who we are

In 2023, through the creative design of Dr. Iyelli Ichile, 5 local high school students from Washington DC and Maryland (Eleanor Roosevelt, Bishop McNamara, Springbrook, and Frederick Douglass high schools) and 8 college students (Prince George’s Community College, Howard University, Bowie State and Morgan State University) were recruited as interns to design, organize, promote, and host a 2-day festival to raise awareness about and combat food insecurity in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Through an award from the Prince George’s County Community Partnership Grant the event sought to deepen conversations, raise resources and celebrate the county’s Black culture and traditions through food. 

The festival showcased Black farmers, chefs, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, and workshops in the region. The event also featured a keynote address from Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III who is lauded for creating Black-Owned Food Systems to Reduce Food Insecurity through the Black Church Food Security Network. The free Farm-to-Festival Luncheon was hosted by Chef Shawn Lightfoot of The Whitlow Foundation and generous samplings provided by Soulful Catering. The BFBF was said to have the feeling of a family cookout, as it celebrated local food trucks, vendors, educators, and cooks, while providing resources from books to classes, and culminating with 20 community members receiving $50 food vouchers each to spend in the local farmers market set up by farmers on site.

The festival also hosted a food drive, sponsored by the students and staff of PGCC and successfully collected and distributed 764 pounds of food to six partners from the Capital Area Food Bank and the PGCC Cares Owl Market. The partnership with the Owl Market continues today and as a result of the festival, students of Prince George’s Community College now have access to fresh produce from local farmers.

Today, Black Food Black Futures supports local community efforts and continues to provide access to local, healthy food within Prince George's County and the surrounding areas. This spring our latest venture, The Black Food Truck, may be coming to a neighborhood near you!