Atlanta Hosts Its First Vegan Block Party 

On July 6, The Urban Community Revitalization Project will host Atlanta’s first vegan block party at the Shifting Energy Fairgrounds. Event organizers Issa Prescott and Akumba Ashanti will bring more than 50 vegan vendors to the party, including tamale experts Calaveritas, catering company The Junkyard Vegan, and vegan bakery Kristi’s Heavenly Cobblers. “We feel like this event is important because we saw something that wasn’t being provided to the community,” Prescott told WABE. “We wanted to create an opportunity for all of the vegans that felt neglected on the Fourth of July. We feel like this is a revolutionary idea.” The event also features music, yoga for children, cooking demos, and special guest speakers—such as Professor Griff, co-founding member of legendary group Public Enemy. “We’re all about revitalizing black and brown communities through health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and the arts,” Prescott said. “By focusing on those three areas, we feel like we can change our community from the inside out. And we just want to give vegans an option on Independence Day weekend.”