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WANDA Week 2026
- IamWANDA org
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Rooted in Joy and Justice, Black Women Gather to Feed the Future
For ten years, WANDA has reminded us of a truth America often forgets: Black women have always nourished this nation.
Before there were wellness influencers and food trends, Black women were cultivating gardens behind churches, preserving recipes passed through generations, stretching meals with ingenuity, and creating gathering spaces where healing happened over a shared plate. They transformed kitchens into classrooms, dinner tables into organizing spaces, and nourishment into an act of love, dignity, and resistance.
This June, WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture) celebrates its 10th anniversary by honoring that extraordinary legacy while investing in the women and girls who will shape the future of food.
From June 14–20, 2026, WANDA Week returns to Washington, D.C. and beyond with a powerful message: Black women belong at the center of conversations about food, health, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and justice.
This year's theme, "Rooted in Joy and Justice," arrives at a time when many communities are grappling with increasing food insecurity, rising rates of diet-related disease, and growing uncertainty about the future of programs designed to improve health outcomes. WANDA offers a different story—one grounded in possibility.
Joy becomes strategy. Justice becomes nourishment. Sisterhood becomes medicine.
Honoring Edna Lewis and the Women Who Taught America How to Eat
The timing of WANDA Week carries profound significance. This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis, the beloved chef, author, and cultural icon whose work transformed the way America understood Southern cuisine.
Long before "farm-to-table" entered the national lexicon, Lewis championed seasonal cooking, local sourcing, and the elegant simplicity of meals rooted in Black heritage and agricultural wisdom. Through her storytelling, she elevated the experiences of women whose culinary genius had too often gone unnamed.
"Edna Lewis taught us that food is not just nourishment; it's memory, culture, and identity," says Tambra Raye Stevenson, Founder and CEO of WANDA.
"WANDA Week is where we honor that legacy while investing in the future of Black women as leaders in food, health, and agriculture. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we must remember that Black women helped build the food system that nourishes this nation. Their stories matter. Their leadership matters. Their future matters.
Rooted in Joy and Justice is more than a theme. It is our declaration that Black women deserve spaces to gather, rest, celebrate, innovate, and lead. WANDA Week is our invitation to move from remembrance to action—to invest in the women and girls who will transform our food systems for generations to come."
A Week That Moves Culture, Community, and Capital
WANDA Week is more than a celebration. It is a movement and a blueprint demonstrating what becomes possible when communities intentionally invest in Black women and girls.
Throughout the week, participants are invited to learn, advocate, support women-owned businesses, contribute to scholarships, celebrate culture, and experience firsthand how food can serve as a catalyst for transformation.
WANDA Week at a Glance
June 14 – Welcome to WANDA Kick off WANDA Week during a virtual open house exploring the history, current impact, and future vision of WANDA.
June 15 – Donate W/ WANDA Support the WANDA Scholars Program and Food Shero Freedom Fund with a gift honoring ten years of impact.
June 16 – Advocate W/ WANDA Learn about the Food Bill of Rights and join efforts advancing food democracy and equitable food systems.
June 17 – Shop W/ WANDA Support Food Sheroes and women-led businesses creating healthier communities.
June 18 – Innovate W/ WANDA Attend the Grocery Retail for All Summit in Chicago and explore solutions shaping the future of food access and retail.
June 19 – Walk W/ WANDA Celebrate Juneteenth by joining the Ward 7 Juneteenth Parade in Washington, D.C., walking for freedom, movement, and wellness.
June 20 – Celebrate W/ WANDA Gather at the Sisterhood Supper: Juneteenth Celebration at The Farm at Kelly Miller.
The Sisterhood Supper: Where Joy Becomes Liberation
At the heart of WANDA Week is the annual Sisterhood Supper: Juneteenth Celebration, a beloved gathering that has evolved into one of Washington's most meaningful community traditions. Held at The Farm at Kelly Miller in Ward 7, the supper invites women to gather not only around a meal, but around a shared vision for the future.
The evening will feature storytelling, cultural performances, music, and the recognition of extraordinary women transforming food systems through entrepreneurship, advocacy, and service.
Award-winning television contributor Ashleigh Demi will serve as the official emcee of the 2026 celebration.
"As a storyteller, I have the privilege of sharing the stories that shape our communities," says Demi.
"What excites me most about WANDA's Sisterhood Supper is that it creates a space where Black women are not only seen and celebrated, but they are honored for the extraordinary ways they nourish, lead, innovate, and uplift others.
