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An upcoming community event at Western Illinois University will bring together students, faculty, and residents to explore how food, storytelling, and community gatherings can help people cope with grief and strengthen social connections.
The PIEOWA screening and community gathering will take place April 15 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Garden Lounge at Malpass Library. The event will feature a screening and discussion inspired by the story of Beth M. Howard, whose experience of using pie-making as a way to process the sudden loss of her husband grew into a broader community tradition centered on healing through shared food and conversation.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to sample a variety of pies—including apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, key lime, sweet potato, and pecan—while participating in conversations about resilience, grief, and the role of community in emotional well-being.
The event is part of a collaborative academic initiative that allows graduate students to apply public health and health promotion concepts to a real-world community engagement project.
