Plant Based Papi

From the streets of Flint to the kitchens of Portland, Chef Jewan Manuel is redefining plant-based cuisine with bold flavors and even bolder vision. The mastermind behind Plant Based Papi, Jewan launched his culinary empire in 2018 with pop-ups that had Portland buzzing, leading to underground tasting dinners that sold out night after night. When he opened his first brick-and-mortar in December 2020, lines wrapped around the block.

More than just a chef, Jewan is a community builder focused on ownership, representation, and mentorship. He works with nonprofits, mentors emerging chefs, and serves A-list clientele while proving that plant-based food can have soul, depth, and legacy. Rooted in hustle, culture, and community, Chef Jewan's approach aligns perfectly with Feed'em Freedom Foundation's vision of empowerment and food sovereignty—building something that lasts.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Fattou Ouattara

AKÂDI PDX

Chef Fatou Ouattara brings the authentic flavors of West Africa from her homeland in Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire, to Portland through AKÂDI PDX. Learning the art of African cuisine from her mother, grandmother, and aunts, she honed her culinary skills as a teenager in Bobo Dioulasso and Burkina Faso, mastering traditional techniques with clay ovens, wood fires, and ancestral spice preparation methods. Her restaurant has become Portland's vibrant jewel of West African cuisine, offering everything from aromatic jollof rice to deeply smoky grilled suya.



For Chef Fatou, food is the universal language of emotions and connections—the medium through which her family expresses love, sadness, and joy. Her mission extends beyond serving meals to authentically representing West African culture through food, music, and ambiance that mirrors the cherished gatherings of her Ivory Coast roots. At AKÂDI PDX, she creates a convergence of community and celebration that transports diners to the heart of West Africa, perfectly embodying the spirit of cultural preservation and food sovereignty that drives the Feast For The Future event.

Jacque Hammond is a genre-bending Singer, Writer, Pianist and first-time filmmaker based in Portland by way of Los Angeles. Originally from Joliet, Illinois, she has written, produced, and performed for over a decade. With creative origins in poetry and storytelling, she is passionate about using her art to inspire the imagination.

She is a 2023 recipient of Portland Institute For Contemporary Art’s Precipice Fund and 2024 recipient of Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Arts3c grant. Her latest work In My Own Image is a spellbinding exploratory musical short film unearthing a journey of identity and existence through an EcoWomanist lens. 

Mia Raiah

Mia Raiah is a movement artist and ritual practitioner who created the groundbreaking BIPOC Youth Dance Program in 2017, offering a safe and inclusive space for Black dancers to find joy and connection through dance. A former Jefferson Dancer with Portland's prestigious dance company, Mia uses movement as her method of connecting with spirit and archiving the constant changes of life through what she calls "primary rituals." Her work extends beyond performance into community building and land stewardship with the Black Oregon Land Trust, embodying the intersection of creative expression, healing arts, and food sovereignty that defines tonight's celebration.

Akela Jaffi

Aleka Jaffi is a multidisciplinary artist working in Portland who has been training in dance for 17 years, specializing in West African, modern, urban styles, and freestyle movement. A Jefferson High School graduate, she describes movement as her method of connecting with spirit and ritual, as well as her way of archiving the comings and goings of everyday life. Aleka is the creator of BASS, an artist showcase focused on uplifting Black performers of all mediums, and works to inspire younger generations through her production work with the intention of creating for studio, stage, and screen, making her a perfect complement to an evening celebrating cultural expression and community empowerment.