The Power of Food: Nourishing a Movement for Change
Mark your calendars: Wednesday, May 7th, we’re gathering at Pittsburgh Yards, the future home of The Food Studio, for something bigger than your average panel or tasting event.
More than an event—it’s a movement.
Mark your calendars: Wednesday, May 7th, we’re gathering at Pittsburgh Yards, the future home of The Food Studio, for something bigger than your average panel or tasting event. We’re uniting community leaders, foodpreneurs, and wellness advocates for a celebration of possibility rooted in healing, innovation, and community impact.
Together, we’ll explore how plant-based businesses are revitalizing underserved neighborhoods, combating food insecurity, and prove that wellness shouldn’t come with a price tag; it should come with a purpose.
Why Arden’s Garden is all in:
When our CEO, Leslie Zinn, joins the stage alongside Chef Kev of The Urban Oak Initiative and Kemi Bennings of Carrot Dog, she’s sharing a story and honoring a legacy.
What started with a single juicer in her mother Arden’s kitchen has grown into 19 stores across Metro Atlanta. But the mission? That’s stayed the same: to make fresh, affordable, plant-based nourishment accessible to everyone, no matter their background or zip code. “There’s a common misconception that underserved communities aren’t interested in fresh food,” Leslie says. “But the success of our stores proves otherwise.”
At Arden’s Garden, we know that food can be so much more than fuel, it can be a tool for healing, empowerment, and equity. This panel is about sharing that vision and spotlighting the local leaders who are making it real every day.
Why This Matters
In communities where chronic illness, food insecurity, and limited access to healthy options still persist, events like The Power of Food remind us of what’s possible when purpose meets community. These gatherings spark change. They breathe new energy into neighborhoods that have long been overlooked, helping them turn barriers into bridges and communities into thriving hubs of wellness and innovation.
At the heart of this transformation is Urban Oak Initiative, whose mission is to educate, uplift, and support local food entrepreneurs through culturally rooted programs and mentorship. Their groundbreaking project, The Food Studio, will be Atlanta’s first 100% plant-based shared kitchen in a historically disinvested neighborhood, serving as a place where purpose meets possibility, and where food justice is no longer an idea, but where it will be a reality every single day. Because in Atlanta and beyond, we know this truth: events like The Power of Food are proof that real change starts locally, and change doesn’t need permission, it just needs passion and a place to grow.
Meet the Changemakers:
This year’s panel brings together three powerhouse voices, each reimagining the future of food through their own lens of purpose and lived experience:
Leslie Zinn – CEO & Family Founder, Arden’s Garden Leslie’s journey from juicing in her mother’s kitchen to leading one of the South’s most beloved plant-based wellness brands is a testament to what happens when accessibility meets heart. She’s proof that business growth and community impact can go hand in hand, and that fresh food belongs in every neighborhood.
Chef Kev McGee – Executive Director & Family Founder Urban Oak Initiative The driving force behind the Foodpreneur Program, Chef Kev has dedicated his work to transforming food deserts into places of opportunity. With food as his medium, he’s building pathways for plant-based organizations to thrive. “With food insecurity and sustainability at the forefront, this event will highlight how plant-based entrepreneurship can be accessible, profitable, and a catalyst for change," says Chef Kev.
Kemi Bennings – CEO & Founder, Carrot Dog + Food for Thought Café With a background in nursing and health education, Kemi brings both compassion and creativity to the plate. Her love for plant-based food (and of course, hot dogs), sparked a journey to create healthier and more joy-filled options for communities that deserve more. “My love for cooking and being plant-based, along with my desire to see healthier food options in our communities, led to my foodpreneur journey,” she shares.
DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: Doors open at 10:30 AM | Event: 11 AM - 3 PM | Panel: 12 - 1 PM
Location: Pittsburgh Yards
Cost: Free (yes, you heard that right. Free!)
Dress Code: Come as you are!
Bonus: Enjoy food + beverage samples, meet local plant-based vendors, and explore the future space of The Food Studio.
Be a Part of the Future of Food
Come sip, sample, and be inspired. Connect with changemakers. Learn something new, and support a future where food fuels equity.
Stay Connected
Follow along for event coverage, behind-the-scenes moments, and voices from the community.
Tag us in your experience and join the movement!