Russell Simmons Coming to Ferndale for Flint Fundraiser

FERNDALE, MI — Russell Simmons, the business and entertainment mogul, philanthropist and author of "The Happy Vegan," and prominent civil rights attorney and human rights advocate Benjamin Crump, president of the National Bar Association, will be the featured guests at a meet-and-greet fundraiser on Monday, Sept. 26at GreenSpace Cafe in Ferndale.

Hosted by Dr. Joel Kahn, who co-owns GreenSpace Cafe with his son Daniel, the event is a fundraiser for Flint Community Grocery, an initiative to provide access to quality, wholesome and organic foods to the residents of Flint.

Taking place to date as a pop-up concept with the goal of a bricks-and-mortar location, Flint Community Grocery is powered by Fresh Start CDC, a nonprofit established in 2014 by New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church of Flint, in response to a need for enhanced health and economic development, and to provide resources to residents of Flint and Genesee County affected by the internationally publicized water crisis.

Simmons has championed several projects around the country designed to end urban food deserts. Earlier this year he visited Flint to deliver 150,000 bottles of water to residents, and he has donated funds to support the Flint Community Grocery initiative.

According to Pastor Patrick Sanders, founder and CEO of Fresh Start CDC, "We are grateful to Russell and to Attorney Crump, as well as Dr. Kahn and GreenSpace Cafe, for helping to shed light on the topic of good-food access for all. We need to talk about this, because it's so important to the health and future of our community."

The Sept. 26 gathering takes place from 5 until 7 p.m. at GreenSpace Cafe, 215 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale. Tickets can be purchased here.

Learn more about the Flint Community Grocery here.

Photo submitted