The Wall of Hope is an energizing grass-roots movement serving as the underpinning of the SŌW Plated brand bringing together families and businesses united by a philosophy embracing integrated holistic treatment for mental health conditions. Its’ advocates are recognized as Champions for Hope. Our belief is that empowering treatment plans inclusive of the whole individual’s mind, body, and spirit work best to promote sustained wellness verses treatment plans that focus solely on the symptoms of a diagnosed medical disorder. The Wall of Hope’s mission is to (a) provide fresh, high quality, nutrient-rich meals for families enduring an immediate mental health crisis, and (b) educate our community about food’s evidence-based relationship with the human brain, and (c) develop creatively imagined hyper-local activities promoting mindfulness.
Until we push ourselves as far as we are able, we will never know how far it is we can go. SŌW Plated is the first restaurant of its kind in the U.S. to be built on an evidence-based platform connecting food with brain health. Regretfully, lost in the mental health debate is the undeniable relationship food shares with mood. The Wall of Hope will touch on this sadly overlooked opportunity by finally introducing nutrition to the mental health conversation, delivering visible results for every citizen of our community to see in real-time. Standing immediately in front of us is the fact that family units caring for an individual battling a mental health condition face unimaginable headwinds the likes very few people can appreciate. The journey is incredibly lonely, with every step inherently filled with heavy, relentless waves of stress. Certain basic acts of assistance and education however are readily available to us guaranteed to radiate as beacons of light for these families desperately in search for any sign of hope.
“Social consciousness is a responsibility we hold dear to our core, so we’re always on the lookout for
ways to improve the mental welfare of those most at-risk, and we couldn’t be more thrilled than to
partner with the Fahlgren family and their awe-inspiring Wall of Hope project. You guys rock!”
O.A.R.
Multi-platinum musical artists
Alums The Ohio State University
“What a true privilege to join John and Sunny Fahlgren to support my mission of improving the mental health of humanity by the food we eat.”
Dr. Uma Naidoo
Professional Chef, Nutritional Biologist
Nutritional Psychiatrist, Harvard
Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Psychiatry,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Author of International Best Seller: This is Your Brain on Food
Nate Ellis, ThisWeek
Published July 27, 2022
The owners of an Upper Arlington restaurant that focuses on locally sourced and pesticide-free food will launch a foundation in August they hope will help facilitate conversations about mental health and the role of nutrition in overall wellness.
Since opening SOW Plated at Shops on Lane Avenue in July 2019, John and Sunny Fahlgren have sought to “celebrate eating at its highest level” with a menu that focuses heavily on natural and local offerings.
