2025 Annual Report

www.bcaglobal.org

20 ANNUAL 25 REPORT BRIDGING FOOD AND SOCIAL IMPACT

President’s Message Dear Friends, Supporters, and Partners, As we close out 2025, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every donor, sponsor, volunteer, and champion who helped make this year one of growth, clarity and renewed purpose for BCAGlobal. Despite the challenges and changes we all faced, your belief in our mission strengthened our resolve and amplified our impact in communities that need it most.

This year, our flagship program Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community continued to gain national attention and meaningful traction. The rising urgency around food insecurity, nutritional literacy, food waste, and the growing movement of food-as-medicine underscores how essential our work has become. Your support fuels real solutions.

The achievements highlighted in this report reflect a powerful return on investment not only for our supporters, but for the communities we serve. Food sovereignty sets the values; food systems put them into practice. This relationship is at the core of BCAGlobal’s mission and explains why our work is essential. We help communities build food systems that are locally grounded, culturally relevant, sustainable, community-led and just.

Looking ahead to 2026, our commitment is clear: we will continue to work collaboratively to build food systems that are economically stable, ecologically resilient, culturally rooted, and designed to support healthier, more self-sufficient communities. Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community remains the foundation of a broader movement we call culinary environmentalism—the understanding that how we grow, cook, share, and care for food directly influences both planetary health and community well-being. In this movement, chefs, farmers, food workers, and everyday eaters become environmental stewards and culture-keepers. Each of us has a role to play and your support helps widen the circle.

I am proud of the mission BCAGlobal continues to advance and optimistic about the new relationships and partnerships we will build to uplift and empower communities in 2026 and beyond. I invite you to stay connected through our newsletter and social media to follow our progress and join us in this critical work. Together, we will continue building bridges toward food system resilience, community wellness, and culinary environmentalism.

Sincerely, Chef Alex Askew

WHO ARE WE At BCAGlobal, we believe that everyone deserves access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive. Our work centers on creating more resilient food systems. Through food giveaways and nutrition, agricultural, and culinary education, we uplift communities in need and empower future wellness leaders.

MISSION Our Mission is to empower individuals in the food system (including the food service industry) through a framework of mindfulness, sustainability, social justice, and food sovereignty, and help forge meaningful connections to further our vision of a beloved community.

“Elevating communities one bite at a time.”

OUR IMPACT IN 2025

The notion of mindful eating is really taking that sense of awareness; where our food comes from, how it is grown. When you import food from four to five weeks away, you have to eat it almost immediately.”

-Alex Askew

THANK YOU OUR SPONSORS! FIVETO PILLARS

OUR FIVE PILLARS

WE’VE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAMS BEYOND MINDFUL EATING FOR THE BELOVED COMMUNITY As community and individualized needs continue to grow, so must the scope of our services. We have incorporated new programs this year and built on our flagship program, Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community as well Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community, also known as MEBC explores mindful eating methods, connects health with career success, helps produce positive, more inclusive work environments, and fosters leadership and social accountability for role models and mentors.

Mindful Eating for The Beloved Community offers strategies to strengthen connections between diet, culture, faith, the environment, and community well-being with a focus on mindful eating, racial justice, and sustainability. The book was written by a diverse group of chefs, nutritionists, and foodhealth activists from multiple regions in the United States.

SPRING 2025 BRONX FOOD HUB The Bronx faces some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States. 39% of residents are insecure, more than 3x the national average. With over 28% living below the poverty line and 42% consuming no daily fruits or vegetables, the borough ranks 62nd out of 62 NY counties for health outcomes and quality of life.

BCAGlobal proposes the Bronx Food Hub: a sustainable center for food access, health education, and community-centric solutions. We will retrofit a discarded shipping container into a food access point and learning space located in a low-income neighborhood. Sourced from local farms, the container will include refrigeration, a small farm pilot plot, and food preparation areas to support fresh food distribution, meal production, and interactive workshops. The hub will serve an estimated 3,000- 4,000 residents annually with affordable food options and health-promoting services.

