DC Mayor issues Proclamation for WANDA Week

WASHINGTON, DC (June 16, 2022) – Kicking off Juneteenth weekend, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a proclamation declaring the week of June 19 – 25 as the inaugural WANDA Week. As recognized in the Proclamation: “WANDA honors the rich agriculture and culinary contributions of women and girls of African descent who have been hidden figures in shaping our food systems.” WANDA is short for Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture.

“I am thrilled that the proclamation was issued on June 15th, which is the anniversary of my ancestor, Henrietta Burkhalter, who died on June 15, 1908 in McIntosh County, Oklahoma after reuniting with her son Giles after being enslaved in Corsicana, Texas decades even after Granger's General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas,” says Tambra Stevenson, founder/CEO, WANDA.

As shared in the "Fighting for Food Freedom" short film, WANDA is amplifying and funding the movement to unlock the voices of Black women and girls who have played a vital role in the food system; yet have not received the recognition and reparations. “Today we honor her and all the women who have tireless built this food system without reparations. This proclamation signifies their love, labor and humanity in the making of America’s food history.

Noting in the Proclamation: “WANDA has been leading a global movement of women and girls of African descent that seeks to educate, advocate and innovate our food systems by returning women and families to their roots, reclaiming foodways, and restoring health.”

The Proclamation concludes: WANDA is providing critical leadership in the area of food and nutrition for residents living in Washington, DC and beyond.”

The Sisterhood Supper: Juneteenth Celebration which honors Mayor Bowser and other women changemakers as 2022 Food Shero honorees is a prelude to WANDA Week.

Attend a WANDA Week event or host and register your own WANDA event and share with us to amplify it.

WANDA Week 2022 Activities

Sunday: Join WANDA with the Friends of the National Arboretum to learn and celebrate the foods of Juneteenth at the Washington Youth Garden at noon.

Monday: Join WANDA for a virtual open house to learn about its programs, partnerships and how to join the movement at 7pm via Zoom.

Tuesday: Join WANDA along with NAACP DC Branch for a community listening session on food and nutrition education, equity, and innovation to inform the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health at 7pm via Zoom.

Wednesday: Join WANDA along with Eat Well Exchange on Instagram Live at 7pm.

Thursday: WANDA will release #IamWANDA video series across all social media channels: FB, YouTube, IG, Twitter and LinkedIn to amplifying voices of Black women in the food system.

Friday: Post your how you are leading food and nutrition issues in your community using the hashtags #WANDAWeek and #IamWANDA and tag @iamwandaorg on IG or Twitter. Begin with: "I am WANDA because...."

Saturday: WANDA will release an online survey to gather feedback on the state of Black women in the food system and in their communities to support the White House Conference report and future programming and policy development.

About WANDA

Founded on International Women’s Day in 2016, Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA) is on a mission to build a movement of 1 million women and girls of African descent to lead as food sheroes through education, advocacy, and innovation. Based in Washington, DC WANDA is a Black women-led social justice 501c3 nonprofit organization composed of women leaders, advocates and entrepreneurs working to strengthen our families, communities, and economies by transforming our food system. We transform our lives and our families through #foodfortheculture. Learn more at http://iamwanda.org.

Contact for more info:

Schedule appointments at https://www.calendly.com/iamwandaorg

Email inquiries to hello@iamwanda.org and/or call 202-770-1160.