This year's theme, 'Rooted in Joy and Justice,' reminds us that joy is not a luxury—it is an act of resilience, healing, and liberation. I am honored to serve as this year's emcee and join WANDA in celebrating the women who are transforming our food systems, strengthening our communities, and planting seeds for future generations to thrive."
Demi adds:
"Black women have always been at the heart of our communities—feeding families, preserving traditions, creating opportunities, and leading movements for change. WANDA's Sisterhood Supper is a beautiful reminder that when we gather around the table, we also gather around our shared history, our collective strength, and our vision for the future. As we celebrate Juneteenth and WANDA Week, I'm honored to help recognize the remarkable women who are rooted in joy, committed to justice, and dedicated to building healthier, stronger communities for generations to come."
An Edna Lewis-Inspired Menu
Chef Jessica Featherson, Founder and Executive Chef of WellBody Kitchen and one of this year's Food Sheroes, will curate an Edna Lewis-inspired dining experience honoring the enduring impact of The Taste of Country Cooking.
"Edna Lewis taught us that food tells the story of a people—their resilience, their traditions, and their connection to the land," says Weatherford.
"It is an honor to create this year's Sisterhood Supper menu inspired by her extraordinary legacy. Through every dish, we hope to celebrate the richness of African American foodways while nourishing body, spirit, and community.
WANDA's theme, 'Rooted in Joy and Justice,' reminds us that gathering around the table is more than a meal; it is an act of remembrance, healing, and collective possibility. I am proud to join WANDA in honoring the women who have fed our families, strengthened our communities, and continue to shape a healthier future for generations to come."
Guests will enjoy a seasonal menu featuring:
Fresh Garden Salad with Seasonal Herbs and Vegetables
Herb-Roasted Salmon
Citrus Garlic Chicken
Smoky Black-Eyed Pea and Sweet Potato Cakes
Braised Seasonal Greens
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sorghum Glaze
Summer Vegetable Succotash
Ficocca Bread by Southeast Sourdough
Hibiscus Lemonade
Meet the 2026 Food Sheroes
This year's honorees reflect the diverse ways women are nourishing communities around the globe.
Temitope Faingbesi – Dodo Farms
Dominique Charles – Pots and Pans
Jessica Featherson– WellBody Kitchen
Melodie Marsh – Young, Gifted & Green
Olutobi Osibokula-Abubu – Fritters & Roast
Tova Wilson – School of Harvest
Together, they represent innovation, entrepreneurship, preservation, education, and care.
Music, Storytelling, and Cultural Expression
The Sisterhood Supper experience extends beyond the plate. Guests will be welcomed by the sounds of DJ One Luv, whose music has energized audiences across the DMV while creating spaces for joy and connection.
The celebration will also feature performances by Tolu Mide, the Nigerian-Canadian singer-songwriter and WANDA's inaugural Artist-in-Residence, whose artistry bridges continents and reminds us that healing often begins with voice, rhythm, and storytelling. Their contributions underscore WANDA's belief that culture itself is medicine.
Powered by Partnership
WANDA Week is possible because of a growing ecosystem of partners who understand that investing in women transforms communities. This year's partners include organizations and businesses such as:
Each partnership reflects a shared commitment to nourishment, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and collective wellbeing.
Why WANDA Week Matters
At a time when many organizations are being asked to do more with less, WANDA Week reminds us that the answers to our greatest challenges already exist within our communities. The women growing food. The chefs preserving tradition.
The artists telling our stories. The scholars imagining new futures. The mothers, aunties, grandmothers, and daughters gathering around tables. When Black women thrive, everyone benefits. Families flourish. Communities heal. Businesses grow. Young girls expand their dreams. Entire food systems become more resilient.
WANDA Week asks each of us a simple question: What future are we willing to nourish?
Join THE MOVEMENT
Attend. Walk. Learn. Advocate. Celebrate.
Support a Food Shero.
Contribute to WANDA Scholars.
Share your story.
Sign the Food Bill of Rights.
Use #IamWANDA and #WANDAWeek to show the world what it looks like when joy and justice sit at the same table.
Because the women who fed us deserve more than gratitude. They deserve investment. They deserve recognition. They deserve rest. And they deserve a future as abundant as the love they've poured into all of us.
Learn More:
RSVP for Sisterhood Supper:
About WANDA
WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering women and girls of African descent to lead as Food Sheroes. Through WANDA Academy, WANDA Scholars, WANDA's World, advocacy initiatives, and community-centered programming, WANDA is building a more just, culturally grounded, and resilient food system—from farm to health.
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