AS THE COUNTY WITH THE LOWEST HEALTH INDEX IN NEW YORK STATE, THE BRONX URGENTLY NEEDS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS BOTH FOOD ACCESS AND HEALTH EDUCATION.

FARM INFORMATION IN PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico’s food system is fragile. The island imports nearly 87% of its food, leaving communities vulnerable to rising prices, supply chain disruptions, and extreme weather. After Hurricane Maria, food insecurity surged from 30% to 85% percent in just five months, exposing how quickly access to food can disappear.

At BCAGlobal, we believe food is medicine and food sovereignty is essential to community health. In partnership with the USDA, the University of Puerto Rico, and AgroInnova, we are leading a transformative effort to rebuild Puerto Rico’s food system through regenerative farming that restores soil health, improves crop nutrition, reduces waste, and strengthens long term resilience for farmers.

Improving Nutrition Equity and Security to Tackle the Health of the Planet and its Inhabitants: Defining Culinary Medicine to Advance PatientCentered Nutrition Education The goal of this seminar program was to bring together key experts in Culinary Medicine, culinary arts, nutrition, behavioral change, and environmental science. We aim to create a consensual, evidence-based CM curriculum, with structured cultural and socioeconomic adaptation that will also be adapted to medical education. We believe that this seminar’s outcome will formalize CM and promote its adoption in health-care systems, medical education, and research facilities.

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University bring students, scholars, artists, and practitioners together to pursue curiosity-driven research, expand human understanding, and grapple with questions that demand insight from across disciplines. https://bit.ly/4s3OWmN

SUMMER 2025 HEALTHY KIDS MEALS IN RESTAURANTS CAMPAIGN In 2025, BCAGlobal deepened its work to improve access to healthier children’s meals in restaurants, an urgent response to rising childhood obesity and dietrelated diseases. Through interviews with non-chain restaurant owners across New York State, BCAGlobal gathered firsthand insights into the operational, economic, and cultural challenges that prevent restaurants from offering nutritious kids’ meals. Many owners expressed concerns about inventory management, staff training, cost increases, and customer demand—issues intensified by ongoing postCOVID financial recovery. At the same time, operators showed genuine interest in healthier offerings when paired with the right support, emphasizing the need for practical solutions such as technical assistance, easy-to-prepare recipes, and product subsidies.

The project also opened pathways for strategic partnerships to boost implementation and sustainability. BCAGlobal engaged local manufacturers and bakers such as Damascus Bakery and Make My Cake Bakery to explore product innovation, subsidized pilot programs, and recipe development for kid-friendly, nutritious menu items. The initiative highlights a forward-thinking “Food as Medicine” approach, connecting health education with culinary practice and community well-being. These efforts lay a strong foundation for statewide collaboration, policy alignment, and creative outreach strategies to make healthier restaurant meals both accessible and profitable.

SUMMER 2025 MINDFUL EATING WORKSHOP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH ROCHESTER’S COMMUNITY NURSES In partnership with the Rochester Black Nurses Association, BCAGlobal hosted an interactive mindful eating workshop led by our President, Alex Askew, as part of our expanding community health and food justice initiatives. This engagement marked a meaningful milestone in our continued effort to deepen connections in Rochester and bring our mission to nourish, educate, and empower communities to new regions. By participating in the event, we aimed not only to introduce BCAGlobal’s work but also to strengthen relationships with healthcare leaders who play a central role in shaping wellness outcomes.

During the workshop, Alex Askew guided participants through the principles of mindful eating, emphasizing how intentional food choices and culturally grounded nutrition contribute to holistic well-being. The session also highlighted the vital contributions of Black farmers and the importance of farm-to-table pathways that ensure fresh, equitable access to healthy foods across underserved neighborhoods.

This event was also an invitation for deeper partnership. By engaging face-to-face with Rochester’s nurse community, BCAGlobal continues its commitment to bridging food education, cultural competency, and health equity, while amplifying the voices and traditions that sustain our communities.

SUMMER 2025 MEN’S HEALTH SUMMIT: ADVANCING MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION BCAGlobal had a table at a men’s mental health, nutrition, and overall well-being. BCAGlobal represented leading conversations around the “food is medicine” philosophy and the role that culturally grounded nutrition plays in supporting both physical and emotional health.

