Recognizing that in the food and beverage industry, Black women are often rendered invisible, underfunded, and lack opportunities, Maame Boakye and Nina Oduro, co-founders of Dine Diaspora, launched Black Women in Food (BWIF) in 2018—a movement dedicated to their recognition, growth, and leadership. “We offer women a space to build cross-sector connections within the food industry, from media to the kitchen, as well as agriculture and venture capital,” explains Maame Boakye. A non-profit organization, BWIF hosts the Black Women in Food Awards, which annually celebrate outstanding achievements across nine different categories, such as Change Makers like Mokgadi Itsweng or Farrah Barrios, Innovators, Creators, Chefs, Restaurateurs, and more. During its annual summit—a true hub for exchange and knowledge—BWIF restores voice and visibility to those who have long been marginalized Capital access modules, pitch competitions, a networking platform—everything is designed to break glass ceilings and open doors in a lasting way. By focusing on their needs, we offer women on the front lines the opportunity to thrive through mutual support. Through recognition, access to capital, and a strong network, we are confident that Black women will be able to advance their work and be seen, acknowledged, and fairly compensated.” explains Nina Oduro.
