9:00 am | Check-In

10:00 am | OPENING PLENARY

• MC: Courtnee Futch-Brinson, Chef, Mixologist, & Storyteller

• Founders’ Remarks: Nina Oduro & Maame, Boakye

• Honoring Pioneers: Deb Freeman, Food Journalist

• Panel: Ascend - Together in Purpose in the Face of Change presented by Uber Eats

  • Speakers: Angela Johnson, Head of Global Delivery Partnerships, Uber Eats; Kardea Brown-Smith, Award Winning TV Host, Chef, and Best Selling Author; Robin McBride, Co-Founder and President of McBride Sisters Wine Company; Teneka Ray, Taco Bell

11:45 AM | BREAKOUT 1: PANELS

• Celebrating Culinary Heritage: Elevating Diaspora Flavors in Menus & Ensuring Authenticity presented by FLIK Hospitality Group

  • Speakers: Trudy Halliman, FLIK Hospitality Group; Monique Woodland, FLIK Hospitality Group; Nana Araba Wilmot, Chef & Love That I Knead Supperclub; Ozoz Sokoh, Historian, Educator & Author

• Selling the Product: What It Really Takes to Win presented by SupplySide

  • Speakers: Audarshia Townsend, Informa; Dr. Michele Hoskins, Michele’s Foods Inc.; Jomaree Pinkard, Hella Cocktail Co & Included; Tiffany Hainesworth, TCapri Tequila

• Telling Our Stories: Leveraging Media to Shift Narratives

  • Speakers: Anela Malik, Content Creator & Author; V. Sheree Williams, Cuisine Noir; Melissa Jones, Edible Activist; Klancy Miller, For the Culture

• Reinventing the Restaurant: Leadership, Survival, and the Future of Hospitality

  • Speakers: I-shi Patterson Stuart, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington; Camari Mick; Vida Ali, Ben’s Chili Bowl; Sara Bennett, OpenTable

12:45 pm | LUNCH

• Portrait Studio

• Bookstore is partnership with BEM | books & more

2:00 pm | BREAKOUT 2: WORKSHOPS & Advisors Lab

• Finding Your Voice: Authentic Storytelling & Content Creation with Anela Malik, Content Creator & Author

• Silence as Strategy: Aligning Self to Lead Through Change with Dr. Brittany Conners, Optimistic Theory

• Wine Pairing for the People with Cha McCoy, Certifed Sommelier & Author

• Your Turn to Host: Supper Clubs & Events with Amber Mayfield Hewett, To Be Hosted & Author

• Advisors Lab: Small Group Advising

  • Advisors: Aba Kwawu, TAA PR; Marie Clark, New Voices Foundation; Jomaree Pinkard, Hella Cocktail Co. & Included; Werten Bellemy, Stakeholders, Inc., Tramaine Tillman, Taco Bell

3:15 pm | BREAKOUT 3: Panels

• Food as Medicine: Caring for Ourselves, Healing Our Communities in Africa and the Diaspora presented by WANDA

  • Speakers: Tambra R. Stevenson MPH, MA, WANDA; Richea Jones MA, Co-founder, Diaspora Groceries; Dr. Oluwabunmi "Bunmi" Ogungbe , PhD, MPH, BNSc, RN, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Erica Park MD, AmeriHealth Caritas

• Money Moves: Funding Pathways for Long-Term Growth presented by JP Morgan Chase

  • Speakers: Aja Clark, JP Morgan Chase; Marie Clark, New Voices Foundation; Chandra Hurst, JP Morgan Chase, Ama Hammah, Ama Catering Experience

• Plot Twist: Career Transitions in Food

  • Speakers: Deb Freeman, Food Journalist; Andy Allo, Actor & Chef, Aköne; Valery Lomas, Baker & Journalist; Jon'll Boyd, Boyd Cru Wines

• People, Policy, and Possibility: How Food Networks are Transforming Communities presented by Rethink Food

  • Speakers: Patrice McGloin, Rethink Food, Adrian Lipscombe, Founder 40 Acres Project; Asmeret Berhe-Lumax, One Love Community Fridge; Qiana Mackie, NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture

4:25 pm | AWARDS + Closing Plenary

• 2026 Black Women in Food Awards Announcement

• Keynote Fireside Chat: Toni Tipton-Martin, Author, Editor & Historian with Alex Hill, TV Host & Content Creator 

6:15-7:15 pm | the lITUATION mIXER

• Book Signing in partnership with BEM Books & More | Pre-order books

• Toast & Tastings: LP O’Brien, Lalo Tequila & Edmond’s Honor

8:30 pm | DINE AROUNd presented by opentable

• Dine with Summit attendees at local treasured restaurants (registration required)