Kansas City Sisters Win Big at Vegan Eats Competition

On March 16, 2024, the entrepreneurial Kansas City sisters, Arvelisha Woods and India Monique, embraced big victory as their brainchild, Mattie’s Foods, won the $30,000 grand prize at the We Are Black pitch competition. This second annual G.I.F.T. (Generating Income for Tomorrow) event saw 10 Black-owned businesses competing for funding to fuel their business dreams.

A Vision for Community Health

Woods and Monique plan to use their grand prize winnings to invest in the community’s health. The co-founders aim to establish their own garden to combat food deserts and nourish their Kansas City community. Their mission? They want to transform people’s relationships with food through tasty, comfort-food style vegan dishes. “We grew up on 57th and College and there was no store like that, so to be able to have something in the city where people can go and pick produce, and learn how to garden and grow their own food, that’s our ultimate vision,” said Woods.

Making Mattie’s Foods

Named after their inspiring grandmother, Mattie’s Foods is an innovative business bringing vegan comfort food to their community. Woods and Monique desire to share the love and wisdom they inherited from their grandmother through food education. They believe that their journey, from growing up in their grandma’s kitchen to becoming entrepreneurs is a testament of hard work, dedication, and the power of shared dreams. “I had already decided when getting on that stage that I won no matter what name was called, because every business there is a representation of everything that people like me want to be,” said Woods.

The Competition and Beyond

The We Are Black pitch competition and expo, organized by G.I.F.T., a nonprofit founded in 2020, is part of its ongoing mission to narrow the racial wealth gap in Kansas City. The competition is open to diverse Black-owned businesses across the city with a larger goal of community involvement and creating a shared platform for entrepreneurs.

Despite the competition, Woods and Monique remain committed to their primary goal of establishing a community garden and promoting healthy eating. With the grand prize under their belt, their dreams seem more achievable now than ever.

Mattie’s Foods: A Legacy in Making

As a representation of resilience, hard work, and dedication, Mattie’s Foods embodies the spirit of community and entrepreneurship. With their $30,000 win, the entrepreneurial sisters are now closer to their ultimate vision. The journey ahead is challenging, but exciting nonetheless. Through Mattie’s Foods, Woods and Monice are nurturing more than just healthy diets – they’re fostering community relationships, sharing old wisdom, and showing what’s possible when creativity and entrepreneurship combine. As they rightfully proclaim: “It’s never just about the food, it’s about the community.”