Bethany Johnson-Javois calls for communities and churches to respond to recent SNAP reductions by building local food systems rooted in ownership, collaboration and long-term stability.
Category: Food
Posted inFood
4 smart tips for budget-friendly holiday meals
Traditional Black holiday dishes carry memory, culture and meaning far beyond the dinner table. Rising grocery prices push families to find creative ways to honor tradition while stretching food budgets.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Culture and community: Marking Kwanzaa one day at a time
By AFRO Staff The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Kwanzaa website offers family-friendly activities and recipes designed to help readers engage with the purpose and meaning of each day. The guide blends cultural tradition with hands-on celebration and features dishes from “A Kwanzaa Keepsake: Celebrating the Holiday with New Traditions and Feasts,” […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Despite new stores, east-of-the-river residents face limited food access
Despite modest growth in grocery stores across Washington, D.C., residents east of the Anacostia River continue to face limited access to fresh and affordable food. A new report from D.C. Hunger Solutions highlights stark disparities, noting that wealthier wards have more than a dozen stores while Wards 7 and 8 have just three and four, respectively.
Posted inReligion
Viral TikTok: Will Black or White churches feed a hungry baby?
A veteran and mother of an 8-year-old, Nikalie Monroe launched a TikTok experiment during the government shutdown, posing as an impoverished mom seeking infant formula after SNAP benefits ran out. Her recordings of how various churches responded went viral — and after one compassionate Appalachian church stepped up, it received more than $90,000 in donations from around the world.
Posted inDMV News
Restaurants, city agencies step up to support workers and families facing food and housing insecurity
By Chianti Marks and Victoria MejicanosAFRO Intern, AFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com While the Trump administration and lawmakers in Congress played political brinkmanship over the budget, leaving the well-being of millions hanging in the balance, organizations, local government agencies and corporations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., have been offering support to furloughed federal workers and residents impacted […]
Posted inOPINION
Teach your kids backyard and urban farming to promote nutrition and neighborhood health
Community gardens in urban areas provide inter-generational learning, promote social cohesion, provide nutrition education, reduce crime, lower grocery bills, create jobs, reduce carbon footprint, and improve air and soil quality.Community and backyard gardens teach children about nutrition, provide fresh produce, lower grocery costs, and strengthen neighborhood ties. Urban farming also promotes intergenerational learning, community cohesion, economic opportunities, and environmental benefits, while requiring organized efforts to overcome space, soil, resource, and regulatory challenges.
Posted inNational News
No. 47’s administration says SNAP will be partially funded in November
By Geoff Mulvihill and Kimberlee KruesiThe Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration said Nov. 3 that it will partially fund SNAP for November, after two judges issued rulings requiring the government to keep the nation’s largest food aid program running. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inFood
Maryland’s SNAP-Ed program defunded at the expense of low-income families
By Sandra SmithCapital News Service As of Oct. 1, Maryland’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, or SNAP-Ed, has been defunded following President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” SNAP-Ed provides SNAP participants, low-income individuals who receive food assistance benefits and low-income families with nutrition education classes and partners with programs such as food pantries and farmers’ markets. […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Sunni Gilliam closes Teavolve after 20 years of success
Kendra BryantSpecial to the AFRO Teavolve Cafe, a Harbor East Black-owned restaurant known for tea, closed on Sept. 19 after 20 years in business. Over the past two decades the establishment has made a name for itself as much more than just a trendy spot to enjoy a hot beverage and connect with friends. Founder […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Old Arthur’s Barbecue Products: Family recipes born in bondage, perfected in freedom
Old Arthur’s Barbecue Products carries forward recipes first crafted in the 1800s by Arthur “Old Arthur” Watts, a formerly enslaved pit master whose flavors have endured for generations. Today, his descendants preserve that legacy through their business while also supporting children’s literacy initiatives in his honor.
Posted inBUSINESS
Baltimore women turn cultural roots and community ties into culinary success stories
Baltimore women entrepreneurs, Montana Logan and Elisa Milan, are breaking barriers in the male-dominated food industry by building businesses rooted in their cultural identities and community ties. Despite facing challenges such as capital and sexism, both have seen success and credit being embraced by Baltimore.