A newly formed coalition is advocating for Los Angeles County’s Black-Owned restaurants to help keep their doors open during the coronavirus pandemic. The Black Restaurant Coalition of Los Angeles exists to support and promote a movement to Dine Black, supporting Black institutions that support vibrant Black Communities. Their mission is to amplify issues facing Black restaurant owners during the coronavirus pandemic, including cost of goods, rent and temporary COVID-19 regulations and policies and beyond.
“The coalition considers this a time to call for a “state of emergency” while many Black-owned restaurants are still struggling to gain access to resources and having little to no say in the emergency policies being put in place,” said Executive Director of the Black Restaurant Coalition of Los Angeles Jade Stevens. “The Black Restaurant Coalition is focused on building a network of restaurants that can come together to face critical issues so that everyone can survive.”
Assisted by the Black Business Association, the Black Restaurant Coalition of Los Angeles is working to ensure that their members, who have lost a significant amount of revenue in the effort to abide by local, state, and federal social distancing guidelines, will continue to exist long after this crisis is over. Many of the Black-owned restaurants represented by this coalition have had to overcome unique barriers and have not received adequate financial support to survive this crisis. They are also forced to adapt to the ever-changing temporary policies including social distancing guidelines, rate caps on food delivery apps, among others. The Black Restaurant Coalition looks to be a resource to help restaurants navigate through these many issues.
The Coalition continues to grow with 37 members which includes Post and Beam, Hotville Chicken and Mel’s Fish Shack. A full list of members can be found on their website www.dineblackla.com. You can also follow the coalition on social media with @dineblackla.
