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People Across America Are Invited to Boost Local Black-Owned Restaurants

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Make Your Meal Count: People Across America Are Invited to Boost Local Black-Owned Restaurants on the First-Ever “Pepsi® Dig In Day” on Nov. 6

Calling all food lovers! Pepsi is sharing a first look at some of the signature events and perks arriving for the first-ever Dig In Day, a celebration of all Black-owned restaurants and chefs across America. On Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, everyone is invited to uplift Black-owned restaurants in their community simply by enjoying delicious food and refreshing beverages.

“We all have to eat so let’s create a positive butterfly effect for small businesses and communities alike by being intentional about where we dine or order from,” said Chef JJ Johnson, Pepsi Dig In Day ambassador and James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, author and owner of FIELDTRIP restaurants located throughout New York City. “FIELDTRIP will serve a signature rice bowl in honor of Dig In Day, and I’m making plans to support my favorite Black-owned restaurants.”

Pepsi is calling everyone to come together before, during and after Dig In Day by dining with or ordering from their Black-owned restaurant of choice, then uploading their receipts to DigInPassport.com – a new site that makes it easy to explore Black-owned restaurants, track purchases to show support, and earn a chance for rewards. Many Black-owned restaurants across the country are planning special offerings and activities that will make this first Dig In Day delicious for all.

Free Feasts on Pepsi Dig In Day (Nov. 6)

In all corners of the country, Dig In Day food trucks will serve up complimentary bites and ice-cold Pepsi Zero Sugar from various Black-owned restaurants:

  • Ben’s Chili Bowl will warm up fans with its three signature chili bowls at the University of Maryland vs Penn State University tailgate in College Park, Md.
  • Brotherly Grub will share standout southern-inspired cuisine with a local twist at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa.
  • Off the Bone Barbeque of Dallas, Texas will dish out gourmet barbecue at the Baylor University vs Texas Christian University tailgate in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Trap Kitchen will whip up Cajun fare at the Black International Marketplace of Oakland, Calif.

For dine in, Seafood Connection will offer free, signature seafood dishes with house-made secret sauce at its restaurant in Houston, Texas.

Limited-Edition Merch Drop on NTWRK

To commemorate Dig In Day and inspire Gen-Z and Millennial audiences to get engaged, Pepsi joined forces with NTWRK, North America’s premier livestream shopping platform, to create a limited-edition collectible. Chef Johnson and fashion designer/creative director Sheron Barber teamed up to design a Crossbody Culinary Case, which will be available exclusively on the NTWRK app on Nov. 6  at 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. EST in ultra-limited quantities.

The all-original luxury leather bag and carrier was made with versatility in mind, combining functional features and easy-to-wear style elements for everyday use for everyone from chefs to on-the-go creators. The multi-purpose, black crossbody bag also features a detachable interior knife bag with cutlery compartments, pocketing, and reinforced padded walls.

How to Make Your Meal Count and Earn Rewards  

Food lovers are invited to create a wave of positive impact for Black-owned restaurants on Dig In Day. The mobile-friendly Pepsi DigInPassport.com helps people seamlessly find Black-owned restaurants, upload receipts, and earn just-unveiled digital badges that can be redeemed for tasty prizes that continue to feed the Black culinary community including gift cards, cooking classes and cool collectibles. Here’s how to get involved on Dig In Day and beyond:

  1. Eat: Dine at a local Black-owned restaurant, in person or by ordering, and save your receipt.
  2. Upload: Visit DigInPassport.com to sign up, upload your receipt, and automatically earn a chance to win culinary rewards. 
  3. Repeat: Start supporting Black-owned eateries before, during and after the special day; and encourage friends and family to do the same by sharing delicious meals on social with #DigInDay.

“We’re re-igniting support with individuals and companies alike by giving them an easy way to make their meal count on Dig In Day and every day,” said Scott Finlow, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Global Foodservice. “Our goal is to go beyond this moment to feed a movement and we’re already seeing incredible excitement from the restaurant community, our PepsiCo associates, and corporate partners who together can really make this big.”

Dig In Day ambassador Chef JJ Johnson and fashion designer Sheron Barber collaborate on an all-original luxury leather bag and carrier collectible that pays homage to Black-owned restaurants and Pepsi Dig In Day.

Organizations Buying Their Employees Lunch from Black-Owned Restaurants

Pepsi is inviting other companies to join the movement by buying their employees lunch from Black-owned restaurants or encouraging them to participate leading up to Dig In Day. Confirmed corporate partners to date include Arizona Diamondbacks, BentoBox, Eastport Holdings, LLC, Forward Motion Media, Fuse, Genesco Sports Enterprises, Golin, Intersport, The James Beard Foundation, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Rams, Lowe’s, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Dolphins, Miami HEAT, Minnesota Twins, Monumental Sports, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Oak View Group, Pinterest, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ten35, Vail Resorts, Washington Capitals, Washington Football Team, Washington Mystics, Washington Wizards, and WCNC (ABC).

How Restaurants Can Participate in Dig In Day

Pepsi is sharing creative ways to get people ordering online and walking through the doors of Black-owned restaurants. Black restaurateurs are invited to visit PepsiDigIn.com to access resources to grow their business and make the most of Dig In Day, including dedicated toolkits to provide restaurant owners with templated brand materials to help bolster their marketing and social media efforts.

