Event Toolkit

Food & Memory Night: Tastes That Tell Our Story

Theme & Purpose

Food & Memory Night brings young men together with caring adults to share cultural dishes and the family stories behind them. Food carries memory — recipes and meals remind us of who we are, where we come from, and the traditions that shape us. But just like food, we also carry stories and emotions that we usually don’t let others see about ourselves.

This event begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on their “outside self” (what they show the world) and their “inside self” (what they usually don’t let others see). With that reflection in mind, they share food and family stories that reveal deeper parts of their identity. By pairing masks with meals, participants experience how both flavor and honesty connect people, strengthen brotherhood, and build respect across cultures.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Self-Expression – Share culture, traditions, and family memories in a safe space.

  2. Deeper Reflection – Link personal stories to what they usually don’t let others see about themselves.

  3. Brotherhood & Pride – Build trust, respect, and cultural appreciation through food and storytelling.

Materials

  • A table or serving area

  • Plates, cups, utensils, napkins (reusable or disposable)

  • Optional: printed recipe cards for participants to take home

  • Camera/phone to capture dishes and moments (with permission)

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital version millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

Group Size

6–20 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

60–90 minutes total.

 

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Food & Memory Night: Tastes That Tell Our Story

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to Food & Memory Night: Tastes That Tell Our Story. Just like food, we each have layers — what we show on the outside and what we usually don’t let others see. Tonight begins with the #MillionMaskMovement so we can reflect on those layers. Then, as we share dishes and stories, we’ll see how food — like honesty — connects us to our families, our cultures, and each other.”

2. Food Roles & Invitations

  1. Adults: bring the majority of the food (main dishes, sides, desserts) to create abundance and variety.

  2. Young men: bring something small that has personal meaning — a snack, fruit, or treat that brings them comfort or connects to a positive memory.

  3. Purpose: Adults model generosity, while young men contribute something symbolic that ties to their own story.

3. Create a Mask (10 minutes)

  • Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to write/draw:

    • Front (outside): the version of themselves they usually show.

    • Back (inside): the emotions, values, and memories they usually don’t let others see.

  • Collect masks, shuffle, and redistribute.

  • Reflection: “Food tells a story, and so do our masks. Tonight, as you share your dish — whether it’s a big family recipe or a small snack — remember that both carry meaning. Just like what’s on the back of your mask, food can carry love, memory, and identity.”

4. Icebreaker (10 minutes)

Choose one:

  • First Bite Memory: Share the first food you remember eating when you were young.

  • One Word Flavor: Say one word that describes your favorite food from your culture.

5. Food & Story Sharing (35–40 minutes)

Each participant:

  1. Presents their dish.

  2. Shares the story:

    • Name of the dish (or snack/treat).

    • Where it comes from in their heritage or life.

    • A memory or tradition connected to it.

    • How it has adapted (or stayed the same) in America.

  3. Invites tasting — small samples shared while telling the story.

6. Group Reflection (10–15 minutes)

Prompts:

  • What did you learn about someone’s story or culture tonight?

  • How do food memories connect to emotions or values we don’t always show?

  • How can sharing food help us build respect and brotherhood?

7. Closing & Positive Action (10 minutes)

Reflection Notes:

  • Write down one dish or story you enjoyed most.

  • Note how food helps connect people across cultures.

  • Write one way you can use food to build friendship and understanding.

Host Closing Script:
“The flavors we shared tonight tell the story of who we are. Just as our masks revealed what we usually don’t let others see, our food revealed history, memory, and love. When we bring them forward together, we create pride, respect, and brotherhood.”

8. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-ons

  • Recipe Swap: Share recipes digitally or as handouts.

  • Mini Cooking Demo: Teach a quick step from your dish.

  • Food + Mask Collage: Create a display with photos of dishes alongside completed masks.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

Donate