“For the fourth year in a row, the partnership between Black Women in Food and WANDA represents what’s possible when women support women with intention and purpose. Together, we are expanding the conversation beyond cuisine to include advocacy, leadership, and food as medicine, recognizing that Black women are not only culture bearers of our food traditions, but also architects of healthier and more equitable food systems. As WANDA celebrates its 10th Anniversary, this collaboration reflects the power of collective leadership and the importance of creating spaces where Black women can lead, innovate, and transform communities through food.”— Nina Oduro

“The conversation we began at the Food as Medicine in the Black Community Gathering did not end there, it set something in motion. Bringing it forward through WANDA's Food as Medicine panel at the Black Women in Food Summit feels like the natural next step: continuing to bring together sound research and evidence, community knowledge, and culturally grounded practice to address the diet-related diseases that disproportionately burden Black and minoritized communities.

Our team's THRIVE Food is Medicine study has shown us that when interventions are designed with communities, not just for them, we see real change. As we mark WANDA's 10th Anniversary, I am grateful to be part of a space that takes seriously what the data and community partners both tell us: that Black women are indeed the architects of this work.”— Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, PhD, MPH, RN, FAHA, FPCNA, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

“Food is more than nourishment — it’s memory, culture, and healing. Diaspora Groceries is rooted in reimagining a culturally grounded, community-centered food system, and through Diaspora Groceries Cares, we are actively showing up for our communities in real time.This work is deeply personal to me. I understand the realities of food insecurity and the power of food to restore dignity and hope. I’m honored to join WANDA’s Food as Medicine panel at the Black Women in Food Summit and celebrate a decade of leadership and impact. Together, we are building pathways for healing, access, and lasting change — because food is medicine, culture is power, and our communities deserve both.”— Richea Jones, Co-Founder, Diaspora Groceries | and Diaspora Groceries Cares

“As a physician, I see firsthand how diet-related diseases disproportionately impact Black communities, but I also see the power of culturally meaningful foods to prevent and reverse chronic illness. I'm honored to participate in WANDA’s Food as Medicine panel at the Black Women in Food Summit during their 10th Anniversary celebration. WANDA’s leadership over the past decade has helped bridge the gap between clinical care, culture, and community. This conversation is about more than food; it’s about restoring health, reclaiming tradition, and empowering Black women to lead the future of wellness.”— Erica David, MD, MBA, FAAPMR, Physician Executive & Food as Medicine Advocate

“We are proud to sponsor the Black Women in Food Summit for the fourth year in a row. At WANDA, we believe Black women have always been healers, innovators, and architects of healthier communities. Long before ‘Food as Medicine’ became a trend, it lived in our kitchens, gardens, markets, and traditions across Africa and the Diaspora. This moment builds on WANDA’s Food as Medicine in the Black Community initiative launched in 2024, where we began advancing a bold vision that connects culture, nutrition, policy, and power. Today, we are expanding that vision globally, helping bridge African institutions and diasporic leaders in a shared commitment to learning, workforce development, and ethical leadership in food and health. At this summit, we honor our legacy while investing in the future—ensuring Black women are not only at the table, but leading the transformation of food systems, wellness narratives, and healthier communities for generations to come.”— Tambra Stevenson, MPH, MA, PhDc, Founder/CEO, WANDA