54Lights

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY

54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (bean) at a time.

In the latest episode of 54 Lights, Kondwani converses with Muna Mohammed, the innovative CEO behind Eight50 Coffee. Muna's deep-rooted connection to coffee cultivation, passed down through generations of her family, led her to explore Ethiopia's coffee origins.

From her upbringing, Muna's fascination with coffee bloomed as she listened to her father's vivid stories of his Ethiopian childhood. Determined to honor her coffee heritage, she embarked on a poignant journey to her family's coffee farm in East Hararghe, where the legacy of Harar Coffee lives on.

Kondwani and Muna explore the fusion of heritage and entrepreneurship, uncovering the essence of Eight50 Coffee's rich cultural tapestry.

LEAN IN, LISTEN UP...AND LEARN

Muna Mohammed, the CEO and founder of Eight50 Coffee, has a strong connection to coffee as she comes from a coffee-producing family in Ethiopia. Muna's decision to start the company was driven by a desire to bring diversity to the coffee industry, particularly on the brand end where there is a lack of representation.

The name "Eight50 Coffee" was chosen to connect directly to the origin of coffee, with 850 being the date often associated with the discovery of coffee in Ethiopia or Yemen. Of note is that;

• Muna is intentional about telling the story of coffee accurately and showcasing the different regions and cultures involved in coffee production.
• Muna's journey to launching 850 Coffee involved years of preparation, including learning about the science and process of coffee, commercial roasting training, and immersing herself in the industry. She launched the business during the pandemic in 2020.

BEST MOMENTS...from our guest

• "I wanted a name that connected directly to coffee's origin... I chose to name it 850 because not only does it tell a story of origins and ancient traditions, but it allows me to tell the story of coffee's origins and birthplace."
• “I knew that being on the brand end, which is where we don't see diversity, that's where you're seeing the brands that are packaged, sold in stores, sold on the shelves, the ones that are actually telling the stories of coffee and are putting out the content around coffee online on social, you know, that's the stuff that I felt like, you know, I didn't see a lot of, I didn't see a lot of diversity there."
• "I always try to do as much research and gather as much information as possible so that they are being presented in a way that is accurate."
• "2020 was just like, for me, it was go time. I've been saying I'm going to do this for a long time. And this, it just, it was the right time. And everything kind of just fell into place for me."
• "I'd love to see what my neighbours in Kenya are doing. I think there's a lot of cool stuff happening. And I'd love to hear more about some really inspiring entrepreneurs from Kenyan heritage, whether it's abroad or within Kenya, what they're doing.”

RESOURCE Full

Eight50 Coffee - https://www.eight50coffee.com/

Website - https://54lights.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/

Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome...complaints and hate, not so much)

ABOUT THE HOST

Kondwani Mwase | Host & Creator

For most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about the complex nature of human interaction. Originally, my interest laid in the narrative...more specifically, I was driven to understand what was happening. Increasingly, my curiosity has been inspired by the underlying motivations behind events...why it happens. It is this curiosity that motivates me.

My professional journey led me to the field of marketing and the exercise of selling in the service of brands. Over the years, I’ve learned that the true currency is working in the service of people. Finding ways to understand how to cultivate meaningful relationships with them....and making them “happy”. I leveraged my skills as a mass marketer to reach a different audience with a different message. As such, The Warehouse Magazine became my passion. I founded the publication to try and build a community for the conscientious. It was my first business, my first foray into media and, in some ways, my first love. And its eventual retirement left me wanting. Leaving me with a feeling of unfinished business.

FoodShare is a community-led organization whose work centres around disrupting the food system - in a way that will make good healthy food accessible for all. As part of our mini-series finale on food (the space, the supporting systems and the people that drive and thrive in the ecosystem), 54Lights sat down with FoodShare's Executive Director Paul Taylor to talk about the impact of the organization.

An Ontarian with close ties to his lineage and his Kittitian roots, Paul spoke to us about those who've influenced and informed his path (his mother and grandmother among them) as he was growing up. At a young age, he tuned into the systematic injustices that lead to food insecurity and how it impacted the most vulnerable communities in our society - ones that not-so-coincidentally are disproportionately black, brown and indigenous.

Paul's outlook, one that's grown over time and with the contribution of his fellow activists, is devoted to understanding the organizing principals that lead to emergencies within our world. And while these crusaders continue the hard work of understanding societal injustice, they work diligently to dismantle its constructs including anti-black racisim.

