Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative announces funding award for Recipes for Belonging

Press release from Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion (GINI) Initiative, through the Rural Women’s Health Project, is excited to announce it was one of four recipients nationwide of the Fund to Foster Belonging’s third round of funding for local leaders and projects that build meaningful connections between immigrants and non-immigrants. The Fund to Foster Belonging is a program of Welcoming America.

Recipients were selected from a competitive process in which projects were assessed for how effectively they bring immigrants and non-immigrants together to work on a project of shared interest, with the ultimate goal of developing a stronger sense of belonging. This year, the theme for the GINI project is Recipes for Belonging.

Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, said, “We are thrilled to support this latest round of community-driven projects through the Fund to Foster Belonging. By bringing neighbors of different backgrounds together with a shared purpose, these projects underscore the continued need for communities to work better for everyone and for strong, multiracial democracies to thrive.”

As was done last year, the GINI Initiative will continue its partnership with Flavorful Inc. to coordinate two culinary experiences where U.S.-born and immigrant community members will learn from local chefs about culturally-significant meals and work together to create their own “Gainesville/Alachua Recipes.” This year, GINI will focus on healthy, locally-sourced ingredients and include a cultural arts element where participants will provide reflections on belonging and inclusion.

Awa Kaba and Aisse Kane, co-owners of Flavorful, stated, “Food stands as a cornerstone of our cultural identity and cherished traditions. Through this initiative, we harness the power of culinary arts to fortify bonds within our community and pave the way for a more connected and health-conscious society.”

To accomplish this, the GINI Initiative is proud to also partner with Swarthy East GNV, a nonprofit that is committed to ​​increasing access to healthy foods, supporting small business owners, and educating at-risk residents about earning sustainable income for their families. Also joining Recipes for Belonging is the organization ARTSPEAKS, which seeks to provide the community with opportunities to engage in and appreciate all aspects of the literary, visual, and performing arts. 

“This partnership with the Rural Women’s Health Project bridges local communities together by fostering a sense of belonging to all around culturally significant, healthy meals.” shared Hatdrika Monroe, director of Swarthy East GNV. “We are honored to offer produce grown and sourced locally by the community for the community and look forward to curating our community partnerships with this project.”

To ensure the inclusion of voices not usually heard in our community, GINI will promote materials in multiple languages and provide interpreters at each event. Helping capture these expressions and create a cultural exhibit based on these events, GINI will work with Language Access Florida. The events are currently planned to take place in late summer, with dates and locations to be determined.