Today we’d like to introduce you to Liesha McKinley-Barnett.

Hi Liesha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I began cooking at a very young age the type of culinary work I did varied through the years from working in hotels, independently owned restaurants, catering and even personal chef work. After I received a bachelor’s degree in nutrition I pivoted into teaching culinary arts and agriculture. Now my work is primarily in agriculture and food justice. Agriculture was an unexpected turn at first but I feel more at home in a pile of compost than most other places.

My love for the community is what led me into food justice. Seeing the poor quality of food choices in my neighborhood while serving excellent food to clients in other areas really changed the way I viewed the world. I lost the joy of creating beautiful dishes when I saw my neighbors struggling to find good quality food for their families in their own neighborhood.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

There have been a lot of struggles in my career however, I always seem to find my footing when I need to. I have first hand experience with sexual harassment, gender discrimination and even dealt with toxic leadership. Unfortunately, I don’t think my story is unique as many women in my industry can say the same thing. The best thing in my opinion is to always remember why you are doing the work and always have an exit strategy when things get tough. Sometimes obstacles are placed to teach you a lesson in where you should be. Instead of staying in an environment that is choking your creativity and ability to thrive you must pivot.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Clemmons Family Farm?

I am the Director of the African Diaspora Foodways Institute of Vermont at Clemmons Family Farm. ADFI-VT has a mission to support Black chefs, farmers, and foodways entrepreneurs in Vermont and the rest of New England. We provide education, training, and residency programs to bring equity to the world of African Diaspora Foodways. Essentially, we find out what people need and develop systems to support their success.

I am excited for the opportunity to teach the community about diasporic crops, cuisines and culture. I believe that food brings people together and the state of Vermont is a beautiful place to start that process. I feel like we can build what would be a blueprint for other organizations to adapt their own version of this work in their respective areas.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?

What most people may be surprised to know about me is that I am also a doula. I have supported many mothers on their journey to motherhood by including nutrition and meal prep services for expecting moms through the postpartum period. I enjoy providing a sense of peace and nurturing to my clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoaklandgirl/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefliesha/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ChefLiesha
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LieshaLeeXChef
• Other: https://substack.com/@theoaklandgirl

Image Credits

These images are all taken by me.