According to FoodShare, "It's our time to lead" and the discussion dove into the reasons why, at this critical juncture, there might be a sliver of hope and promise. From community to activists to social movements, Paul calls upon all citizens to step forward by looking at their communities, and the things that happen within them, and to understand why injustice occurs. Lastly, Paul leaves and invites listeners to challenge the status quo by getting politically involved - contacting local government officials to make sure that they feel the political will and impetus to move towards sustainable progress.

• Find and follow FoodShare at foodshare.net
• Find and follow Paul Taylor at paultaylorto.com

NOTE: This is a 2-Part interview featuring our guest.

Our debut of 54Bites - our reflections on things said and unsaid from our previous episode. Today, we talk trailers...what's in, what's out and what there's to regret.

In case you were wondering...we see the typo:-)

CO-CONSPIRATOR COORDINATES

Patinece Adamu is an inspirational and remarkable broadcaster. She's an EP on several works including;

• The Drip podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1hMpKISToSxAhdslkOHS9z?si=47e0e55b53b94ce7
• BBW: Big Beautiful and Winning - https://open.spotify.com/show/1GGabtQNX4bvjSxB86ho1k?si=44bef41968f04df6
• Hyphenated podcast

FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTS

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/

Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome...complaints and hate, not so much)

ABOUT 54Lights

54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time.

As we near the end of Season IV of 54Lights, we sat down with one of the best and brightest Creative Directors in North America. Matt Rennick, a friend and fantastic ally of the African community, joined us in our virtual studios to talk about his philanthropic campaign to raise money for three Nigerian organizations. Compelled to act during the EndSARS unrest in Nigeria, Matt channeled his love and admiration of Fela Kuti, his creativity and his bias for meaningful action to create an inspiring response to a brutal campaign. Ever concious of his privilege and place as an ally, Matt lights the way with an energy and approach that's to be modelled.

Over the course of our conversation, Matt opened up about his past and what brought him to the creative space...an energy driven by what he calls a DIY ethos. From a young age, Matt has worked to build things from the ground up - finding his way in workplaces thanks to his raw talent and deep connections he cultivated along the way. As he gave us a brief walkthrough of his professional pathway it was clear that, despite all his success, he's as grounded as they come. His simple and unwavering perspective on the best part of his career was the impact of people - the teams he's led and worked side by side with.

Matt then took us through his creative process of designing shirts with song titles, lyrics and album names from musicians in the Congo and Nigeria. Many of the inspirational artists sang songs of protest and liberation for their people - with the focal point being Fela Kuti. In the wake of EndSARS and around the anniversary of Fela Kuti's birthday, Matt launched a line of shirts emblazoned with is work...an ode to Fela and a fundraising gateway. All proceeds from the shirt sales go to three organizations based in Nigeria that Matt researched and contacted.

Funds Raised from shirt sales go to;

Mirabel Centre - supporting women who are victim of sexual assault - https://mirabelcentre.org/

Kokun Foundation - supporting the needy and addressing food insecurity - https://www.instagram.com/kokunfoundation/

Serap Nigeria - NGO supporting human rights - https://serap-nigeria.org/

Buy shirts here - http://www.mattrennick.com/shop

For his efforts and his energy, we thank Matt...a true ally if there ever was one.

As we near the close of our third season of 54Lights, we’re dedicating the next few episodes on culture creators that are pushing our collective world ever forward. This next episode intercepts the prolific community activist Dr. Joseph Smith who, as you’ll hear in the conversation, is no average Joe. He’s a bold entrepreneur that has created youth programs, a speaking practice and continues to create conditions where people around him can thrive. He is the personification of an ally...but transcends labels.

Joseph spoke candidly about how deep an impact his mother has had on his upbringing and his person. Someone I will never meet but obviously a caring a thoughtful being who remains with us through him. As our conversation evolved, we spoke about the work that Joseph has been doing, through his organizations, and touched on why the work matters - at this time and always. We also spoke about the very real phenomena of compassion fatigue and burnout fatigue. Areas that are addressed, among others, in his newly launched Remedy program - that works address mental health.

Our conversation culminated in a critical dialog about dealing with the fight for social justice while avoid stoking the fires and creating more prolific enemies of progress. This consideration is a new and complex one, given a world climate that capitalizes on popular and sometimes divisive movements. For Joseph, part of all of these issues are addressed intentionally and with care.

Want MORE...?

from our guest - https://www.drjosephjsmith.ca/

from 54Lights on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/54lights