Our mission is to promote the connection between cultural heritage, food, and a healthy community. We rely on a three-part strategy to instill 12 core values in vulnerable families: Culture, Cuisine, Community.
SANDE’s three-part strategy responds to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiatives for Faith and Community-Based Organizations, which sought to reduce childhood obesity in a generation. And, we were invited twice to the White House for our unique public health outreach, which includes culturally-relevant cooking classes and public events:
Peace Through Pie: An MLK Holiday Celebration, annual, community-building and fundraising gatherings where sharing sweet and savory world pies invites everyone to explore diverse cultures and history through a familiar food;
Children’s Picnic and Real Food Fair, an annual free and open-to-the-public springtime celebration of local food, presented March 29, 2015, in partnership with the City of Austin and Edible Austin magazine, and part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative for Faith and Community-Based Organizations;
Soul Summit: A Conversation About African American Food Justice, a 3-day symposium over Juneteenth weekend 2015 dedicated to raising cultural, culinary awareness, featuring nationally-recognized food scholars, experts, restaurateurs/chefs, and entrepreneurs, held in collaboration with Huston-Tillotson University, the University of Texas, and Austin Community College.
12 Core Values
Creativity
Leadership
Diligence
Integrity
Respect
Perseverance
Confidence
Generosity
Courtesy
Discipline
Goal-Setting
Responsibility