It's time we formalize the "Feed The Movement" series we've been running on Instagram for the past few months and explain a bit more about our intentions with you all!

First, the inspiration started with all the impactful illustrations we're seeing on social channels lately, specifically as a means of communicating, simplifying or bringing attention to topics related to social justice, racial equity, the climate crisis, and more. 

Second, we have a belief that our role as a brand is about more than marketing our products. At our best, we are amplifiers and patrons for talented creators and worthy causes in our community. 

Together, the idea for our "Feed the Movement" series was born...

1. Seek out like-minded artists and illustrators from the BIPOC community
2. Partner with them to commission work that highlights a social or food justice related organization, topic or movement that is most important to them
3. Share this work across our community, building mutual awareness for both the creator and the cause

Below, you'll find a growing gallery of our partnerships to date. We hope you feel the feels, celebrate these artists and their work, and support however you can. 

Artist:

Nina Yagual - Website & Instagram

About:

Creative expression is something we have been crafting for so many lifetimes. I see all art forms as a tool for communication and a primary resource for education. My current art medium is some combination of a hustle, self-therapy and ancestral expression. Other times, I use my art to wake up the sleepy white folks who don’t see the complicated ways their behaviors and lifestyles are problematic. My hunger for the liberation of my people is definitely a constant theme in my illustrations.

This piece was made to shine a light on La Conde, an amazing community project led by a collective of AfroCaribeñas in Puerto Rico working hard to uplift and decolonize their neighborhoods. The plants featured in this illustration are Tulipán Africano and Palmas de coco. Just like humans, plants also carry a life story and they play an important role in our shared healing process.

I am always looking out for anything BIPOC led, especially movements around land reclamation and revival. As a person of the diaspora, I am deeply inspired by the innovative and creative ways we continue to fight for our collective liberation.

About:

My name is Christian Rincon and I'm a designer and illustrator who focuses on social impact and change. I'm the son of Colombian immigrants who settled in New Jersey in the early 90s. My heritage and experience plays a huge part in the type of folks and issues I center in my art.

My piece, "Welcome Our People" is a series I created inspired by the Statue of Liberty -- a symbol I was raised in the shadow of. I always found it so beautiful that a country would welcome immigrants from across the sea with this goddess holding a lantern. As I grew older, I started to realize that my country fell far short of its promise, in spite of the free movement of Latin American products across all borders. It welcomed our culture and products, but not our people.

The charity I chose to support is the National Immigration Law Center -- an organization exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income. It means so much to me that folks like my parents could benefit from the resources NILC has and I try to donate often to their efforts.

About: 

My name is Ryan Allison and I am a Diné artist from Fort Defiance, Arizona. As an artist, I aim to depict Indigenous living, culture, and philosophy through illustration, symbolism, and design in a contemporary fashion.

Artwork is titled "Feeding Tradition"
Naadą́ą (Corn) is the most important food to Diné. It has been referred to the "tree of life." Throughout Diné belief and history, corn has always played a huge role in getting through harsh times, and leading to great ones. Highlighting one's food is not only appreciating great cuisine, it's also acknowledging culture, people, and tradition.

I also want to highlight how COVID-19 has affected Indian Country. With cases rising on the Navajo Nation once again, I wanted to acknowledge K'e Infoshop. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, K'e infoshop has served unsheltered relatives, as well as providing supplies for families/elders who live in rural areas. You can find more info here
http://keinfoshop.org/
https://www.instagram.com/keinfoshop/

About:

By artist Isabela Humphrey (@isabela.humphrey), communicating our understanding that feeding future generations starts with wisdom that’s planted now–– knowledge about the foods we eat, where they come from, and the systems impacting it all— so we can grow better habits and traditions together as a community. Also, elevating our support for local non-profit @harlemgrown.

About:

By Joffree Contreras (@fab_ricoo) to contextualize the intersectionality of food justice as a social and racial justice movement, and to introduce a list of local organizations doing amazing work to lead the way and spark progress. 

@grownyc
@iohnyc
@happyhealthylatina
@cityharvestnyc
@harlemgrown
@theuptownfridge
@justfoodnyc
@nysunworks
@foodforusnj