I Believe In B.L.A.C.K. Food Systems!

" Do you believe that communities should own and operate their own food systems? If so, help us create a food system w/ equity In every bite in Ashview Heights!"

- @ShawnDeangelo

Why B.L.A.C.K.?

Well, first of all, it's an acronym that stands for:

Believing The Lord and Acknowledging Christ's Kingdom!

While we love our Black Brothers and Sisters, Everybody Eats Together is for, well, EVERYBODY, as we prioritize equity and the "Last" to be made first according to Matthew 20:16. We know that the Purchase of our Grocer and thus; the completion of our Food System, will create employment, equity, and life enrichment opportunities for community members once marganized and locked out; of tradition systems and institutions.

Project History

My name is Shawn Deangelo Walton, Founder of Wecyle Atlanta Inc. and Everybody Eats Together. For the last 15 years I've worked with neighbors and farmers to create food and transportation access to the community of Ashview Heights; and other neighboring communities. In 2013, we were able to work with the City of Atlanta and Federal Choice Neighorhood Program to conduct research on our community, along with Vine City, and The Atlanta University Center. On a mission to combat "Food Deserts" we created the Food First - Choice Neighborhood Plan to create food-hubs and systems in these low-income and access communities.

Upon successfully applying for the grant; we were able to move a large, Minority-Owned, farm into the community and secure the exclusive opportunity to purchase the grocer store directly across the street to complete our food-hub. All this, on the same block as our local Elementary School, and two blocks away from the Atlanta University Center! With your help towards the acquisition of the Grocer store, we will have one of the most unique educational opportunities in the nation! Imagine school-aged youth walking by a community owned and operated Grocery Complex, complete with housing, cooperative work space, and a dining hall! What used to be simple lessons on: how to grow food, becomes an essential life and programmatic lesson on building communities through food systems.

Equity For Everybody

Since 2020 we've seen our food sytem go through several impeeding changes. From trucker and farmer strikes, to inflation, and now a political movement to make U.S. foods healthier to the standards of other countries; yet limits the accessibility for school aged youthfulness. All these things effecting how, and even, when we eat. What has not changed is the the dependancy on Big Box Grocer chains in our metropolitan communties; that offer little, if any, real "rewards" to consumers who may have been shopping with them their entire life.

We are building a model that would turn everyday consumers into equity holding, dividend recieving partners in a food system build on faith, family, and fellowship. We plan on utilizing familiar investing methods such as "Keep The Change" and investing rounds to aid making investing easy and accessible for EVERYBODY at every level. Furthermore, we plan on incentivicing "recruitment" for our partners who bring us new customers and supporters of this ground breaking food system model! Unlike the big box food stores, when one switches to their locally owned food source, the rewards will last their entire life, and that of their children.

WE ARE HERE: PT. 1 - Planning & Programming

We are looking for our first round of support from those who have been following our journey and who want to see this needed food system model established. Over the last year; we've been able to utilize a "Grocer Cart" to aid distribute fresh food at a "pay what you can" rate to community members to assure sustenance and food security for all. We've also utilized these moments to assure fresh fruits and vegetables FOR FREE to afterschool youth to encourage healthy eating habits. We'd like to expand this programming through the year of 2025 by providing afterschool programming and lessons to school aged youth and their families; who we plan to bring in to aid tell our story of collaborating with neighbors to make a purchase that would complete our food hub.

The Cart Is Our Start! As we utilize planning funds, enabled by you all, we will be working the cart "Like Our Grocer" consistently to ensure fresh local produce and as a meeting point for youth afterschool programming. What you all will see is our cart, directly across the street from the grocer that we are going to purchase, giving our "Followers" a clear visual of where we will lead them! Join us at the cart and make the short trip across the street as a symbolic gesture of how close we are to completing our community owned and operated food system in one of Atlanta's first planned communities for African Americans.... Ashview Heights.

Your donations, during this planning period will aid us:

- Keep our cart stocked and accessible to those in need

- Fund our Afterschool programming

- Workforce housing

- Aid our marketing and investment pitches reach throughout Atlanta to further fund the project.

- Fund our appraisal and other development pre-steps before the big push for the purchase.

Part 2 - Make History Launching February 1

We will begin our first "Founders Investment Round" February 1, 2025. We will be gathering 33 Health Professionals, and 33 Food system Advocates to "The Garden Of E.A.T.N." for a celebration of effort and togetherness as we propose will the rest of the year to gather more supporters and put our mini-food system (Grocer Cart) and programming to work in the upcoming spring. We will take tours of the community and highlight it's rich agricultural, eductional, and transit-oriented nods that will bolster the movement and the investment of our members.

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We've been given a Golden opportunity to feed and lead our people through a once and a life-time opportunity. Please sow a seed with us today, and let's grow our equitable food system where EVERYBODY EATS!

I thank God for your support & this opportunity to build a better world with you!

Happy's Story of Community Change [watch].