FUND #BlackFoodFridays!

TL;DR: Help me expand #BlackFoodFridays into a digital food content company.

LONGER STORY: Hey, y'all! My name is KJ Kearney. I started #BlackFoodFridays on April 5, 2020, with the goal of creating a platform to encourage everyone to support Black-owned restaurants every Friday. Within the week, I got support from CNN Political Analyst, Bakari Sellers, who gave us funds to purchase food from Black-owned restaurants to provide meals to 100 essential workers in Charleston. I have a video to prove it! See below where I talk with Bakari, John Mitchell, Keith Benjamin, and JA Moore about the work. 


Next, I partnered with Mount Moriah Baptist Church to donate 100 more meals to essential workers.

IN THE PRESS: In just eight weeks, I have been featured in Eater Carolinas , The Post & Courier , HolyCitySinner , WCBD News 2 (video below), and the Charleston City Paper . PLUS I have a new agreement with the Charleston Wine + Food Festival (more on that later)!


Only a few months in existence, BFF has grown to over 4500 followers on Instagram (3300 joined me on this journey the month of June), and I have been approached by individuals and businesses, both large and small, who want to know: "What's next?"

WHAT'S NEXT: I'm glad you asked! As a writer whose work centers on the Black Experience, challenges convention (at least I think so), and is always working to elevate Black AND Gullah Geechee culinary culture, I think it's only natural to meld those individual passions into one business model. The goal is to create a digital food content company that centers the Black culinary experience. 

HOW WILL WE DO IT: When funded, I will expand the offerings of BFF to include a podcast, YouTube channel, merchandising arm, book publishing, and cultural/culinary consulting. We will still document Black-owned restaurants, chefs, bakers, baristas, food trucks, and food manufacturers via our growing Instagram platform. 

WHAT ARE YOU FUNDING: 

- Business development (business infrastructure, trade/service marks)

- Podcasting equipment/software

- Camera

- Branding services (logo, branding guidelines)

- Website (blog, e-commerce) 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET FUNDED PAST OUR GOAL: WHEN that happens (manifesting!), we will use the extra funds to purchase more gift cards from Black-owned restaurants and donate them to essential workers and supporters of Black Food Fridays.

FOLLOW US: https://instagram.com/blackfoodfridays