As part of its Women of Color strategy, Our Kitchen Table is bringing some amazing women (and one man!) to Grand Rapids to educate and inspire through a series of events entitled Women of Color Cook, Eat and Talk. On August 11, Adela Nieves ADS, CCT, RMT, presents “One Bite at a Time: Food as Medicine.” OKT cooking coaches will start the event with a healthy-foods cooking demo and sampling.
“Take the time to nourish your body by learning some important guidelines for food grouping and combining for ailments such as arthritis, gout, sinus allergies, anxiety and hypertension,” Nieves says. “In this workshop we will share information that supports a strong digestive system and helps the body break down food easily, while also discussing simple and hearty meals. So fun!”
A traditional community health and healing arts practitioner, Nieves currently is studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor. She is deeply committed to integrative wellness approaches, practicing Acudetox (ear acupuncture), indigenous traditional medicine, cupping therapy, whole person natural care, and Reiki for individuals and groups struggling with addiction, PTSD, stress and trauma.
Nieves co-founded Homemade Healing, a small neighborhood wellness center in Southwest Detroit. There, she practices supporting those in their journeys to tell their own stories and define health, healing and wellness for themselves. “Homemade Healing is a collaborative space where we decide and practice what healing is for ourselves,” Nieves says. “We offer bodywork and energy work, natural health consultations, classes and shared space that prioritizes the local community.”
Her lecture will be from 6-8 pm, Thursday, Aug. 11, at Sherman Street Church, 1000 Sherman St. SE.
In February, the Women of Color Cook, Eat & Talk event featured, Lila Cabbil, president emeritus of the Rosa Parks Institute, and Barbara Roos, former GVSU film department head and ’60s civil rights activist, facilitated a dialogue on white allies against racism. On May 12, Lottie V. Spady, Detroit food and media justice activist, taught about “Herbs from Your Garden as Medicine.” On May 21, Shane Bernardo, outreach coordinator for Detroit’s Earthworks Urban Farm, led a daylong Anti-racism Summit.
On November 10, Shakara Taylor, mother, returning generation farmer, educator, activist-scholar and doctorate student at Michigan State University Department of Community Sustainability, will speak about “Woman-ism and Agroecology: An Intersectional Praxis.”
