Bwif Magazine 2021
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by DINE DIASPORA Allegra Tomassa Massaro & Gaïana Joseph Game Changer Honorees THE 2021 HONOREES 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD FOUNDERS' NOTE message from Dine Diaspora 2020 taught us all a lot about vulnerability. We came together to figure out how to survive a pandemic, raise our collective voices against social injustices and connect with allies to combat adverse systematic structures that affect BIPOC people, especially Black women. During Women’s History Month where there is light shone on the many accomplishments of women in various industries, we hone in on the voices, narratives, and contributions of Black women in the food and beverage industry. Out of over 600 nominations from around the world 31 exemplary honorees were selected by judges, who are also Black women leaders in the food and beverage industry. The breadth and impact of this year’s honorees are undeniable. Meet the honorees and learn more about their work in our partner events throughout March and beyond. Co-founders, Dine Diaspora Maame Boayke Nana Ama Afari-Dwamena Nina Oduro 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD BACKGROUND about the initiative Dine Diaspora’s “31 Days of Black Women in Food” celebrates the achievements and advancements of black women in the food and beverage industry during Women’s History Month in March. Each year, black women in the food and beverage industry are nominated by a community of food enthusiasts, advocates, and experts in 6 categories that highlight their respective accomplishments. Nominations for each category are carefully reviewed by judges who then select the 31 finalists who will be featured. CATEGORIES: 1. GAME CHANGER: A game changer is an individual that uses their voice or influence to bring about change or catalyze growth for individuals or groups. 2. INNOVATOR: An innovator is an individual introducing new or unique methods, approaches, ideas, and/products. 3. TRAILBLAZER: A trailblazer is a well-accomplished leader who has paved the way for others and has made groundbreaking contributions in the culinary field. 4. CREATOR: A creator is an individual that uses food as a tool or medium of expression and/or connection with others. 5. CULINARIAN: A culinarian is an individual that is trained or self- taught in the art of cooking. 6. AMPLIFIER: An amplifier is an individual that leverages their voice and platform(s) to highlight others through storytelling. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD GAME CHANGER Beny Ashburn Beny Ashburn (Los Angeles, CA, USA) is a Co- founder and CEO at Crowns & Hops Brewing Co., a company dedicated to preserving culture, expanding the palate and fostering inclusivity in the craft beer industry by ensuring that racial equity is achieved. On a mission to create spaces that are community centric with underserved communities in mind, Ashburn and her team plan to open a one of a kind brewery in downtown Inglewood, CA in 2021. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD GAME CHANGER Devita Davison Devita Davison (Detroit, MI, USA) is the Executive Director at Foodlab Detroit, a community of food entrepreneurs committed to making the possibility of good food in Detroit a sustainable reality by designing, building and maintaining systems to grow a diverse ecosystem of triple-bottom-line food businesses as part of a good food movement that is accountable to all persons in Detroit. In her capacity, she has been able to transform the food industry through issuing support to locally owned food entrepreneurs and working to cultivate, connect and catalyze a supportive community of food entrepreneurs. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD GAME CHANGERS Allegra Tomassa Massaro & Gaïana Joseph Allegra Massaro and Gaïana Joseph (Washington, DC/New York City, NY, USA) are the Co-founders of Fuel the People. Guided by the belief that food is the fuel for the revolution, Fuel the People supports and nourishes communities by providing meals to those in need through partnerships with local Black and POC chefs and restaurants. Founded in June 2020, Fuel the People began in the kitchens of its founders and has since provided over 40,000 meals to protestors, voters in long lines in marginalized neighborhoods, and food and housing insecure individuals and families across DC & NYC, all while supporting local businesses through its restaurant partnerships. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD GAME CHANGER Angela McKee-Brown Angela McKee Brown (Oakland, CA, USA) is the Executive Director at The Edible Schoolyard Project, an organization dedicated to providing hands on experiences that connect students to food, nature and community while systematically addressing the crisis of climate change, public health and social inequality. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Brown led the organization in launching an edible education at home series and an organic Community Support Agriculture (CSA) box program to provide Stockton, CA residents with continued access to nourishing meals directly from local farmers when schools closed. