Philadelphia is known as a great destination for vegan food, but it wasn’t always so. This week we talk with Carmella Lanni, one of the activists who helps to cultivate the plant-based abundance Philly is known for via pop-up events and Philly Vegan Restaurant Week.

Carmella Lanni is co-owner of V Marks the Shop, which operated  Philadelphia’s first all-vegan grocer/convenience store, proudly a Black & Queer-owned business. She is also the creator of Philly Vegan Pop Flea/Philly Vegan Events, hosting vegan-centric community pop-up markets and events since 2016. She is also one of the co-organizers of Philly Vegan Restaurant Week, Philadelphia’s premiere vegan restaurant week launched in 2018 (founded by Nicole Koedyker). Her background includes over 20 years in digital commerce, working as an analyst and consultant to small businesses & Fortune 500 companies. She believes that business can be compassionate and community-connecting all year round. A native of Bronx, New York, Carmella enjoys baking, watching anime and crime dramas, pulling Tarot cards, making playlists, and hanging with cats.

• V Marks The Shop Website
• V Marks The Shop on Instagram
• V Marks The Shop on Facebook

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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision-makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.