Support ANV and fight injustice through urban farming

Whenever I can’t sleep I find myself scrolling through the beautifully curated images of food on Pinterest. Gluten free wild mushroom empanadas? Yes please. Sorrel pesto rice bowl with feta? Sign me up. These images lull me into a satiated make-believe food coma. Every, damn, time.

I love food. I love how food brings people together. I love eating it and cooking it. I love the challenge of creating dishes that I know my kids won’t eat. I love the tradition and history surrounding recipes passed down through generations. My appreciation for good food didn’t happen overnight though. I am a late bloomer and there’s still a 5 year old trapped in this adult body who can subsist on dinosaur chicken nuggets and boxed mac & cheese.

My love of “yellow foods” (as my sister calls them) is strong. When I moved to the Bay Area for college I was exposed to a world of food that I didn’t know existed. Working in restaurants during the resurgence of the farm to table movement showed me that brussels sprouts are delicious and that food is much more than conventionally grown and processed boxed foods. I learned that food is powerful.

Food can fuel social change by giving impoverished communities the ability to sustain themselves. It bridges the gap between cultural preservation and assimilation. It fosters community and provides comfort. It can heal and provide hope. It nourishes, strengthens, and provides a sense of safety. Unfortunately, food insecurity is real. Many parts of Oakland are deemed “food deserts” meaning that people living in these neighborhoods have little to no access to fresh food. Most food deserts are disportionately found in black and brown communities. Which is why I support Acta Non Verba: Urban Farm Project. I joined the Executive Board this year and am proud to help further ANV’s mission.

ANV is committed to changing food inequality by empowering East Oakland residents to grow and tend to their own organically grown produce. I am proud to support this incredible organization because access to nutritious food is an important step to dismantle racism and social injustice. Don’t get me wrong, I will still go bananas for some crappy nachos but I fully believe access to healthy food is a basic human right.

Help me raise funds for ACTA NON VERBA YOUTH URBAN FARM PROJECT

Just a small donation will go a long way