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When it comes to vegan eating, education is everything. Sadly, many people aren’t exposed to the cornucopia of options available on a vegan diet — particularly those who live in underserved communities.

With Hip Hop Green Dinners, Keith Tucker is trying to change people’s perceptions. The concept involves hosting dinners introducing urban youth to healthy, delicious vegan food, and they events are taking place in a whole host of cities. They’ve already happened in Denver, Oakland, Sacramento, and more this year, and are on the way to Washington, DC, Tacoma, and NYC.

Tucker’s experience with substance abuse (and subsequent 23 years of sobriety) led to an interest in health awareness. Eventually, he decided to start on a documentary — Pursuit of a Green Planet. The flick will document his journey to veganism, as well as cover where food originates, how it’s manufactured, and how it’s all connected to the environment. As he started shooting the documentary, he came up with idea of sharing healthy vegan food with people in the community, and the Hip Hop Green Dinners concept was born.

“People usually come a little apprehensive to the food because when you say vegan they usually have their guard up,” Tucker tells Latest Vegan News of how attendees react. “We create a beautiful environment  to set the mood for the evening. We quickly break down those barriers with the information and the show. But once they taste the food that’s where the breakthrough happens. They find out that it can taste good.”

As far as what’s on the menus: “We serve food that is easy for youth and families to make themselves,” says Tucker.
“Food that is familar to them and obviously, food that tastes good.”

Currently, Tucker is developing a film and media company, as well as a nonprofit organization, and looks to inspire people to better health and self-discovery.

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