10/15/2026
We are so honored and excited to have Chef Christina Strickland Theodorou joining us for this year’s Harvest Dinner!
A member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Christina is the founder of Átkowa Indigenous Foodways, a foodways and catering business dedicated to celebrating the Indigenous cuisines of the Americas. Átkowa means “gather” in her language… fitting for our evening of celebrating the roots that feed us!
Through her cooking and work as an emerging clay artist, Christina honors ancestral food traditions and Southeastern Indigenous stories of creation, land, and sustenance. Her roles as a daughter, sister, and mother ground her artistry in kinship, resilience, and love.
Beyond the kitchen, Christina brings 15 years of experience supporting small business development across North Carolina. She has worked in tribal leadership development and tribal affairs at the state, university, and federal levels, helping strengthen tribal assets and economies while advocating for equity in Indigenous communities.
Christina also serves as program manager for ACIER with UNC-Chapel Hill’s NCGrowth team, connecting minority- and women-owned businesses with anchor institutions and helping expand opportunities for small business owners.
We’re grateful to have her sharing her talents and knowledge with us. Join us November 14 at Vista At Walnut Hill for an evening benefiting Happy Roots! Tickets on sale now!
