In Episode 3 of Foodagogy, host Angeline Aow sits down with Vicky Truong—an educator, community organizer, and founder of Pockets of Change. Together, they explore the intersection of culinary heritage and social justice. Vicky shares her personal journey growing up in a cross-cultural household with Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese roots, and explains how the universal concept of a dumpling (or "pocket") can serve as a profound tool for teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools.
About our Guest: Vicky Truong is an educator and social activist. She is the founder of Pockets of Change, an initiative that uses food and communal cooking to facilitate cross-cultural exchange and promote systemic equity in educational spaces.
Connect with Vicky:Instagram: Pockets of ChangeKey Discussion Points:
The Power of Communal Cooking: Vicky reflects on her childhood in Australia, where preparing and sharing large family meals fostered deep bonds and trust.
Pockets of Change: The concept of a "pocket" (like a dumpling or spring roll) exists in nearly every culture. Vicky uses this shared culinary phenomenon to bridge cultural divides and spark deep conversations about identity.
Food as a Catalyst for DEI: Traditional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training in organizations often lacks deep personal resonance. Using food as a medium allows participants to reflect on their own histories, build empathy, and create genuine intercultural exchanges.
Creating Psychologically Safe Spaces in Schools: By integrating diverse culinary experiences into the classroom, educators can help students of the global majority feel seen and valued, challenging dominant cultural norms and fostering true belonging.
Related Research & Interests
This episode drops on theInternational Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March). Because anti-racist change-making starts interpersonally, one meal, one story, one shared table at a time. 🌍
Join a community dedicated to anti-racism:
European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and communities for Teachers, Academics and DEI practitioners
Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color
Please email links to local communities in your region to foodagogy.podcast@gmail.com so we can add to this list.
"...because of migration and what ingredients are available to a community, what can be used to fill this pocket that still allows people to hold onto something from their culture and pass it on to the next generation that they might have been displaced from" — Vicky Truong
Connect with us: Are you an educator or a foodie interested in how these themes play out in the classroom? Subscribe on Substack so the next conversation lands straight in your inbox.
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Foodagogy is produced by EKG Collective, with editing by Gitane Reveilleau and Kirk McDavitt. Music by Paul Romaine and artwork by Xoài David.
