Food Deserts, The Business of Food, & How to Start a Grocery Store 

Love what I am hearing, I am black business owner, CEO of Family Bonds Logistic LLC. And I have a private networking of black carriers (truck driver’s) would love to discuss business with the brother representing OASIS

This brotha deserves to be recognized nationally, even globally! Such an inspiration.

I would like to connect. I am Nicole owner and chef of Soul Sister Cuisine in Brooklyn, NY. My brothers and I own 100 acres and a brick house that was passed down generational wealth from my grandparents. My daughter was a employee starting at 19 as a crew and worked her way to A six figure Captain’s position at 27 years old. She knows grocery. I know business we own land. I want to build communities ❤️

Great conversation! Great topics were covered in this interview. Also, the term “Food Desert” is being replaced with the term “Food Apartheid”. We loved to volunteer or intern to help develop EYL Farms, with a focus on culturally responsive teaching/evaluation strategies. Think about how many K-12 school systems do not have an agricultural curriculum?! Questions and conversations about why and how Black agriculture educators are less than 1%! Changing the minds about how agriculture is involved in every aspect of your life. Example: Coca-Cola is a food and beverage enterprise (Agribusiness/Ag-Economics). We need to encourage Black people to get into each sector of the agriculture industry, this will require formal and informal education.

This was a very good interview. I salute AJ for doing this and stepping out on faith. Health disparities is a REAL thing and food deserts are one of the main driving forces of this problem.....I will always support this brother and hope to see Oasis all over the country one day!

My current goal is to provide grocery stores to my local community! This was definitely inspiring!

His energy is amazing. Jumped in late but OMG. I got to get my plans activated.

AJ you may not consider Oasis to be a 'church' but you ARE the church!! Love it!! 🙂

I love these young brothers who are changing everything for our people in so many different ways. May you continue with your quest to bring in visionaries who are doing great things to enlighten and educate our people. A change gonna come!!

EYL Foods would be a great concept. Y'all can highlight black farmers, black homesteaders, black food and nutrition specialists, the sky is the limit.

I thank God for you two brothers at EYL and for your sphere of influence. Thank you for giving us what so many of us have wanted all our lives -- exposure and guidance. May you continue to be blessed and to prosper.

Thought this pod was going mainstream appreciate the endless gems and positivity for the culture

AJ is a clean spirited super hero visionary leader. What he alerted my problem solving brain to is he should connect with the national Black Farmers Association to make a direct supply relationship. The not for profit aspect of food deserts is a great way to connect the farmers with commerce and stores with food. It could be an opportunity to scale franchise opportunities with similar values delivery partner that lock in farming, processing, distribution and retail. This was an important show guys, very powerful. Thank you AJ

So proud of AJ and all those that made Oasis an reality, it’s NEEDED and NECESSARY. I can’t wait to see it expand all over the country!!!

I created this same concept and folks clowned me. This show inspired me to keep going.

Being from the eastside of Buffalo, NY I’m glad these conversations are being had

Love everything that he said, but he asked why BET didn't have a food co-op. BET is NOT BLACK OWNED, JUST BLACK TARGETED. Been thy way every since Bob Johnson sold it to Viacom.

I am going to be apart of this! Urban Farmer!!!

I LIKE HIS ENERGY. HIS MISSION IS GREAT, GOOD WORK

Love the passion and real love that he has for helping people through genuine heart-felt services. ‼️🙏🏾

Love it Mane, Providing Transportation for the Community is Powerful, Game Changer 💜

I’m so excited about this young man!! He’s going Places! WOW he’s smart and kind and good-looking!😇🥰

This is my dream!!! Always wanted my own grocery store..

I love his energy. He speaks from the heart. I just hope - his wife is actively involved in the day-to-day operations. If he is unable to perform, she can continue his legacy and community impact....and not sell the business to the highest bidder.

This is a beautiful conversation, much needed in our community because health is wealth. I’m inspired!

Yall protect this man and his business at all cost because we need a change like this in retail

A.J is my hero!!!!! my dream since I was a child was to open a tiny grocery store... not a large one, just a little store, like a had in my country village and to make it a non profit, wow!!! how can i do this!!!??

Yessss change the world 🌎 it starts with US...I love the energy

Let’s not forget about the MOVE organization in Philadelphia in May 13, 1985 was bombed by the city. 61 homes were destroyed and men, women, and children were killed.

If everyone had AJ's mentality, health disease and hunger would be anialated. So inspiring. Humanity is very much alive

I say this is one of the best episodes of EYL!...inspiration upon inspiration. Oasis is a success and I'm sure it is going to be more successful!

This is crazy listening to this guy. I am apart of a COOP right now that is in the process of trying to go public and also build the type of infrastructure he is talking about. Great interview as always. COOP THE BLOCK COOPONOMICS CONSUMER COOPERATIVE GROUP

Powerful Video to watch! This man is passion!

This was such a good interview. AJ has so much passion for the people, community, and then the business. That is what it's all about. I want to be like AJ so therefore I will be.

