Ep. 73 Dr. Heber Brown III on Ending Food Apartheid Through Black Church Food Security Network
10/7/25
Black Church Food Justice is transforming communities through purpose-driven initiatives. Join Stephen Lewis and Kimberly Daniel on the DO GOOD X podcast as they interview Dr. Heber Brown III, founder of the Black Church Food Security Network. Discover how his leadership at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church sparked a movement to combat food apartheid by leveraging church land and Black farmers. Learn how Black food ecosystems empower communities and foster social justice and food sovereignty. Dr. Brown shares insights on building community-led food justice solutions that honor cultural identity and drive lasting change.
In This Episode
- 00:00 Meet Dr. Heber Brown III, pastor and founder of Black Church Food Security Network, for food security and food sovereignty
- 03:35 Dr. Brown shares his core values: agency, love, social justice and the launching of Black Church Food Security Network, inspired by food apartheid patterns of members in his church
- 09:06 Frustration with the local market leads to a church garden vision; yields 1,200 pounds, tapping community knowledge from the Great Migration
- 15:39 Utilizing the opportunity that exists in land owned by Black churches: underutilized church land, an opportunity for Black food ecosystems, and engaging rising entrepreneurs
- 22:14 Favorite story: Ebenezer Baptist Church CSA program with Black farmers, 100 subscribers shifting to food sovereignty
- 28:21 Approach to lasting change: honor food charity, show congregations by example what can be accomplished
- 32:24 Aligning funding with values and relationships and being unapologetic for the black base of power
- 38:24 Dr. Brown speaks to shifting from being a pastor to leading a business, but staying connected to your base and not delegating critical aspects of your core values
- 42:59 Scaling the philosophy, and allowing the values to guide the ecosystem you have created
- 44:52 Listeners are invited to join the DO GOOD X Mastermind Community, beginning November 6, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Heber Brown III's vision for Black Church Food Justice transforms communities through black food ecosystems and church gardens.
- Food sovereignty thrives as black farmers and churches unite, tackling food apartheid with social justice.
- Community-led food justice solutions empower black churches to leverage land for sustainable food security.
- Unapologetic Black Church Food Justice aligns funding with values, fostering resilient community gardens.
About The Hosts
Kimberly R. Daniel
Kimberly R. Daniel, co-founder of DO GOOD X, empowers faith-driven social entrepreneurs to create positive change through supportive programs and initiatives. She helps purpose-driven organizations craft compelling brand and communication strategies. With over 15 years of experience, she builds authentic, community-centered brands and effective processes. As a certified life coach, she facilitates workshops and writes on innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. She co-authored A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
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Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis, president of FTE and co-founder of DO GOOD X, supports faith-driven social entrepreneurs through programs fostering positive change. He is an organizational change strategist and leadership development specialist inspiring purposeful leadership and entrepreneurship. Lewis co-authored "Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose" (2020) and "A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation" (2021).
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