Our July Meetup was centered around the Food Justice movement. It began with our traditional matriarchal and Indigenous land acknowledgement, and a pause to show respect to the agricultural workers who keep us nourished.
Our CEO Lili took a moment to highlight the inspirational work of Karen Washington, who centers her focus on a range of humanitarian issues from food apartheid to community development.
After reviewing our community guidelines, we introduced guest speaker Olinka Green.
“You can’t negotiate with a hungry stomach.” - Green
To say Olinka blew us away is an understatement. We were treated to intimate details of her journey in food justice work. A staple of her history in activism is when she joined the New Black Panther Party in 1991. Through working with The Poor Peoples’ Campaign Olinka helped her community, making sure everyone in need did not go hungry. She learned more about food sovereignty and how farming intersects with the urban ecosystem. She continually uplifts those around her and empowers her neighbors through her dedication in the fight for freedom and justice. We spoke about the history of community gardens, community fridges, Black farming during the Reconstruction, residential segregation, and how changing her zipcode saved her life.
“ There’s a time for protest and a time for plowing.” - Green
