307: From Food Apartheid to Food Empowerment: A Story of Change

In celebration of Women’s HERStory Month, I’m honored to highlight Femeika Elliott, a powerhouse in food justice, maternal health, and community empowerment, on the Eating at a Meeting podcast.

How do we reclaim access to fresh, nutritious food and create healthier futures for our communities?

Femeika is on a mission to transform food justice, maternal health, and sustainability in Knoxville and beyond. As the founder of Meik Meals, the Lotus Program, and Rooted East Knoxville Collective, she is breaking down barriers to healthy eating, postpartum wellness, and land justice—one meal, one garden, and one conversation at a time.

From launching over 130 raised garden beds across East Knoxville to championing Black maternal health statewide, Femeika’s work is reshaping the way we think about food and equity. Her initiatives don’t just nourish bodies; they empower communities to reclaim traditions of self-sustainability, wellness, and collective strength.

With food apartheid and health disparities affecting countless lives, Femeika’s impact is a powerful reminder that access to nutritious food is a right, not a privilege. Her grassroots leadership is inspiring systemic change—proving that the future of food is local, just, and deeply rooted in community.

“Femeika isn’t just providing meals—she’s planting seeds of empowerment, ensuring communities thrive for generations to come.”

🌟 Women’s HERStory Month on Eating at a Meeting 🌟

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating trailblazing women who are reshaping the way we think about food, community, health, and inclusion on the Eating at a Meeting podcast. Follow along as I honor changemakers like Femeika and many others who are leaving a lasting impact.