Interview with Nonprofit, Oakland Bloom / 10 minute read
Oakland Bloom is a nonprofit that supports poor-and-working class immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC chefs to start their own food businesses through its flagship business training and incubator program, the Open Test Kitchen. They aim to radically shift the nature of the food service industry to one that is healthy, equitable and accessible for traditionally marginalized communities.
World Centric first began working with Oakland Bloom in 2021 by donating takeout containers for their weekly mutual aid food provisions, which distributes meals to houseless communities in partnership with Eastlake United for Justice. Oakland Bloom's chefs donate at least 200 meals per month. In 2022, Oakland Bloom received a $10,000 grant from World Centric through our Staff Giving program, which empowers employees to decide organizations to receive funding.
World Centric first began working with Oakland Bloom in 2021 by donating takeout containers for their weekly mutual aid food provisions, which distributes meals to houseless communities in partnership with Eastlake United for Justice. Oakland Bloom's chefs donate at least 200 meals per month. In 2022, Oakland Bloom received a $10,000 grant from World Centric through our Staff Giving program, which empowers employees to decide organizations to receive funding.
Oakland Bloom collective at their training kitchen and restaurant (Understory) in Oakland California
We visited Oakland Bloom to see their programs first hand and talk with, Lily Fahsi-Haskel, a team member at their worker-led restaurant, Understory:
How does Oakland Bloom support immigrants and refugees?
OB supports immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC chefs and food entrepreneurs in building or strengthening their food businesses. We also support the development of innovative cooperative business models that are seeking to alter the exploitative models of the food service industry. While food service offers many opportunities to immigrant and refugee chefs, it is also so frequently a site of worker abuse or exploitation. By training chefs and providing operational support on their pathways towards food business ownership, we are supporting these chefs in having agency and leadership over their own livelihood and cultural expression.
How does Oakland Bloom support immigrants and refugees?
OB supports immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC chefs and food entrepreneurs in building or strengthening their food businesses. We also support the development of innovative cooperative business models that are seeking to alter the exploitative models of the food service industry. While food service offers many opportunities to immigrant and refugee chefs, it is also so frequently a site of worker abuse or exploitation. By training chefs and providing operational support on their pathways towards food business ownership, we are supporting these chefs in having agency and leadership over their own livelihood and cultural expression.
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Chef Wanda of Prima's Cuban Vegan Corner and Chef Nikki of ASÚKAR at Oakland Bloom's Test Kitchen
What needs to change within the foodservice industry to better support immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized groups?
The food service industry needs to be radically overhauled in order to be a more just system for immigrants, refugees, and working class people of color. At Oakland Bloom, we see our work as tied to other social and economic justice efforts because the food industry cannot be reformed in isolation; it is only one part of larger systems of exploitation. Our work is impactful and also just a small piece in addressing some of these issues and experimenting with new models. Some examples of how other food businesses can also do their part are by creating collective decision-making structures, paying living wages and benefits, insisting on safe and just work conditions, offering leadership development, and/or creating supportive work environments for people who face barriers to participation -- there are many opportunities for disrupting these unjust industries!
The food service industry needs to be radically overhauled in order to be a more just system for immigrants, refugees, and working class people of color. At Oakland Bloom, we see our work as tied to other social and economic justice efforts because the food industry cannot be reformed in isolation; it is only one part of larger systems of exploitation. Our work is impactful and also just a small piece in addressing some of these issues and experimenting with new models. Some examples of how other food businesses can also do their part are by creating collective decision-making structures, paying living wages and benefits, insisting on safe and just work conditions, offering leadership development, and/or creating supportive work environments for people who face barriers to participation -- there are many opportunities for disrupting these unjust industries!
