Blackbird, a shared kitchen in St. Michaels, AZ that closed due to Covid challenges and restrictions, will re-open in the spring of 2024.
Team
Robert Day
Bleu Adams
Mark Mason
Site
Blackbird Shared Kitchen, St. Michaels, AZ
Installed
September 1, 2019
Kitchen Hubs, or shared kitchens, can reduce start-up costs for small food businesses by allowing them to access commercial-grade equipment and facilities at a lower cost. This empowers entrepreneurs to invest more of their revenue into expanding their businesses and creating new job opportunities. Moreover, local food businesses can help preserve cultural traditions and foster healthier eating habits in Indigenous communities. It's worth noting that the support of locally owned food businesses has a considerable impact on the community. Research by Civic Economics suggests that every dollar spent at a local business generates two to four times more economic activity in the community than a dollar spent at a chain business. By supporting small food businesses, we can contribute to the sustainability and resilience of the community's economy.
What we’ve accomplished:
1.
Supported Local Food Entrepreneurs: Shared kitchens provide affordable and accessible space for food entrepreneurs to develop their businesses without having to invest in their own equipment or facilities. This can help to create a more diverse and vibrant food ecosystem and support local food systems.
2.
Promoted Community Health and Wellness: The diverse menus created were used to promote community health and wellness by providing space for healthy food production and education. This can help to address issues related to food insecurity and promote healthier eating habits.
3.
Created Community Capacity: During the COVID-19 crisis, Blackbird acted as a centralized shipping and receiving warehouse for Protect Native Elders (PNE), a grassroots organization providing essential resources to over 70 Indigenous communities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The hub helped to efficiently store and prepare PPE, sanitizer, food, water, and medical supplies for distribution.