Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama

1,000 Meals Before 9am

What did you do today before 9am? For Leanne Martinez, the chef at the Downtown Women’s Center, putting out 1,000 meals before 9am for women experiencing homelessness, is just her average Tuesday. During the pandemic, Leanne went into work every day to cook healthy and hot meals for the women she serves. Roundtable guests: Amy Turk, the CEO of the Downtown Women’s Center, and restaurateurs Jon Shook &amp; Vinny Dotolo.Learn more about the Downtown Women’s Center: <a href="https://downtownwomenscenter.org/">https://downtownwomenscenter.org/</a>Episode Transcript: <a href="https://app.trint.com/public/d5cc9b5c-edab-4b31-a7e6-1a5ab6e9f233">https://app.trint.com/public/d5cc9b5c-edab-4b31-a7e6-1a5ab6e9f233</a> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic introduced the term “Essential Workers” for a class of people who existed before and will persist long after the virus is gone. Vital to society, but rarely heard from, this “essential” class is often hit hardest by the imbalances and injustices of our culture. In each episode, host Wilmer Valderrama will have intimate conversations with people on the frontlines of the food system, transportation, child-care and other workers who are so often overlooked. That conversation leads to a round-table discussion with activists and politically-active celebrities, discussing themes, issues and areas of needed change. The show seeks to reveal the invisible connections between all of us.