September 23rd, 2021
Partners
Chef
José Andrés
ThinkFoodGroup
Named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in both 2012 and 2018, and awarded “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup.
A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is also known for his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of more than 30 restaurants located throughout the country and beyond, ranging in a variety of culinary experiences from a food truck to his multi-location vegetable-focused fast casual Beefsteak, to world-class tasting menus like minibar by José Andrés and Somni, both of which have received two Michelin stars.
As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform. In 2010, Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides smart solutions to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies. Notably, his team served over 3.6 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Andrés’ work has earned awards and distinctions including the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Flowers
John Caleb Pendleton
Planks & Pistils
John Caleb Pendleton is founder and Creative Director for Planks & Pistils which provides full service floral design in addition to large public installations.
He is originally from Grove Hill, Alabama but has lived in Chicago for the past decade and has made The South Side home. His love for flowers and woodworking came from his mother and father, respectively, who still live in Grove Hill tending to garden flowers and building custom kitchen cabinets.
John uses flowers to highlight Black stories with the tag #FloralRemembrance on Instagram. The most notable Floral Remembrance moment was Juneteenth 2021 when the Planks & Pistils team adorned Bronzeville's Monument to The Great Northern Migration with thousands of blooms.
Candles
Shavaun Christian
Spoken Flames
Shavaun Christian is a Creative Director, Strategist, and Founder of Spoken Flames, a direct-to-consumer experiential candle brand that’s earned recognition for its innovative approach to self-care. Spoken Flames curates immersive candle experiences—with the help of augmented reality (AR)—to engage your senses and stimulate your mind.
Shavaun works with agencies, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to deliver creative solutions and consult across brand strategy, design, and digital through essy & jo. But when (work) life gets crazy, Shavaun lights candles, which is the premise of Spoken Flames. She's intentionally crafted a multisensory candle that encourages a more introspective and sensorial self-care experience. She believes that self-awareness is self-care: when you know how you feel, you can truly tap into what you desire.
Totes
Delina White
IamAnishinaabe
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is a Native Apparel Designer, Jewelry Maker & Beadwork Artist. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University, MN, in Business Administration in Management, and a Management Information Systems minor.
Coffee
Keba Konte
Red Bay Coffee
Red Bay Coffee Roasters was founded in 2014 by Keba Konte, a renowned artist and successful food entrepreneur with deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area specialty coffee and hospitality industry.
Red Bay Coffee is at the forefront of what we believe is the fourth wave of coffee—a firm commitment to ensure coffee production is not only high quality and sustainable, but a vehicle for diversity, inclusion, social and economic restoration, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability. We are foodies, artists, activists, community folk, and innovators who love, love, love what we do.
Red Bay seeks to create unity by hiring and serving people of all backgrounds, striving to be diverse and inclusive of those who have traditionally been left out of the specialty coffee industry, especially people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women and people with disabilities.