Not even a surprise downpour on an outdoor dinner party can dampen the enthusiasm of Kirsten Nafziger \u201889 Moore, recipient of the Community Engagement Award for Eastern Mennonite School 2019.<\/p>\n
That dinner\u2013a flora and fauna themed event with native and foraged foods\u2013took place on 834 private acres in George Washington National Forest in late July with the Sub Rosa Supper Club. Moore and her business partner host the themed dinners in unique venues about once a month; only 30 guests from a list of more than 1,500 hopefuls are lucky enough to attend by being the first to respond to Facebook announcements. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t go at all as we had planned, but in the end it was what Sub Rosa was always meant to be: a gathering of beautiful people around a dinner table,\u201d she wrote in a blog post about the event.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s that kind of attitude that makes Moore an obvious choice for EMS\u2019s first Community Engagement Award. She has used her gifts in food, writing, art, design, and business for nearly three decades to bring people together.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood breaks down barriers,\u201d she says. \u201cYou engage in different ways and ignore differences when you\u2019re sharing a meal in a beautiful place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Business with a flair<\/strong> Her connections and respect throughout the community set her up to launch a new venture in downtown Harrisonburg, Magpie, opening early 2020. Approached by local developers to join their efforts to revitalize property at the intersection of Liberty and Gay Streets, Moore decided to dive in.<\/p>\n The two-floor cement block former Big L Tire flatiron building offers just the space for Moore to do her magic. The lower level will house a breakfast and lunch \u201cmodern interpretation of the corner diner\u201d along with an in-house bakery making artisanal bread, pastries and pies. <\/p>\n Magpie will feature simple, locally-sourced breakfasts, a creative lunch menu and weekend brunches. \u201cI want it to be a place where people meet and are comfortable no matter what. I want to create an environment where both employees and customers want to come every day,\u201d Moore says. <\/p>\n The second floor will house The Perch at Magpie, a new location and brand for The Hub Coworking, which Moore launched at 128 W. Bruce Street in downtown Harrisonburg. Opened 2015, the membership-based workspace provides a professional office space for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and remote workers encouraging connection and collaboration for people who are typically working in isolated environments like a home office or bouncing between coffee shops. The Hub was the winner of the Outstanding Business award by Virginia Main Street in 2016.<\/p>\n Magpie has turned into \u201ca complex social animal,\u201d laughs Moore as she summarizes all of the moving parts. Not only will it be a beautiful workspace and restaurant, but it can also be used for gatherings and events of various sizes\u2013from workshops and seminars to art openings to larger evening events. An on-site coffee roaster tenant will \u201ckeep the whole place caffeinated,\u201d she says. While the diner will close at 3 each afternoon, the bakery doors will stay open longer for customers to grab coffee and pastries and even take home organic roasted chicken, bread and salads so families can be home having dinner together. \u201cI also want to be home having dinner with my family and I think that\u2019s an important piece of connection that we want to encourage.\u201d<\/p>\n Moore credits family roots for her love of sharing food. Her mother, Helen Steury Nafziger, threw parties when her father, Ken J. Nafziger, long-time music professor at Eastern Mennonite University, brought musicians to the house. \u201cShe had a habit of making 10 times more food than she needed, but what that showed guests was that there was plenty and all were welcome.\u201d Moore also has fond memories of family trips to Ohio with an abundance of simple, fresh food from the garden at her grandparents\u2019 farm table.<\/p>\n \u201cI love planning Sub Rosa dinners\u2026 the progression of a menu, learning a cuisine or a new technique, sourcing ingredients and, ultimately, seeing people enjoy it together,\u201d she reflects. \u201cThere\u2019s a fine line between pushing people\u2019s boundaries and making them completely comfortable at the same time.\u201d She hopes the new Magpie space will also encourage guests to be \u201ca little adventurous without really realizing it.\u201d <\/p>\n Moore was a liberal arts major at Eastern Mennonite University with minors in English and art. \u2013 Designer and marketing team leader at EMU The Award<\/strong> \u201c\u2018Community\u2019 is a word we use a lot here,\u201d Leaman continues. \u201cWe are deliberate about creating a culture of connection and care. Our alumni often stay in touch with one another long-term. We are proud they are going out and doing the same in churches, neighborhoods, workplaces and other settings as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Homecoming Weekend<\/strong>
\nSub Rosa Supper Club \u2014 featured in the June 2019 issue of Virginia Living magazine \u2014 is just a side gig for Moore.<\/p>\n
\nIn addition to Sub Rosa and The Hub, Moore\u2019s professional and community engagements include:<\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Founding member, Woodland Montessori School
\n\u2013 Freelance design and marketing consultation
\n\u2013 Founder of Taste, a farm-to-table catering company
\n\u2013 Founder of Rocktown Bites food tours
\n\u2013 Business development and marketing for Blue Ridge Architects (now Blue Line, owned by Randy Seitz \u201882)
\n\u2013 Author of Rocktown Food: Stories from Virginia\u2019s First Culinary District about Harrisonburg becoming the first (and only) Virginia Culinary District in 2014
\n\u2013 Contributor, Shen Valley Magazine
\n\u2013 Founder of The Project Studio, a creative and strategic services firm
\n\u2013 Board of directors for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and Shenandoah Valley Technology Council<\/p>\n
\nThis is the first year EMS has honored an alumnus with the Community Engagement Award. \u201cWe want to recognize alumni who are doing exactly what Kirsten models, using their gifts and talents to build community,\u201d says Paul Leaman, head of school.<\/p>\n
\nMoore will be honored during EMS Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 18-20. Alumni participants will enjoy a Homecoming Breakfast Saturday morning featuring a menu created by Moore. She will share with students about her personal and professional journey during chapel on Friday, Oct. 18. <\/p>\n