Meet The Tribe

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  Karen Naimah's journey to veganism started in 2017. She saw two documentaries that shed light on the maltreatment of animals and the adverse health consequences of a non plant-based diet. She became a vegan soon thereafter. Veganism led her into natural healing, herbalism, and healthy eating. Providing critical support and leadership to the Black vegan festival, she first volunteered in 2019 and has not looked back. She is a Black VegFest Board member, mother, organizer, and out and about lover of her community who looks  forward to continually learning and living  every day as a vegan.
 

Julibeth Saez Negron joined Black Vegfest as a board member after actively volunteering for the organization since 2019. Born in Puerto Rico, she grew up primarily in the South Bronx, and continues to live there today. She is a Community Medicine veterinarian for the ASPCA. In that position she provides low-cost to free veterinary services for Bronx residents. She is also a law assistant to her immigration attorney partner. You can often find Julibeth participating in solidarity social justice and environmental protests, community volunteer activities, and outdoor activities. She encourages and promotes healthy living (mentally, emotionally, and physically) by maintaining a whole plant-based food diet, sharing information about plant-based nutrition, organizing group exercises with friends/family/coworkers, and learning about restorative organic agriculture.

 Francis Peña is an organizer, Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME) co-founder and the executive director of  Black VegFest. In college he helped establish G.A.ME to bring essential resources to artists and Black and Brown communities. In 2018 he played a vital role in launching the first annual Black VegFest festival in Brooklyn, NY. Providing logistical and operational support to the festival and organization, he helps ensure that Black VegFest runs smoothly and successfully.  He is responsible for the fiduciary management and financial oversight of the non-profit organization. He works on behalf of tenants and is committed to advancing housing justice for all. He is a Harlem, NYC resident who is vegan for the animals and believes that we all especially the most marginalized, deserve the best, dignified life.   

Email Francis at  francis@gamenyc.org 

 Nadia Muyeeb is a Mom, Organizer and a Creative. The Vegan Mom of three loves hiking, camping and boxing. Nadia is a Black VegFest Organizer, who began organizing speakers, performers and volunteers during 2018 and 2019. Nadia established the Senior Food Demos, a Black Vegfest initiative that introduced seniors to alternative vegan methods to enjoy long favored traditional foods while connecting them to the growing vegan community. Nadia belongs to a massive family of artists. Her artistry collection is a wide portfolio of paintings and handmade jewelry using gemstones, brass and silver wire and other materials. Her artworks are available on social media and Etsy. 

You can find Nadia at solidarity and support protests and events for all Black People, laughing and creating or doing boxing mittwork to exercise and increase her focus and mental health. 

Email Nadia at  nadia@blackvegfest.org 

Omowale Adewale is a devoted father of two daughters and one son. Wale is a community organizer and an educator using his praxis unapologetically on behalf of Black people. He is a co-founder of Grassroots Artists Movement (G.A.ME), co-founder of Liberation Farm, and the founder of Black VegFest. Omowale is the author of "An Introduction to Veganism and Agricultural Globalism" a self-published piece focused on helping the international community navigate the food industry in search of ethical resources in food and nutrition. He is also a co-editor of "Brotha Vegan: Black Men Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society". Wale is a former champion boxer and champion kickboxer who also fought MMA. He loves teaching combat training, farming, and building long-term community support. 

Email Omowale at  omwale@gamenyc.org