By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
In Baltimore’s majority-Black neighborhoods, where grocery stores are few and access to healthy food is limited, grassroots organizations play a key role in filling the gap. Using education, urban farming and youth empowerment, initiatives are building community-led solutions to fight systemic food inequities. The Food Project and Black Yield Institute (BYI) are just two organizations leading the fight against food insecurity.
Photo Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
“We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) in an interview with the AFRO. “A Hopkins study earlier this year showed that Baltimore had made and continues to make progress on this front, especially in Black communities. It’s important that food insecurity among Black residents dropped from 54 percent in 2023 to 37 percent in 2024, but that still is not good enough for me.”
The Food Project, created by UEmpower of Maryland, addresses food insecurity and youth unemployment in Southwest Baltimore. The nonprofit bridges gaps in employment, food access and youth programs.
“We’ve been in the community for 10 years,” said Michelle Suazo, executive director of the Food Project. “We started off doing street outreach. A lot of the kids that were on the street came to the food line are now employed here and helping to give back to their community.”
“At the food line, there were so many kids coming out to feed themselves,” she added. “So many of them have parents in addiction.”
The program tackles issues like housing, acquiring necessary documents and literacy, with 45 percent of clients needing housing and 53 percent needing documents.
Tyree Johnson, 23, says he has received food and help with employment through the organization. Johnson is now developing a music program for youth.
“There is always somebody out here to help you. You just have to speak up,” said Johnson. “Some people might not want to hear what you have to say, but there is always somebody that’s right there, that wants to hear what you have to say and that would love to be in your corner to help you.”
Suazo hopes youth like Johnson will take over in the future, keeping the organization community-led tied to the real needs of the community.
In Cherry Hill, BYI focuses on food sovereignty and education.
“What we do is responsive to what’s happening, not in any symbolic way, but in a very real way,” said Eric Jackson, servant director of BYI. “People say that we want this, we do it. It’s a part of our motto.”
“This year alone, we’ve contributed closer to 40,000 pounds of food and touched over 3,000 households,” Jackson added. “But, the real impact is the foundation we’re laying for people to participate in food economy change.”
When it comes to accessing fresh fruits and vegetables, transportation is a key factor. Mayor Scott pointed to city initiatives like expanding transit access to grocery stores.
“That was a big part of why I switched the Charm City Circulator route in South Baltimore to actually go into Cherry Hill,” he said.
Since June 23, 2024, residents have had better access to supermarkets, and in September alone, 18,919 people used the route.
Jackson emphasized that local organizing is key for addressing community issues, though partnering with outside organizations and individuals is important, while keeping residents at the helm.
“Our contribution moving forward is twofold: political education and knowledge production, and expanding Black Yield Farms and Marketplace to grow food options and collective organizing opportunities,” said Jackson.