaurants and food banks in their own backyards. Through the process, the kids will gain valuable creative and technical skills and a great sense of pride in giving back.
DINNER ROLL DANCE
Supporting local restaurants & food insecurity one fork at a time.
Dinner Roll Campaign Brand Video
