Press Release for Black VegFest 2026

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Black VegFest 2026: Food Sovereignty & Farmland Equity  

For Immediate Release

July 2026

As we approach this ninth Black VegFest on Saturday August 8th at Lincoln Terrace Park in Brooklyn, NY happening 12-7pm, we celebrate the Black struggle for food sovereignty and farmland equity and community fellowship. We’re excited to share the contribution of artists, educators, healers, doctors, chefs and cooks with the vegan and non-vegan community. Let us honor our ancestors who have guided and inspired us to go back and get it meaning to learn from the past and inform the future. This cultural and philosophical concept is called "Sankofa" which comes from the Akan people in Ghana, West Africa. Sankofa is represented by the Adinkra symbol. Sankofa has spread over continents calling the Black African Diaspora to look back on our history to inform our future. When Black VegFest looks back on the history of food sovereignty and farmland equity in the United States of America we learn the reason for Black food insecurity. In 1920, the Black community accumulated 16-19 million acres of farmland or 14% of US agricultural land. This was a remarkable feat for the early 20th century, pre-Civil Rights. After years of systematic racism through voter disenfranchisement and loan discrimination at the USDA and the banking industry, Black farmers operate on just 0.5% of US farmland or 5.3 million acres. The result is food insecure communities. 

When Black VegFest looks back on our 9 years we see thousands of guests growing with us in Brooklyn happily enjoying free live performances, award-winning documentaries, hands-on workshops, supportive food demonstrations and some of the best vegan food on the planet. We see free access to medical and wellness information, food and farming resources, fun, safe and interactive activities for youth and children, safety and care in the park, and all well-coordinated by volunteers from the neighborhood. Black VegFest’s resident DJ DP One will set off the mainstage at 12:00PM with music. Performances on the Mainstage begin at 12:50PM. Black VegFest introduces Jazz musician Ras Chemash, Reggae artist Binghi Blaze and Hip-Hop artists, 3N1, Aalana, and Legendary Cypher. The Fitness Competition will begin at 3:15PM with Mainstage Host Scott Burnhard.

When we look back we see Black economic growth attracting nearly $500,000 in combined one-day sales, businesses 90% Black woman-owned and 70% woman-owned. We see more compassionate guests and businesses opting out of multiple forms of exploitation, including the consumption of animals. At Black VegFest, New Yorkers are learning more about their neighborhood resources and services, like where to find Black farmers, doctors, doulas, books, jewelry, clothing and beauty supplies, including vegan products for hair, skin and nails. Our attendees invest in local vegan ecologies with a lifestyle of contributing less harm, especially to the Earth and yes, less harm to non-human animals. That is the universal vegan principle found globally amongst people practicing ital and ahimsa, respectively meaning "living" and "non-harmful". Guests beware! Black boasts the best food period–vegan or otherwise. From healthy to sweet and savvy, fried, baked and dipped, we have all the flavors. Whether Soul food or West Indian or Asian or circus style it’s all vegan delicious. Hear the conversation about the food industry from animal advocates at our Animal Advocacy panel in the Sankofa Tent at 2:30PM. Panelists: Sassee, Sunny Satva, and Justina Adorno.

Black VegFest founder Omowale Adewale said, "People come to Black VegFest because we teach veganism through the Black experience. Decolonizing the food system begins with friendly service, accessible cooking support, accurate health data and information, culturally appropriate and fun activities for all ages. Over time, our community will reshape how we understand food. It is a slow and intentional process to decolonize the educational, food and health systems that have imprisoned us for so long." Black VegFest guests are treated to a film screening of “They’re Trying to Kill Us” followed by a discussion with the director, John Lewis aka Bad Ass Vegan in the Sankofa Tent at 3:40PM. Also in the Sankofa Tent, Vegan 101 panel at 4:50PM with Dr. Lucky (Lakshman Mulpuri), Ashley Renne, Nia Dezonie, and Jameka Whitten followed by the Sankofa Tent’s closing presentation with urgent care specialist Dr. Milton Mills on “The Dangers of Dairy” at 6:00PM, Hosted by Angela Yvonne in the Sankofa Tent.

When we look back on the year before, we also witness the Donald Trump administration announce the highest number of federal government terminations in history with 322,049. A ⅓ of all fires were Black women, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research. The USDA, which oversees US food and nutrition, terminated 6000 employees, a 20-25% reduction in personnel. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. SNAP and WIC is New York City's emergency food resource for the food insecure and low-income community. The administration cut 4.9 million Americans from SNAP and other food resources creating a national scare in food and health. 

Black VegFest combats food and health disparities with prevention. Chef Ahki will join the Healing House Tent for the first time at 4:40PM with an intimate discussion about womb health, shrinking tumors and creating a healthier reproductive lifestyle. Our first workshop teacher in the Healing House Tent, West Coast Eco-Hip-Hop pioneer Dr. Ietef Vita teaches “Roots, Beans & Greens: A Revolutionary Eco-Hip-Hop & Plant-Based Wellness Experience” starting at 1:00PM, followed by Ashley Renne’s children's cooking class “No Kid Menu Required” at 2:10PM, Black VegFest welcomes back Marlene Boyette with a yoga and wellness children’s class “ROOTS & WINGS A Movement and Rest Experience for Black Children at 3:30PM and a special cooking workshop with Food Network’s Chopped Champion Chef, Ed Harris “Simple Ingredients with Global Flavors” at 5:50PM Hosted by Lena Di in the Healing House.

When we continue to look back at the US administration's quest to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and all forms of civility, the USDA eliminated the status of "Socially Disadvantaged". The “Socially Disadvantaged” designation of being historically disadvantaged or discriminated against. However, no federal administration has been equitable to Black farmers. According to the USDA, between 2018 and 2023, white farmers were approved at a rate of 93%, compared to Black farmers approval rate of 65%. Black farmers are denied more than 4 times the national average of 8 percent. 

Black VegFest addresses food sovereignty and farmland equity through our dedication to urban and rural farming education at every festival. Many guests will learn and purchase directly from Black farmers for their first time. Early guests will leave with swag bags filled with usable and useful products like edible plant starter kits with flower pots, non-gmo and organic heirloom seeds, and high-nitrogen compost by Liberation Farm. 

On Saturday, August 8th at 12:00PM, Black VegFest returns to Lincoln Terrace Park, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY. Crown Heights is 55% Black with 17% of residents experiencing food insecurity and 23% of households relying on SNAP benefits, according to the New York City Food Policy. Black VegFest is marked by respect for community, compassion for all and unapologetic Blackness. Tickets and swag bags are free with registration while supplies last at www.blackvegfest.org.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or partnerships contact:

Francis Peña
Executive Director, Black VegFest
francis@gamenyc.org