Share Partner Spotlight: Black Power Initiative

Food is Bigger than just Food

Written by, John Hahn

One of the biggest inequalities in modern-day America is the quality and quantity of fresh food in different neighborhoods. Centuries of systemic discrimination have led to poorer communities, especially predominantly Black communities, receiving the least attention when it comes to fresh food quality and quantity. These communities are often referred to as "food deserts," but "food apartheid" is a more accurate term that depicts the unnatural and systemic targeting of these communities.

In 2020, La Soupe moved to Walnut Hills, one of the many predominantly Black communities in Cincinnati that no longer have their own grocery store. Rico Blackman, the founder of Black Power Initiative (BPI), another Walnut Hills-based nonprofit, said, "I can count at least ten predominantly Black neighborhoods that do not have grocery stores. I lived in one half my life, Evanston. I remember having to go to Norwood to get groceries or go to Corryville or even Oakley. My personal experience made me empathize and feel connected to the folks we serve in Walnut Hills."

The inequality in neighborhoods can be linked to a mid-20th-century policy called redlining. Redlining historically kept Black people from living in certain neighborhoods. This practice also led to a racially biased urban policy that prevented Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) residents from building wealth through home and land ownership. This, in turn, created cycles of generational poverty, which are worsened by the negative health effects of our unequal food systems. In communities like Walnut Hills, the absence of grocery stores forces residents to rely on corner stores and dollar stores for their food. These stores often lack fresh and healthy options, which can lead to health issues like hypertension, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This situation prompted La Soupe to launch its Food as Medicine program, and it's why BPI aims to expand into healthcare in the future. Blackman noted, "Our closest healthcare-related efforts have involved working with CCS (Coalition for Community Safety). We've been involved in mutual aid, harm reduction, and Narcan training. In 2021, we also provided free mental health therapy sessions with the help of my therapist, Tana, who generously donated her time to therapy sessions.

BPI's Mission and Programs
BPI is currently focusing on two main programs: Nurture Our Own and Liberated Minds Institute (LMI). They serve approximately 600 people in Walnut Hills and are led by a group of around 12 volunteers.

In the past year (July 2022 to July 2023), BPI has rescued 36,445 pounds of food and served 12,300 people. Their mission is to "nourish, sustain, and empower all of Black America by actively removing barriers to access healthy food security, literacy, housing, healthcare, and wealth."

Nurture Our Own has partnered with the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) to offer cooking classes in the new Cincinnati Children's Museum kitchen. These classes started on October 6th and will run for eight weeks every Thursday. The classes begin with a one-chef-per-student approach, with the goal of attracting chefs like La Soupe's Chef Koree Scroggins. BPI plans to compensate the chefs for their time and expertise.

Blackman mentioned that these classes will provide young kids with the opportunity to boost their confidence in cooking, gain internships, and become apprentices for future classes.

LMI just finished a series of six weeks of literacy nights in partnership with Household Books, a local bookstore in Walnut Hills. Bobby Minelli, the owner of Household Books, has been very supportive of BPI's events and has generously given away free books. Minelli and BPI are even considering a Spiderman giveaway, which would let kids in the community take home their own comic books.

Blackman explained that these literacy nights aren't your typical book club setting; they provide an open and relaxed atmosphere for people to read freely.

BPI has some exciting events in the pipeline, including a trivia night scheduled for November 4th at Chameleon. They are also actively seeking employers to organize a job fair in the near future.

While BPI has previously hosted events like cookouts, open mics, and poetry slams, the organization recognized the challenges these events posed, especially for its board members. In response to this, in the summer of 2023, Blackman established an events team to better manage and execute future activities.

BPI received more great news in August as it was awarded a grant to buy a refrigerated truck. This will allow Nurture Our Own to continue to expand its network. Along with this, BPI approved a plan to begin buying wholesale food from local farmers and distribution centers. Needless to say, BPI is growing every day. The roots of the organization began to form in 2017, leading to its founding in 2020. Blackman said, "Originally, we started off wanting to organize and protest, be an asset to the people organizing already. We also wanted to do our own thing and figure out 'where's the need at,' 'what's the pulse of the community.' One of the first things that was really important for us and the community was, 'How can we connect food sources?' and 'How can we provide a sense of relief?'" Blackman volunteered with several organizations before deciding to create BPI. But, how do you start a nonprofit from the ground up? Blackman said, "There were a lot of growing pains at the very beginning. I had an idea in my head, and there was nobody else with the same idea in their head. I had to find people whose values were similar to mine. It took a lot of time and energy to meet people, message people, call people, and see if they'd be interested."

The Power of Connection Through Food
While learning and progress take time, organizations, mutual aid groups, and cooperatives play a vital role in fostering greater equity within communities. It's essential to understand that positive change can come from the very people who make up a community. Above all, it's crucial to recognize that individuals are products of the systems and environments they inhabit. As Blackman pointed out, acknowledging the impact of these systems empowers us to approach those we serve with constructive conversations. By affirming that the situation is not their fault, we liberate them and ourselves from the burden of blame and responsibility that has weighed us down. This liberation paves the way for a focused pursuit of solutions.

It's important for organizations not only to provide assistance to the community but to forge genuine connections with it. Every individual, regardless of their background, deserves equal respect and understanding. Food can play a powerful role in establishing these connections.

As Blackman aptly expressed, a meal served transcends its physical nourishment; it embodies a connection, a manifestation of love and care.