Plant-based as resistance: Veggie Mijas reconnects BIPOC communities to the land

From storytelling workshops to seed swaps, they’re cultivating more than just vegetables in Philly and nationally.

As the price of food increases and plant-based living becomes increasingly important, one local organization is connecting BIPOC communities to their cultural heritage through food.

As a Latinx woman and gender-expansive person-led collective, Veggie Mijas aims to empower women and gender-expansive people through making plant-based living more accessible. The organization’s approach is to keep ancestral practices and foodways at the forefront of their services.

In 2018, Amy Quichiz, a student at Syracuse University, struggled to balance a plant-based lifestyle with her culture’s traditions and diet in a predominantly white environment. She created this small community of fellow students and would host potlucks featuring exclusively veganized versions of the food they all grew up eating.

For many indigenous cultures, including those in Latin America, “staple foods” were introduced during the onset of European colonization in the late 15th century. This includes food like wheat, pork, and beef. Prior to European colonization, a majority of Latin American Cuisine consisted of non-meat foods such as beans, corn, squash, and tomatoes.

“When I’m with Veggie Mijas, I feel most connected to Latin American culture and people.”

Em Indelicato, member of veggie mijas’ philadelphia chapter

According to Estefania Orozco, Executive Director of Veggie Mijas, it is essential for people descended from cultures impacted by colonialism to be aware of their roots.

“So many indigenous communities have had plant-based living at the forefront at times. Of course, there might also be meat and other things involved, but it wasn’t always like the main dish,” She said.

Em Indelicato, a member of Veggie Mijas’ Philadelphia chapter, has attended many of the organization’s workshops and led some of its virtual book club meetings. Being a person of Dominican descent, they were able to connect with their culture through participating in the organization.

“I’ve struggled to find community throughout my life and my heritage. When I’m with Veggie Mijas, I feel most connected to Latin American culture and people as well,” they said.

Having studied the philosophy of ecofeminism in college, which is similar to Veggie Mijas philosophy and mission, Indelicato shares their appreciation for being able to work alongside their fellow members to care for the land and the marginalized people that inhabit it.

“Knowledge from people of marginalized genders has been dismissed as unimportant, or at least not as important as things that we would consider to be ‘masculine academic pursuits,’” they said. “All these crafts and these trades that have been pushed to the side. They’re not just extremely important, they are gonna be like the seeds for the revolution to grow.”

Veggie Mijas’ Philadelphia chapter has an active partnership with The Norris Square Neighborhood Project, sharing a common goal to preserve the cultural and agricultural practices of the Latin American and African communities in Norris Square. While Veggie Mijas’ mission extends past just the Norris Square neighborhood, their partnership with the local org allows them to have a home base in the city to host events like book swaps and clothing drives.

Through this partnership, and their signature community potlucks, hiking trips and more, the Philadelphia chapter has made a significant mark on the city. In 2023, the Philadelphia chapter was recognized for its work by Green Philly, which awarded it the SustainPHL award for Environmental Justice.

Due to prior organizers stepping down to pursue other opportunities or relocating, the Philadelphia chapter has no current active organizers. However, they have an active garden plot at Las Parcelas, a community garden near Palethorp and Dauphin streets. Part-time members of the Philadelphia chapter and volunteers visit frequently to care for the plants. They also host community events and workshops in the garden, like skill share events, herbalism and storytelling workshops. The other chapter locations include cities such as Orlando, Florida, New York City and Richmond, Virginia.

Nationally, Veggie Mijas chapters host events such as virtual or in-person workshops, community resource swap events, and a monthly virtual book club. There are also a few specific projects within some of its eight chapters across the country, such as the community fridge in Chicago, Illinois.

Rebeca Cintrón-Loáisiga is Veggie Mijas’ Education Director and has been with the organization since 2020. She utilizes her background as an educator to create educational content for Veggie Mijas’ social media and website, while also developing and leading workshops in Philadelphia, New York, and the New Jersey area.

With her experience in anti-colonial education and her commitment to dismantling inequalities like food sovereignty, she says being a part of Veggie Mijas was well-aligned with her own goals.

“In finding Veggie Mijas, it felt amazing to be able to be in community with people who understood the importance of what culture means for people as a global majority,” Cintrón-Loáisiga said. “But also how to integrate veganism into that culture without alienating family, without forgetting our roots, and very importantly, without shame.”

Veggie Mijas is currently in a restructuring phase, but the organization’s leadership is looking forward to growing with the communities they serve and building partnerships with like-minded initiatives and organizations. The organization has recently released its cookbook, “Manteniendo Nuestra Cultura,” featuring veganized recipes of traditional dishes from all around Latin America and the Caribbean. Veggie Mijas has also recently partnered with Latin spice company Loisa, which supplies the ingredients for cooking workshops and cooking demos.

“We’re here for the long haul,” Cintrón-Loáisiga said. “We really hope to be a resource for our communities from our different chapters throughout the US. and we’re really excited for what comes next.”

Keep up with Veggie Mijas on Facebook and Instagram.