YES Charter Academy, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Friday, September 19th
We’re delighted to kick off the Yuba Foothills Food & Water Festival with a special Farm-to-Table Dinner hosted by YES Charter. Enjoy a vibrant celebration of local abundance, featuring seasonal food and wine grown and raised right here in the Yuba Foothills. Presented by YES Charter’s Farm to School Team, this festive evening promises another unforgettable experience of community, flavor, and fun!
The dinner will be preceded by a Native Blessing Ceremony at 5:30pm
The Blessing of the Living Earth ceremony focuses on the sacredness of soil and water, the source of all nourishment and a symbol of our shared humanity. Through prayer and reflection, we will honor soil and water as living partners in our existence, express gratitude for their gifts, and renew our commitment in caring for them for our future generations.
(The Blessing Ceremony is a free event that we welcome anyone to join at YES Charter Academy starting at 5pm)
YES Charter Academy will host & sponsor this event
https://yubasciencefoundation.org/
https://yescharteracademy.org/
| Farm to Fork dinner schedule on Friday September 19th, 2025 $25 | |
|---|---|
| Time | Event |
| 5:30-6:00 | Opening ceremony |
| 6:00-9:00 | Dinner |
Ceremony “Honoring the ground beneath us”
by Mike Thompson
Everyone is welcome to join us for our Native blessing ceremony.
A blessing of the Living Earth
This ceremony focuses on the sacredness of soil and water, the source of all nourishment and a symbol of our shared humanity. Through prayer and reflection, we will honor soil and water as living partners in our existence, express gratitude for their gifts, and renew our commitment in caring for them for our future generations.
Mike Thompson
Michael Thompson, PCC
Tribal Elder, Director of Tribal Development
Enterprise Rancheria of Estom Yumeka Maidu
Michael Thompson is a respected Tribal Elder of the Enterprise Rancheria of Estom Yumeka Maidu and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (PCC), trained through UC Davis. He currently serves as the Tribe’s Director of Tribal Development, where he leads an 18-month workforce advancement program that provides Tribal Members with technical skills training, management development, and culturally grounded mentorship. His work plays a central role in preparing participants for professional success within both tribal enterprises and broader regional industries. This has led over 30 tribal members into professional careers.
In addition to his leadership in workforce development, Michael is an active member of the Tribe’s Elders Committee, where he provides cultural and strategic guidance to support the long-term vision and sovereignty of the Tribe. As a Community Support Leader and Pastoral Counselor, he offers emotional support, crisis response, and life coaching rooted in Indigenous values. He has facilitated educational workshops and conflict resolution sessions, and is a sought-after public speaker, having presented to audiences as large as 12,000.
Michael’s work is driven by a deep commitment to preserving and growing Indigenous cultural identity, not only honoring ancestral traditions but cultivating a vibrant living culture for future generations. He believes that Native peoples are not defined by hardship, but empowered by resilience, and that human dignity must remain at the heart of all leadership. He often reminds others that nature, shaped by the Creator, is still our greatest teacher.
