Matt Feifarek : Social Enterprise and Service Work

2016-Current

Founder, executive director of FoodWorks Madison

2017:

  • News article: Won City of Madison “Emerging Opportunities Program” grant for $10K to design, build, and execute pilot of “First Course”.
  • Built first version of curriculum with University of Wisconsin curriculum expert, a food-business owner, and a professional chef
  • News article: Executed Pilot program, graduating 4 cooks and awarding $1000 completion bonus to each
  • Kickstarter: Designed, ran successful crowdfunding effort (raised 113% of our goal)
  • Invited to join the first Social Good Accelerator cohort

2018:

  • News video: Ran a second cohort of eight graduating students, refining the curriculum and teaching tactics to better meet student needs.
  • Invited to be the sponsored social enterprise for Forward Fest’s Spring Tech Kickoff
2018 - current
Coach/mentor for the Social Good Accelerator. Advised several social enterprises on refining models, pitches, etcetera, specializing in web content strategy.
2018
Mentor/advisor for Madison Startup Weekend. The team I briefly advised happened to win on an in-home private chef popup dinner party business concept.
2015
Taught cooking classes for Neighborhood Intervention Program at Madison Public Library’s Bubbler
Follow-up series of more cooking classes for teens living at Dane County Teen Jail.
2009-2018
Chair, Slow Food Madison. Managed a rotating team of volunteers across several initiatives and events, including ongoing projects, panel discussions, volunteer days, social events, etc.
Also desinged and implemented all organizational infrastructure and work patterns, including elections, direct marketing, IT infrastructure, social media, annual meetings, etc.
One of my most loved initiatives is the “Near-East Community Meal”, an all volunteer-run weekly cook by, for, and of the community that cooks a hot from-scratch meal for 40-60 eaters at a food pantry, each week, since 2012. I started, nurtered, refined, and attended this program. In 2018 I turned leadership over to two key volunteers.
2005-2009
Leadership board, Slow Food NYC. Key leadership role with still-ongoing initiatives including Snail of Approval and Slow U.
2005
Leadership board of Chelsea CSA