Chef Alex also spent dedicated time touring key food and nutrition operations across Rochester to better understand the local food ecosystem and explore opportunities for future collaboration. One of the highlights of the visit included a comprehensive tour of Foodlink, a major regional food hub serving five counties. The tour offered insight into their community meal programs, including their support for school lunches and local nutrition initiatives.

Chef Alex also engaged in conversations with leaders from the Rochester medical community, including the Chief of Nutrition, to better understand how meals are prepared for diverse cultural groups, whether food is produced in-house or outsourced, and how nutrition is being integrated into patient care.

The visit concluded with a stop at a local institution, the historic Mt. Hope Diner, to observe how neighborhood establishments currently serve students and families. The goal was to assess how BCAGlobal might support local partners in enhancing access to healthier, culturally relevant meal options.

Overall, the Men’s Health Summit provided a valuable platform for BCAGlobal to deepen its connection with the Rochester community, highlight the importance of inclusive nutrition, and lay the groundwork for meaningful future collaborations across healthcare, education, and community food systems.

FALL 2025 ROUNDTABLE ON THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND PLANET In October 2025, BCA Global convened a Health of People & Planet roundtable, bringing together community leaders, practitioners, and partners for an intimate and thoughtful dialogue at the intersection of food systems, public health, sustainability, and social equity.

The roundtable created space for participants to share lived experiences, professional insights, and practical approaches to building food systems that are culturally responsive, accessible, and rooted in care for both people and the planet.

Through the moderated discussion and collective reflection, the event fostered meaningful connections and surfaced shared priorities around mindful eating, sustainable sourcing, and community-centered solutions. The gathering reinforced BCA Global’s mission to advance holistic wellbeing through food, education, and collaboration, while strengthening relationships that will continue to inform future programming and partnerships.

TESTIMONIALS FROM THE ROUNDTABLE EVENT

TESTIMONIALS

“The conversation invited reflection on how closely the health of our food system is tied to the health of our people, and how creating space for these discussions can raise awareness, spark ideas, and strengthen community connection.

-Maggie Burke

“It showed how much work there is to do and how interconnected the issues are, but it also helped us understand what we can start to do about it.”

-Isaac Carroo

“It was powerful to map a future of empowered, resilient food systems alongside like-minded leaders fiercely committed to solutions.

-LaToya Meaders

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

For our food insecurity social media campaign, BCA Global used storytelling and collaboration to spark awareness and action. We invited multiple writers and community voices to contribute short reflections, lived-experience perspectives, and practical takeaways. We amplified their work through tagged posts, crosspromotion, and partner shoutouts to extend reach beyond our own audience.

By weaving together consistent visuals, clear calls-to-action, and a shared message around dignity, access, and community care, the campaign strengthened engagement, built new relationships with aligned creators, and helped more people discover resources and ways to get involved.

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

Promoting our in-person event on social media generated strong traction and helped us reach a wider, more engaged audience. Cross-collaborating with our panelists through tagged posts, shared graphics, and coordinated reminders expanded visibility across multiple networks and created a sense of shared momentum leading up to the event. This partnership-driven approach not only boosted awareness and attendance, but also strengthened relationships with our speakers and community partners while keeping our mission at the center of the conversation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

We also use social media to spotlight the people behind BCA Global and strengthen our community of supporters. From welcoming new Board of Directors members to sharing their introductions and perspectives, we collaborate with board leaders through tagged posts and cross-sharing to expand reach and build trust.

Highlighting our team in this way helps humanize our work, celebrate leadership, and deepen connections with partners and audiences who believe in our mission.

WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION AND PROGRAMMING As we expand our programing and services to reflect the need of marginalized communities, we are expanding how a person can support our mission.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alex Askew

Harriet Taub

Alisa Washington

Lacey Andrews

Joanne Baylor

Dr. Watson Baldwin​

Reginald Mnzava

Briana Brown

Adela Ruiz

Jessica Long

Dr. Monique Bernier

K.P Sherman

2025