Tag: Healing
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Laverte Mathis and Tyrone Goodwyn
Washington, D.C. native Laverte Mathis and longtime resident Tyrone Goodwyn were interviewed together at a site closely tied to their shared sense of home and history. Both men reflected on their Southern roots—Mathis’s family from Georgia and Goodwyn’s from North Carolina and Tidewater, Virginia—and the deep culinary traditions that have shaped their lives. Mathis spoke Read more
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Andrea Jeter
“Remedies like garlic. Garlic helps with blood pressure.” What is one special family food tradition, and can you tell us a story about it? Why is it important to your family? “Thanksgiving and we all enjoy the mac n cheese. I am the designated mac n cheese chef for my family.” Read more
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Group Interview: Tim Hall, Luke Blackwell, James Birth, Phyllis Metts, Janice Barnes
Tim Hall, Luke Blackwell, James Birth, Phyllis Metts, and Janice Barnes participated in a group interview led by Anita Gonzalez which explores how food functions in Black communities in Washington, D.C. as a source of health, healing, heritage, and connection. Janice Barnes opened by sharing her family’s generational history with high blood pressure and how Read more
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Group Interview: Harold Little, Joyce Robinson-Paul, and Mac-Arthur Mills
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Joyce Robinson-Paul, Harold Little, and Mac-Arthur Mills share deep roots in the city’s Black communities, including Shaw, Takoma, and Foggy Bottom. The three were interviewed at a church central to their lives, where annual gospel concerts, soul food, and fellowship continue to bring people together. Joyce, a native Washingtonian, Read more
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Glen Pittman
Glen Pittman was born and raised in Virginia and currently works in Washington, D.C., commuting daily from Fredericksburg. He has worked as a Food and Beverage Director at the Holiday Inn in NW DC for over two years. Though his physical home is in Virginia, D.C. plays a central role in his daily life and Read more
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Sunithi Selvaraj
Sunithi Selvaraj, affectionately known as Sue, is a registered dietitian and nutritionist who began working with Model Cities in April 2023. Originally a consultant, she quickly fell in love with the vibrant senior community and transitioned into a full-time role as their nutrition educator. Sue leads weekly programs that include cooking demonstrations—often taught by the Read more
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Sheila Jones
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Sheila Louis Jones is a lifelong resident whose family moved from Virginia nearly 70 years ago when her father was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. Sheila spoke about growing up in Capitol Hill and later in public housing, where she said she learned a lot and had fun Read more
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Group Interview: Velgene Eastman, Ora Roberts, Kimberly Smith, and Janice Barnes
This group interview with Velgene Eastman, Ora Roberts, Kimberly Smith, and Janice Barnes took place at the United House of Prayer in Washington, DC. The conversation centered around the significance of food in Black communities, particularly its role in spiritual grounding, cultural preservation, and family connection. The women reflected on the joyful reactions of patrons Read more
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Chrischeryl McDaniel
“Taking food to someone when their healing. Help someone overcome a sickness.” What is one special family food tradition, and can you tell us a story about it? Why is it important to your family? “Thanksgiving – for the last 25 years, we hosted thanksgiving for both sides of the family. We take a photo Read more
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Angela Anderson
“The kitchen is a safe place for my family. The kitchen is the place where I provide nourishment, healing, counseling, help with homework, and the central hub or meeting place for our family.” How do you use food for healing? “I use food for by ensuring it’s nutritious. I cook 5 sometimes 6 times a Read more
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Bonita Evans
“Community involvement by working at the restaurant. Seeing and meeting lots of people.” How do you use food for healing? “Nutrition, physical, emotional, mental healing. Sharing, sitting together, taking food to someone.” Read more