Hello friends of BIPOC Foodways Alliance and BIPOC Foodways Alliance Table,
Happy New Year to you!
First, we would like to say thank you for your support. Whether you contributed to us financially, or showed up to one of our events, or if you just keep an eye on us on social media– we are very grateful for your attention and energy.
It’s been almost a full year since we formally began this project to use food storytelling to dismantle white supremacy with our kickoff fundraiser at Glasshouse Minneapolis.
Since then, we have hosted 6 BIPOC Foodways Alliance Table dinners in partnership with our co-hosts at Glass House, Public Functionary and our home. We’re planning many dinners in 2024 in our home; we think it creates a more homey atmosphere for the rich and intimate conversations we have at the Table.
In addition to our monthly dinner series, we curated an exquisite experience at Paisley Park for the George Floyd Memorial Gala in celebration of Mr. Floyd’s life. Our many local food partners including Chelle’s Kitchen, Soul Bowl, Soul to Soul as well as many others made this meaningful event truly spectacular— it was like the world’s best cookout!
We also repped BFAT at the James Beard Foundation’s brand new space Platform at Chelsea Pier in New York City; were featured in both local and national media; we presented in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at their second annual BIPOC Festival; and we received generous support from both individuals and organizations such as PLIFT Hemp-infused Beverages and coming in February 2024, The Wedge Change Matters round-up program.
These are just a few highlights, not to mention all of the beautiful Tables we executed with our co-hosts– programming which aims to archive, share, and uplift under-told stories about food and people, while simultaneously breaking down cultural barriers.
Want to learn more? Check out our YouTube channel for videos of each Table (more to come soon!) as well as our Instagram for photos and posts. Our newly launched Substack newsletter is the direct link to Mecca’s storytelling about all things BFA and beyond. We particularly appreciate your financial support on Substack which goes directly to BFA programming!
For 2024, we are hoping to begin recording oral histories with our co-hosts, finish work on a book proposal, and launch a ‘zine. All of this of course costs money, and we need your financial support to grow our work of dismantling white supremacy through food.
If you did contribute to BFA in the amount of $250 or more in 2023, you will receive a gift receipt in a separate email prior to January 31, 2024.
Thank you from everyone at BIPOC Foodways Alliance! We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.