LaToya M. Meaders is co-founder and CEO of Collective Fare and Collective Food Works. The non-profit Collective Food Works creates, collaborates on, and sustains equitable initiatives surrounding community food systems, food security, workforce development, and changes needed for food sovereignty. Previously, Meaders co-founded Collective Fare, a culinary education and catering business, which developed Meals for All BK to address COVID-19 pandemic-related food access and nutrition security issues in East Brooklyn. Over 1.2 million healthy meals have been served and over 100,000 pounds of fresh produce and food items distributed. Meaders’ earlier food initiatives include co-founding Southern Ethos, a consulting firm that helps BIPOC food services and restaurants become profitable, and co-launching the Brownsville Community Culinary Center, with a 10-week culinary training center and catering service.
Previously
Almost 110 billion pounds of food, roughly 40% of the nation’s total food supply, go to waste in the United States every year, yet more than 38 million Americans lack reliable...