Loiter: East Cleveland Fights for Food Power in a Harsh Climate

by Hadassah Patterson· Originally published in Modern Farmer on October 4, 2024.

Ismail Samad is no stranger to hospitality. The East Cleveland, Ohio, native began his first foray into restaurant co-ownership at the age of 23, and in 20 years, he has worked his way through ground-breaking restaurant openings and community programs. Working at the intersection of food and community crystallized a realization for Samad: Black and POC food systems are in a chokehold. He’s collaborated with some of the nation’s foremost food justice leaders to empower freedom.  

His hometown of East Cleveland is now his focal point. While 89 percent of East Cleveland residents are Black, and 40 percent of them live in poverty, millions in purchasing dollars still leak into outsiders’ business interests. Further, within the small community sit over 500 vacant properties—indicating a ripe opportunity for self-sustaining growth.

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