About Pepsi Dig In

In 2020, PepsiCo committed more than $400 million to advance racial equality within the company, industry and communities it serves. As part of that, the company dedicated $50 million to support Black-owned businesses over the next five years. As a result, PepsiCo developed a multi-faceted platform designed to drive access, business acceleration, and awareness including millions in grants and resources. Restaurateurs interested in learning more can visit pepsidigin.com/resources-for-restaurateurs and food lovers can follow @PepsiDigIn on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Pepsi Dig In Day is the latest and most broad-reaching initiative the brand is spearheading to drive $100 million in sales for Black-owned restaurants over the next five years. A concerted effort to support these diverse culinary establishments that serve as the cornerstone for communities across the nation, the Dig In Day national call to action will be supported by dedicated advertising, partnerships, business resources and local events.

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Emotional Emancipation Circles: Nurturing Black Mental Health

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By Ayana Brown, MHPS

“We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.” – Marcus Garvey

As Black Americans, we carry the weight of our ancestors’ struggles, resilience, and triumphs. Our collective history is filled with pain, but it is also infused with strength. In the face of ongoing challenges, it is essential for us to prioritize our emotional well-being and seek healing. There are more than 100 types of therapy, yet few are culturally based. Even fewer are made available to Black, Indigenous and People of Color, or the BIPOC community. One powerful tool that can aid in this process is the Emotional Emancipation Circle (EEC).

Emotional Emancipation Circles from the Community Healing Network (CHN) provide a safe and supportive space to confront and heal from the psychological and emotional wounds inflicted by racism, discrimination, and systemic oppression. Endorsed by the late Maya Angelou in 2009 and supported by the Association of Black Psychologists, EECs are rooted in the understanding that our mental and emotional well-being is as important as our physical health.

These support groups are structured and evidence-based settings where people from the diaspora participate in open and honest talks, allowing us to express the various feelings of being Black. We share our tales, worries, hopes, and dreams with the knowledge that we are not being judged. We offer support to one another via active listening, empathy, and affirmation, forming links of healing and resilience. We also discover our genuine history. 

Empowered by what I was first exposed to in Panama, I became a certified facilitator in 2021. I recognize that the BIPOC community struggles with insufficient access to resources and feels their individual needs are overlooked. As a disabled veteran, caregiver, and parent, I am passionate about advocating, consulting, and collaborating with a nationwide network of providers dedicated to education and empowerment. This is a service that REACH Peer Support Services offers to “fill in the gaps” between our community needs and what is offered. 

The Community Healing Network has formed these circles globally. If you want to learn more about CHN and other BIPOC-focused mental health resources and services for your church, organization, or family, go to  (ReachPeerSupportServices.com).  Those who join the newsletter will know about the next EEC location first. 

After serving honorably in the United States Navy, Ayana Brown, MHPS, launched REACH Peer Support Services, LLC in 2021 to use her various experiences towards her passion, empowering families to heal with advocacy and non-judgmental support.

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San Antonio Airport to Set Record for Travel During Memorial Day Weekend

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More people are packing their suitcases for trips in and out of San Antonio International Airport (SAT) than ever before. SAT will see a record-breaking number of travelers – close to 190,000 total – from Thursday to Memorial Day. During that 5-day period, there’s an estimated 14% increase in scheduled seats to and from SAT compared to 2019 and a 19% increase since last year.

We’re expecting the busiest Memorial Day weekend travel in our airport’s history,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System. “People want to fly and it’s getting more affordable to do so. We are seeing more competitive fares with the addition of Spirit Airlines over the last year – and that’s helping our travelers find better deals on flights that are too good to pass up. We’re also expecting our busiest summer ever, but right now we’re focused on making sure everyone has a smooth experience in the days ahead.”

According to the Transportation Security Administration, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of how many passengers are expected to fly in and out of SAT:

  • Thursday: 38,514
  • Friday: 38,600
  • Saturday: 34,000
  • Sunday: 38,100
  • Memorial Day: 37,700

Fly Away Valet has also set records recently. Earlier this month, the company reported a gigantic increase in parking spaces at SAT since the service began in 2020. The service started with 80 spaces and now has 500.

Last week, valet operations were consolidated to the Short-Term Parking Garage for both pick-up and drop-off of vehicles.

For more information and to watch a video showing how to valet park at SAT, please visit the airport’s website.

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75 Years of Providing Worldwide Service as Zetas and Friends

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, The Mighty” Southern Region is hosting its 94th Southern Regional Leadership Conference and 55th Southern Regional Amicae Leadership Workshop from June 8 – June 10, 2023. The conference site is the Marriott Rivercenter, located on the River Walk at 101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

The theme,“Celebrating 75 Years of Providing Worldwide Service as Zetas and Friends,” is aligned to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s efforts to address and bring awareness to health disparities and social determinants in Texas and Louisiana.  The Southern Regional Leadership Conference is hosting two events that are open for the public to attend: a Health Justice Townhall and a Public Program that includes a Night of Performing Arts.

The Southern Regional Health Justice Townhall is June 8, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be moderated by Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The town hall will provide a platform for open and honest dialogue on health justice, healthcare, health disparities, and social determinants.  The panel will consist of experts in the fields of health, civic and social advocates and leaders who serve as Champions for health justice and equity. 

“The Mighty” Southern Regional Public Program is June 9, 2023, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  It will consist of recognition of San Antonio community leaders who are Embracing the Extraordinary with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and a Night of Performing Arts featuring Billy Ray Shepard.   

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