🌻 Bloom Where You Belong: WANDA’s 5th Annual Sisterhood Supper Returns This Juneteenth to Celebrate Black Women Leading Food Justice

WASHINGTON, DC--As Juneteenth nears, a joyous and powerful celebration is preparing to bloom in the heart of D.C.'s Ward 7. On Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture) invites you to our 5th Annual Sisterhood Supper: Juneteenth Celebration at The Farm at Kelly Miller (301 49th St NE, Washington, D.C.) in partnership with Dreaming Out Loud.

This year’s theme, “Bloom Where You Belong,” celebrates the power of place, purpose, and sisterhood. Emceed by Mary Blackford, Owner of Market 7 and past Food Shero honoree, the event honoring five phenomenal Black women transforming their communities through food, mutual aid, and grassroots organizing while raising funds to support the next generation of WANDA Scholars via our Food Shero Freedom Fund in America and across the African Diaspora.

Catered by Dreaming Out Loud, this year’s Juneteenth supper features a culturally rich and healthful lineup. We are grateful to our community chefs and RDNs who make our meals not only nourishing but rooted in tradition and innovation.

Thank you to our community of sisters who continue to support every year and see the value in celebrating and bringing our community together. Also we want to thank Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation, Harriet’s Wildest Dream, Whole30, Vitamix, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jamila White and Dreaming Out Loud.

“Our ancestors tilled the soil so we could bloom in our brilliance,” says Tambra Raye Stevenson, Founder of WANDA. “This Juneteenth, we’re not just honoring freedom—we’re investing in our future. When Black women gather, we don’t just fix plates. We fix systems, build movements, and nourish democracy.”

"Supporting the Food Shero Freedom Fund is not just about food. It’s about justice, legacy, and leadership," says Melissa Urban, Co-Founder & CEO of Whole30.  "These food sheroes are reclaiming wellness as a right, not a privilege."

✨ 2025 Food Shero Honorees:

🌟 LaMonika Jones Director, State Initiatives, FRAC A lifelong champion of food justice, LaMonika works to advance equitable anti-hunger policy across the country.

"Honor is acting with integrity, honesty and dignity. Those are the same attributes I bring as a leader—not just in food, but in all areas of my life."

🌟 Charmaine Jones Founder, Food Jonezi | Registered Dietitian A trusted voice in nutrition education, Charmaine uplifts Black families through culturally relevant health coaching, workshops, and advocacy.

🌟 Fariha Huriya Co-founder, Free Store and Market DC | Organizer, East of the River Mutual Aid

"Everything I do is rooted in mutual aid and community care. I believe in the sacred power of community, where survival is not a solitary act but a shared promise."

🌟 Mahelet Kebede Mutual Aid Organizer & Ward 7 Resident As a first-generation Ethiopian-American, Mahelet merges cultural traditions with grassroots action, labor organizing, and local food justice.

🌟 April Goggans Core Organizer, Black Lives Matter DC A bold voice for abolition and equity, April’s work centers around tenants’ rights, police accountability, and community self-determination in Southeast D.C.

🌽 What to Expect:

This isn’t your typical sit-down dinner—it’s a multi-sensory celebration of food, family, and freedom. Activities include:

• 🎶 Soulful DJ sets & live line dancing

• 🚜 Farm tours led by youth growers from Kelly Miller

• 🧘🏾‍♀️ Gentle garden yoga and wellness station

• 🌿 Henna tattoos, herbal teas, and self-care giveaways

• 📖 Ancestral table & community cookbook contributions

• 🎤 Storytelling showcase

🛍️ Free to Attend

This year’s Sisterhood Supper is free with registration at  www.iamwanda.org/sisterhoodsupper. From the farm to the frontlines, Sisterhood Suppers are a radical act of reclamation and restoration. They’re more than just meals—they’re a call to action. Through food, fellowship, and storytelling, WANDA creates spaces where Black women don’t just survive—they lead.

This event also wraps up WANDA Week, a celebration of food freedom, ancestral resilience, and women’s leadership in the food system. All proceeds support the Food Shero Freedom Fund, which helps women and girls pursue careers in nutrition and agriculture—because the future of food must be female, Black, and rooted in justice.

Join us. Witness the bloom. Be part of the legacy.

🌺 What to Expect

Come ready for an unforgettable day filled with soul, sisterhood, and storytelling:

🕊️ Ancestor Table – Bring a photo and/or handwritten recipe to honor your family's legacy at our ancestral altar. 

🌿 Farm Tour – Learn how our food grows right here in the city from youth and local growers. 

💃🏾 Line Dancing & Live DJ – Move your body and celebrate freedom through rhythm. 

🧘🏾‍♀️ Gentle Yoga in the Garden – Center yourself in breath, nature, and healing. 

🌸 Henna Tattoo Station – Celebrate beauty and body with traditional designs. 

👩🏽‍🍳 Cooking Demos – Watch our fave culinarians share quick, healthy recipes. 

🍽️ Supper Time – Share a delicious, nourishing meal catered by Chef Devonte and Dreaming Out Loud. 

🌻 Sisterhood Sharing Circle – Uplift your voice in collective reflection and joy. 

🏆 Food Shero Awards – Honor local Black women transforming lives through food, policy, and care. 

📣 Call to Action – Learn how to get involved with WANDA's mission and the Food Shero Freedom Fund. 

✨ Closing Ceremony – We wrap the evening in gratitude, affirmation, and purpose.

💫 What We Ate Last Year

Last year’s spread was a celebration of soul and sustainability. Guests enjoyed:

• Curry Chicken 

• Jollof Rice

• Black-eyed pea fritters

• Fruit kebabs

• Kale salad

• Citrus-infused hibiscus tea

Many guests left asking for seconds—and for recipes!

📸 What to Bring

To make the most of your Sisterhood Supper experience, we invite you to bring:

• 🧕🏽 Wear African prints, boots, and a hat to celebrate in vibrant style🧺 Blanket or lawn chair if you’d like to relax on the grass

• 📸 A photo and recipe of a loved one for the Ancestral Table

• 🌈 Positive energy and open hearts

• 👩🏾‍🦱 A sister, daughter, mama, nana, auntie, or soul friend—this is a day for generations

• ☀️ Sunscreen and good vibes (umbrellas and fans available first come, first served)

💛 Things to Know

• Free street parking available near the farm

• Fans and umbrellas will be on hand to keep you cool

• Porta potty on site for guest convenience

• Water, tea, and a full meal will be served—come hungry and hydrated!

• Space is outdoors—boots are recommended for comfort and style on the farm

🌱 Join Us

Let’s reclaim the table, restore our health, and rise together in sisterhood and spirit.

📅 Saturday, June 21, 2025 ⏰ 3:00 – 7:00 PM 📍 The Farm at Kelly Miller, 301 49th St NE, Washington, D.C.

📝 Register for FREE at www.iamwanda.org/sisterhoodsupper

About WANDA:

WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that cultivates food sheroes—Black women and girls leading in food, health, and economic justice. Through storytelling, training, and systemic advocacy, WANDA works to create a future where our food is our medicine, our stories are our power, and our sisterhood is our strength.