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD GAME CHANGER Sicily Johnson Sicily Johnson (New York City, NY, USA) is the Co- founder and Executive Chef of Food + People, which focuses on providing easy to access and quality foods. Using pop-ups to serve the community, Johnson has fed protesters during marches against racism, employed formerly incarcerated youth, and donated to community development initiatives. Her community focused lens also translated into the online space when she used her platform to highlight and support the work of Black chefs affected by the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is continuously providing an edible piece of culture that is deeply tied to her roots and creating food spaces that foster community. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD INNOVATOR Andrea Drummer Andrea Drummer (Los Angeles, CA, USA) is Co-owner and Chef at The Original Cannabis Cafe, the United States’ first restaurant to legally sell marijuana for on-site consumption located in West Hollywood, California. Drummer is the author of the landmark book Cannabis Cuisine: Bud Pairings of A Born Again Chef, the Director of Food and Beverage at Elevation VIP Cooperative, a medicinal marijuana dispensary specializing in premium innovative cuisine, and produced the Spotify series, “Breaking Bread,” where guests taste multi-course Cannabis infused dinners. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD INNOVATOR Julia Collins Julia Collins (San Francisco, CA, USA) co-founded Zume Pizza, a pizza company staffed by humans and robots that became the first unicorn company ever founded by a Black woman. Collins is currently the founder of Planet FWD, a company that uses “the magic of food to help reverse climate change.” Collins' company launched Moonshot Snacks, which uses ingredients from farmers that use regenerative agriculture practices. Regenerative agriculture is a farming technique that aims to reverse the effects of climate change by capturing carbon in soil and aboveground biomass, which increases biodiversity, enriches soils and improves watersheds. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD INNOVATOR Krystal Mack Krystal Mack (Baltimore, MD, USA) is an Interdisciplinary Artist, who has seamlessly streamlined culinary artistry with causes and social issues that are prevalent to her community. Mack uses food as a tool for social change to enable a person to be present with oneself, one’s city and their history. Mack founded In Absence Of Design, a studio that views food from the perspective of social design. The studio has created installations and public events for Baltimore Museum of Art and The Walters Art Museum. In addition, Mack’s publication, How To Take Care, a digital guide of collaborative recipes and rituals, raised over $10,360 in 30 days for organizations around the world supporting Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence victims during the COVID-19 pandemic. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD INNOVATOR Sara Menker Sara Menker (New York City, NY, USA) is Founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence, an analytics start-up deploying artificial intelligence systems for food security and climate stability solutions. Menker created the data platform to pull global agricultural data from several data sets and then employ artificial intelligence to create forecasts for supply, demand and pricing. With such innovation, Menker is providing solutions for issues around food security and ensuring access to food while monitoring climate change that impacts agricultural systems. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD INNOVATOR Bethel Tsegaye Bethel Tsegaye (Beltsville, MD, USA) is the founder and baker at Teff & Co., a vegan and gluten free bakery which provides healthy and allergen free baked goods. Tsegaye is changing the baking industry by introducing the ancient grain Teff, indigenous to Ethiopia and Eritrea, into baked goods. Teff, is a naturally whole grain flour full of nutrients, adds richness to breads, cakes, cookies and pastries. Tsegaye’s company prides itself on quality and delicious tasting foods that are vegan and gluten free, breaking the myth that flavor must be compromised for people with plant based lifestyles or gluten allergies. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD CREATOR Alexis Nikole Nelson Alexis Nikole Nelson (Columbus, Ohio, USA) is a content creator and “Black forager” focused on finding naturally growing ingredients that can be incorporated in everyday food preparation to make healthy wholesome meals. Nelson documents her adventures foraging for food in her neighborhood and educates audiences on foraging and creating recipes from everyday edible outdoor finds. Since embarking on creating content on TikTok, Alexis has been able to bring together close to half a million followers interested in food. 31 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN FOOD CREATOR Catina Smith Catina Smith (Baltimore, MD, USA) is the Founder of Just Call Me Chef, a call to action movement, that highlights Black Women Chefs and promotes sisterhood that is aimed at “driving equity and inclusion in every kitchen”. Through creative means, Smith showcases the work and contributions of Black women chefs, from a featured chef calendar to providing opportunities for women to celebrate each other's work.