Twitty will speak on “A New Recipe for a Beloved Community: How Food and Food Knowledge Can Help Repair the Broken.”
Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life will host world-renowned food writer, independent scholar,and culinary historian Michael Twitty as the keynote speaker for the 10th annual Ripple Conference, taking place Feb. 13-15, 2026.
Twitty will speak on “A New Recipe for a Beloved Community: How Food and Food Knowledge Can Help Repair the Broken,” offering a rich exploration of how food, culture, religion and identity intersect to build understanding and connection.
This year’s theme, “A Recipe for Interfaith,” celebrates the conference’s milestone 10th anniversary while inviting participants to consider how both literal and metaphorical ingredients can foster dialogue, learning, and shared community.
“Having Michael Twitty as our keynote speaker is an amazing addition to this year’s Ripple conference,” shared student co-director Rocco Albano ’26. “His award winning work as a culinary historian and author, particularly his exploration of the rich culinary culture of the African-American Jewish community, fits perfectly with this year’s theme of a recipe for interfaith. I’m incredibly excited to have him be a part of the Ripple conference, and to hear what he’s going to share!
Student co-director Lauren Bedell added, “Michael Twitty’s intersectionality gives way to a rich exploration of how cooking, culture, religion and identity all serve as ingredients in a story greater than any single dish, one that invites us to reflect on where we come from, where we are now, and who we can become, both individually and collectively.”
The Ripple Conference, Elon’s annual student-led interfaith gathering, provides attendees from across the country with the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with peers from a wide variety of faith, spiritual and ethical traditions.
Student leaders emphasize that Ripple is built by and for students, creating an environment where participants can learn about interfaith not only from conference events, but from one another.
“Ripple offers a unique opportunity to engage with students from across the country, each bringing their own religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions into a space where learning, curiosity, and unfamiliarity is welcomed,” added Bedell. “A ‘Recipe for Interfaith,’ sets the table, using ingredients both literally and metaphorically to cook up new connections, deeper understanding, and a shared sense of hope and possibility.”
Registration for the conference has been extended through Feb. 5, 2026. There is also an option to register for Twitty’s keynote address only, which will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 6 p.m.
More about the Ripple Conference
Registration information can be found at rippleconference.org. .
Elon students are eligible for special discounted tickets to the conference – please email rippleconference@elon.edu or conference advisor Hillary Zaken, director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement, for details.
For more information and updates about the Ripple Conference, follow Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life on Instagram and Facebook, and visit the Truitt Center website or the Ripple Conference page.