REGISTER: IN CONVERSATION with Anthony Edwards Jr. of EatOkra!

Not the NBA player but, arguably, much more important! Learn about the impact this James Beard Award winner is making in the Black Food Space on April 27th.

Meet Anthony Edwards Jr. of EatOkra.

On April 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST, I’ll be in conversation with newly minted James Beard Award winner, and co-founder of both the EatOkra app (think Yelp but for Black owned restaurants) and the Culinary Creatives Conference, Anthony Edwards Jr. He will be receiving one of the inaugural James Beard Impact Awards at this year’s ceremony, so if you’re reading this and saying “I’ve never heard of that” it’s because it did not exist before 2025.

Via the James Beard Foundation’s website: “The Impact Awards are the representation of the Foundation’s impact work and priorities. They recognize achievement by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike. The Impact Awards are administered by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees’ Impact Committee and reflect the year’s programmatic priorities.”

This conversation will explore the reason he created the app, the successes he and his wife have experienced since EatOkra’s creation, the pitfalls, and the plan for future expansion! It’ll be hosted via ZOOM and will only open to paid subscribers to the newsletters. And, of course, there will be giveaways in addition to the good times. Upgrade your subscription today if you want to take part in this fun conversation.

SFA PROTOTYPE FILM RESIDENCY.

I just became a board member of the Southern Foodways Alliance so sometimes I forget that part of my job is to let people know about shit that is happening with the SFA! But I wanted to make sure y’all knew about the 2025 PROTOTYPE FILM RESIDENCY as applications to apply close near the end of this month.

Per the SFA’s website: “Are you right for the prototype? In 1995, Andre 3000 from the hip-hop group Outkast proclaimed, “The South got something to say.” The SFA wants to hear what you have to say about the South and its foodways. As part of the Southern Foodways Alliance’s mission, we are inviting filmmakers to apply to be part of a small cohort for our 2025 Prototype Film Residency. By the end of the residency, each cohort member will have produced a high-quality film that is ready to share at film festivals.”

Usually, this residency is an 8-week, in-person venture but this year, it’s virtual. Once a month between August 2025—January 2026, cohort members would meet for virtual workshops to help them turn their idea into a reality. If accepted, cohort members can expect:

1. In-person workshop at the University of Mississippi in Oxford

2. Attendance at SFA’s Symposium in Birmingham, AL

3. Film Festival in-person screening in Memphis, TN

4. Monthly film workshops and mentorship

5. 5k Filmmaking stipend

By the way, The Prototype is free for accepted applicants! So if you have an idea, now is the time to make it happen. The application period closes on April 25th so make sure you get your packet together sooner than later!