In this episode of Edible Activist, we’re kicking off the year with a powerful conversation about Taking Nature Black, a conference dedicated to celebrating Black leadership in the environmental movement. 🌍✨ As an official media sponsor, I’m honored to amplify this year’s theme: “Reclamation & Resilience”—a call to reclaim our narratives, protect our land, and build a sustainable future.

Join me as I highlight the incredible speakers leading this movement, including Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. of Hip Hop Caucus, Dr. Carolyn Finney, Matt Scott, Wawa Gatheru, and more. We’ll dive into the importance of Black leadership in climate justice and how this event is more than just a conference—it’s a movement for systemic change.

📅 Taking Nature Black 2025 happens March 5-8 with virtual sessions, an in-person gathering in Silver Spring, MD, and outdoor nature experiences in the DC region.

Tune in to learn more, and don’t forget to register at natureforward.org. Let’s come together to amplify Black voices in the fight for climate justice!

🎧 Listen now and follow @edibleactivist for updates! #TakingNatureBlack #ClimateJustice #EdibleActivist

Join me as I reflect on 2024—celebrating Edible Activist’s key milestones, and the exciting journey ahead in amplifying Black voices in growing spaces.

In this episode, we sit down with Najee Ellerbe, founder of Everybody's Juice, to explore the journey behind his growing health-focused business. We revisit his origin story, building on his previous appearance in Episode #56, and discuss the biggest lessons he's learned along the way. Najee also shares the benefits of ashwagandha, a supplement he offers through Everybody's Juice, which played a key role in his own healing journey. Finally, he explains how he integrated HSA/FSA into his business model to make healthy juice more affordable and accessible.

In this episode of Edible Activist, we welcome back LaMonika Jones, Executive Director of DC Hunger Solutions, to discuss the latest updates on SNAP benefits, focusing on the changes with Give SNAP a Raise and its impact on families in the District. We’ll also delve into the Farm Bill, highlighting the importance of finalizing legislation that supports all aspects of the food ecosystem. Tune in for these essential updates!

In this episode, students from the Youth Entrepreneurship Cooperative at Common Good City Farm take the lead, sharing their experiences exploring urban farming, food systems, and small business entrepreneurship. Through their initiative, "Youth Common Agrowments," the teens developed community agreements to address local challenges and created their own hot sauce brand, "Hot Topic." Focused on raising the wage floor for youth and advocating for their future, this mission-driven project highlights the power of youth leadership. Listen as these teens discuss how they're cultivating change in their community through growth, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

We sit down with Farmer Wes, aka The Compost King, as he shares his inspiring journey and entrepreneurial legacy from his roots to his current role in urban agriculture. Explore his early agricultural experiences in Trinidad, from knocking down mangoes with bamboo shoots as a child, to his transformative journey through the Regenerative Agriculture Certificate program at Common Good City Farm. Wes unpacks the essentials of composting, its importance for growing healthy food, and what farming has looked like during this sweltering summer. Plus, get an insider's look at his involvement in other food justice initiatives and find out his top vegetable and fruit pick of the season. Tune in!

Join us on this episode as we welcome Carmen and Kara, the dynamic duo behind Prosperity Market LA—a unique farmers market on wheels and food truck that features Black farmers, food producers, and chefs, bringing a curated market experience to the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Discover their inspiring origin story and how they joined forces to revolutionize LA's food scene. We explore the challenges of food access in the city and how Prosperity Market LA is making a tangible impact on the local community. Carmen and Kara share their vision for the future, discuss the opportunities and hurdles of their innovative business model, and delve into sustaining Black businesses and the resources needed for economic stability. Plus, they highlight influential Black women who have significantly supported their journey. Tune in for an enlightening and empowering conversation!

Be sure to follow @prosperitymarketla journey on instagram!