S16 E21 Stories Matter Duron Chavis Origin of a Food Activist

"If not us, who? If not now, when?" - This powerful quote embodies the transformational journey of Duron Chavis, a passionate advocate for food justice and community empowerment.

[Why This Is Important] - The main message here is to become a person worth listening to so you can advocate for positive change. Duron's story underlines the significance of addressing food insecurity, creating sustainable communities, and nurturing local agriculture. His journey embodies resilience, innovation, and the power of community collaboration.

[What you need to know.] - Duron Chavis discovered his passion for storytelling and community empowerment through his work at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Realizing the impact of systemic issues on black and brown communities, he initiated Happily Natural Day, a transformative event celebrating diversity and connectedness. His encounters with black farmers and the stark reality of food deserts spurred him to take action.

[What you need to do.] - Recognize the impact of systemic issues on communities. Embrace diversity and connectedness. Advocate for sustainable food sources and strive to address food insecurity. Engage with local farmers and community members to create lasting change.

[TAKE ACTION] Do this now - Start by identifying local organizations and farms to support. Educate yourself about food justice and food deserts. Engage with communities and advocate for sustainable solutions to address systemic issues.

Gayle Turner is President of The Storytellers Channel, Inc. https://storytellerschannel.com/ For close to five decades he has used the power of story to initiate and sustain change while growing leaders and building productive corporate and community cultures.

Check out his LinkedIn profile to learn the rest of the story. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wgayleturner/ 

Shelli Jost Brady is Founder & Catalyst at Alchemy Consulting and Chief Operating Officer at The Storytellers Channel, Inc.

Check out her LinkedIn profile to learn the rest of the story. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelli-jost-brady-94b44835/

Duron Chavis started his career in community advocacy as first a volunteer then an employee of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of VA. He worked as a museum coordinator developing programs and conducting guided tours for groups of all ages and backgrounds.

In 2003 he founded the highly acclaimed Happily Natural Day festival as a grassroots effort to supplement the summer jazz concert that was held annually at the institution. The festival is a weekend long experience held annually in both Richmond VA and Atlanta GA that focuses on cultural awareness, health, wellness and social change. Chavis has worked with Dr. Llaila Afrika, Dr. Phil Valentine, Hakim Bey, Dr. Neely Fuller, Queen Afua, Runoko Rashidi, Ashra Kwesi, Ashanti Alston, Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, dead prez, Popmaster Fabel and many more community activists, scholars and organizations from all over the country.

Check out Duron’s profile on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duronchavis/

Download a FREE checklist of how to craft intentional stories to inspire results. https://storytellerschannel.com/inspire

Keywords

urban agriculture, Black History Museum, cultural center, jazz concert, Happily Natural Day, Brown versus Board of Education, diversity of blackness, Kenneth Clark doll study, networking, relationship building, food insecurity, food desert, grocery store access, hurricane impact, food stamps, pop-up farmers markets, community gardens, McDonough Community Garden, food justice, climate resiliency, self-determination, social justice, cultural identity, communal work, community activism, earth workers, collective good, breaking bread, community transformation, urban food access, Duron Chavis, Shelli Jost Brady, Gayle Turner.