“CHEF CLAUDY” PIERRE, second from right, founder of E.A.T. Initiative, said his grandmother was the inspiration behind starting the nonprofit organization. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
by Rob Taylor Jr.
Courier Staff Writer
African Americans know all too well the negative effects of diabetes.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Blacks are twice as likely as Whites to die from diabetes, 60 percent more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with diabetes, and 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalized for lower limb amputations than Whites.
For Claudy Pierre, known in Pittsburgh as “Chef Claudy,” the effects of diabetes really hit home. His grandmother, Marie Lucienne Dessources, had her leg amputated in 2014 due to complications from diabetes.
“She’s the strongest woman I know,” he told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, June 12. Claudy’s grandmother is Haitian. “She always cooked…but a lot of the food wasn’t the most healthiest.”
Because of grandma, Claudy’s E.A.T. Initiative was born.
E.A.T. stands for Empowerment, Awareness and Training. Its goal is to not only provide healthier food options for people, primarily African Americans, but to educate people on healthy eating practices.
“Healthy eating is the catalytic piece to everything that we do,” Pierre said. “If you are healthy eating, you make better decisions, you can cope better with different traumas that we’re dealing with. Even (before) the pandemic, eating was always an issue for a lot of people, especially in inner cities.”
PICTURED ARE 8-YEAR-OLD KHLOE AND 9-YEAR-OLD AMALIA, with Mia Jennings and Adero Harrison. They were attendees of a hot meal giveaway event at the Energy Innovation Center, on Bedford Avenue, June 12. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
Pierre reinforced to the Courier that “access to fresh produce and healthy food options is a basic human right.”
E.A.T. Initiative is an official nonprofit organization, and in June, it was a recipient of the Starbucks Foundation Neighborhood Grant, which awards funds to organizations that are passionate about positively impacting their community.
Last year, Pierre and E.A.T. Initiative were awarded the PNC Bank Impact Award by Neighborhood Allies, which highlights those who address ongoing issues of injustice and racism against the Black community.
Throughout the COVID pandemic alone, Pierre estimates his group has been able to provide 100,000 hot meals for community residents.
“Our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community,” he said.
JADE SMITH of the bounce house company Jumping Jumperoo, with 9-year-old Leia. They were attendees of a hot meal giveaway event at the Energy Innovation Center, on Bedford Avenue, June 12. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
Diabetes is a hereditary disease, but most experts agree that there are ways to lessen the chances of being classified with type 2 diabetes: losing weight; exercising; eating healthy plant foods; and consuming foods with unsaturated fat.
For those who have diabetes, the website Healthline identifies some of the best foods to eat as: fatty fish (such as salmon and sardines), leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), avocados, eggs, beans, broccoli and strawberries.
But it isn’t just diabetes—African Americans have to worry about high blood pressure/hypertension, and increased risk of cancer due to the numerous Black communities identified as “food deserts,” urban areas where it’s hard to find access to healthy foods.
Whole Foods, as an example, has three locations in Allegheny County—Upper St. Clair in the South Hills, Wexford in the North Hills, and Shadyside. Upper St. Clair has a population that’s less than one percent Black. Wexford has double the Black population of Upper St. Clair, but even that makes it just 1.5 percent. And the Shadyside/East Liberty location has been embroiled in the controversy surrounding its move a few blocks to the site of the old Penn Plaza Apartments. Those apartments were demolished, in part, to make way for Whole Foods to move there. But the controversy stemmed from the displacement of the residents at Penn Plaza, which were primarily African Americans. Overall, East Liberty has seen the largest exodus of African Americans from any neighborhood in Pittsburgh over the past decade.
Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Homewood, the Hill District, Beltzhoover, Manchester and Lincoln-Lemington, all primarily-Black areas, have no stores that consistently sell healthy foods.
In recent years, though, there are nonprofit organizations that will temporarily set up shop in these communities and sell the healthier food choices. Pierre said his organization provides people who need access to food, calling them “Blessing Boxes,” which include fresh produce.
For those who need access to a meal or fresh produce, Pierre said he’s one phone call away—412-499-5599.
“It’s not this big app,” Pierre told the Courier about the easy-to-use telephone number. “It’s something as simple as (making a call and saying), ‘Hey, my family’s going through it.’”
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