Naijha Wright-Brown's Meatless Monday journey began on a search for manageable ways to lower her cholesterol. Discovering a love for plant-based cooking along the way led her to assisting her husband, Gregory Brown, with opening a vegan soul food bistro, The Land of Kush, in 2011. She co-founded Vegan SoulFest in Baltimore in 2014, with the support of the community and local organizations. The festival combines food, education, and entertainment, and makes plant-based meals the default option. It has grown to be a successful multi-day event, with 13,000 attendees from around the world in recent years. She also played a key role in the launch of Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week, a celebration that has expanded to become Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month.
Equipped with 13 years of experience in the restaurant industry and a commitment to cultural promotion, she founded a non-profit in 2014. The Black Veg Society is dedicated to giving back to the community responsible for The Land of Kush becoming a cornerstone of Baltimore’s food scene and garnering the patronage of greats like Angela Davis and Stevie Wonder.
One highlight is the Musical Meatless Monday events she started in partnership with local high schools. Community members could come to see performances and chat with other program implementers and sustainable food system experts. Naijha believes the key to sustaining this work is collective effort, so she continues to partner with local businesses, organizations, schools, and government agencies. She also hopes to continue providing educational, fun, and delicious experiences to help people learn about plant-based eating and reducing meat consumption through the Meatless Monday program.
