In a city where culture, community, and innovation intersect, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg continues to bring meaningful conversations to the forefront. On April 29, acclaimed culinary historian and author Michael W. Twitty will take the stage in St. Petersburg for an evening that goes far beyond food—it’s about identity, history, and the systems that shape how we live.
Hosted at the Center for Health Equity, this special event is part of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Speakers Who Inspire series, a program designed to spark dialogue and drive change across the region. Twitty, a James Beard Award-winning author, is known for his deeply researched and personal exploration of African American culinary history and its ties to culture and resilience.
Drawing from his groundbreaking book The Cooking Gene, Twitty will guide attendees through the stories embedded in the meals we eat. His work connects past and present, showing how food can be both a record of history and a tool for shaping a better future.
“Through such experiences, we gain inspiration and insight and spark ideas for how we can improve the systems and lived circumstances that shape our health,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, President and CEO of the Foundation. “Our Speakers Who Inspire series brings preeminent national thought leaders to our community to elevate our collective efforts to ensure that good health helps all people thrive.”
That mission aligns closely with the growing momentum behind Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, where conversations around wellness are expanding to include access, equity, and cultural understanding. Twitty’s perspective challenges audiences to think about food not just as nourishment, but as a reflection of power, heritage, and opportunity.
Widely recognized as a leading voice in African American foodways, Twitty has spent years preserving culinary traditions through his platform Afroculinaria. His reach spans major institutions like the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress, but his message remains grounded: understanding our food systems can help us better understand each other.
The April 29 event invites the St. Pete community to engage directly with that idea. Guests can expect an evening of conversation, connection, and reflection, with opportunities to meet local food system leaders and participate in a broader dialogue about health and equity in the region.
For a city that thrives on creativity and collaboration, this gathering is another example of how St. Pete helping shape a more inclusive and informed future—one conversation, and one meal, at a time.
Event Details
Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Doors open at 5:00 PM; book signing to follow)
Location: Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL
Registration: Free and open to the public (advance registration required)