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Tiffany Haddish, an American stand-up comedian and actress, is on a mission to raise $25 million to address the food desert and improve the lives of people in her community.
According to The Washington Post, Haddish intends to construct ‘Diaspora Groceries,’ which will be named after ethnic or racial groups who moved to the United States from other nations, in the Crenshaw section of Los Angeles, California.
For years, the actress has been raising funds for the low-cost store in order to serve the BIPOC community, with a goal of $25 million.
In an interview with The Grio, the famous actress said, “I have noticed in my community that they’ve shut down many grocery stores, which to me is like, ‘Well, are you trying to starve us out?’ And then those grocery stores didn’t necessarily have good food in there for us anyway. So I want to open up a grocery store.”
Diaspora Groceries will teach clients how to cook and manage their finances properly in addition to providing high-quality sustainably produced food.
According to Haddish, “There will be specialty things, a normal market, and a nonprofit-like educational component, where people can take cooking classes and a financial literacy class.”
The Girl’s Trip actress’ concept is inspired by her experiences living in poverty and dealing with food insecurity in 2021, when she stated she previously had to make due on $500 per month in order to buy a property.
“Food insecurity is a real thing for me,” Haddish told Essence, “something I’ve experienced the majority of my existence. I would say the last five years have been more like, ‘This is what I’m going to eat.’”
Now aware of the connection between a healthy diet and lifestyle, and the idea that “food is medicine,” she is working to improve access in South Los Angeles.
“I’m a firm believer that once you understand how money works, once you understand how food works, you become a healthier, happier human being,” she said.
Everyone in the neighborhood benefits, according to the famous comedian, when people and their families are healthier and happier. She aims to utilize food and money to challenge systematic racism because she believes that is where it begins.
There is no further information on the official grand launch of ‘Diaspora Groceries’. The store’s website, on the other hand, notes that it is now accepting applications from BIPOC entrepreneurs who wish to sell their wares there because it “aims to build authentic and lasting partnerships” with them.