I had too run this Episode Back, Love it Mane

North Tulsa, I spent everyday over there growing up as a kid!!!! Shout out AJ

Amazing Show!! Im one of very few Electronic Security Business Owners in this Country!

This man is god send. Bless him

Wow, this strategy is filled with a ton of helpful data and is fairly easy to understand. Thanks, sir!

I LOVE the space us African Americans are in‼️

Mannnnnnnn Bless him and his ancestors 4 having the brain and heart 4 his business and helping tha masses! THAT'S THEM TULSA OK SOULS THAT GOT DESTROYED THAT'S PROTECTING HIM!!!!! SALUTE👍👌

Powerful interview…thank u guys!

Oasis Grocery Store sounds like an experience…feel like I need to travel just to see this joint fr!

THIS IS KEY! We need to Tap in on the Co-Op Collab!! JJK International - ProAgroMoney Co-Op educating our communities on the Agribusiness of God for over. 20 years! and we are taking things to the next level as we speak. From Africa, South America And African America!

I've been thinking of opening a healthy supermarket , just never knew where to start and I'm in NJ Operation Helping Hand LLC

It would be nice to know where your produce is being grown, who’s delivering it, and who’s reaping the benefits of our purchases.

Wow this episode is loaded. I haven’t tuned all the time but WOWW

Wonderful episode. Thinking about farming

It's supposed to be a blackowned grocery store in Columbia SC Uncle Willie's

Love this conversation! Does he need a Store Manager/ Grass Roots promoter? Close to 35 years retail experience right here!

Such a wonderful episode

I agree. However, we must understand the history of the flag that is flown in the US. We are constantly flying a war flag. So if we are inherently always at war as the stripes are in a horizontal (war) position then we are also always at any moment subjected to the perils of war. (Look up flag law and the US peace flag (vertical stripes) for further reference. ) The USA is a corporation Our ancestors and those in Tulsa in that thriving black community were labeled as a serious threat to disturbing their commerce. Being from Detroit we had a similar area called black bottom. While it paled in comparison to Tulsa the State of Michigan saw fit to run what Is now known as I-75 through it. Yet again desecrating another thriving black community. THANK YOU for this beautiful interview. I look forward to all of the great things that come from a new generation of leaders and understanding how we can change the world by working together and enriching our communities. Thank you again.

Absolutely phenomenal.

I had the exact same idea about a year ago, name and all. Unfortunately, I have zero access to funding and no one in my area (rural NC) cares about anything, so it will never be anything more than another idea I watch do great for someone else that had more luck on their side.

This interview has me excited about some of my own community building ideas!! 💡

Please do a show on food coop.we are working to build SoLa Coop in South LA . The information would be valuable.

First I wanna say I commend this brother for opening up the first grocery store in North Tulsa in 14 years, which is amazing!!! BUT I could not help but notice him having to mention his wife was asian twice and that he has blasian babies, as if these are badges of honor to have a non-black wife and half-black children. Again maybe I am reading into that....but then I went to his Instagram page and he had a lot of #blasianbabies on his posts with his children. Again, happy he is proud of his family and loves them but seems as if he is super proud they are half asian for then anything else. I guess we are all hit by this anti-black everything society in some way shape or form. Again, had to point that out cause it was glaringly noticeable. But like I said very happy he and his wife opened up this store for the community, she looks like a nice woman and clearly she supports the cause, which is great, but def think we need to call people out on glorifying marrying and having babies outside of your own group as if it is something to keep bringing up and parading. Like we really don't need to know any of that, as it is his personal business. What matters the most is the store. We can always check people because no one is perfect. Everyone has things they need to work on, even if they are doing amazing things like this brother here.

Powerful and inspiring!! Thank you!

Whew...EYL Farms!!! Let's Goooooo!!!!🙌🏾

Let's go! Tulsa is on the map.

Tulsa was the first bombing of US citizens by government on US soil but not the only one. The MOVE bombing in Philly in 1985 was aerial as well (by the local government).

They did it in Philadelphia in the 70's against the people of the MOVE movement.

We can't forget about Tulsa We can't forget our history We can take advantage of the opportunities we have to the fullest

Hope that you all are following the HR 3121 Bill out of California. Tulsa is just one example of why we still need to collect on a debt owed.

Great interview!! I own a 5000sf grocery store nJ as well. How does he apply the non-profit within a corporation?

Very informative discussion.

If he wants to impact more areas he should hire a lead for his store and become a consultant for other impoverished/urban areas. Let’s wait interviewing and talking and map out at lease 9 more communities that could benefit from a store and create an in-depth plan to pilot 10 stores in 2024 in our communities. #GO

Oh my goodness, wonderful. A sustainable and healthy food store & product line... We don't need GMO and processed food., Learn to grow Organic and work with Nature not against HER. MAMA GAIA amunra atum 1 and the ancestors we salute you. Peace and Love family ❤️

Great interview

I love his energy

⭐🙏 thank you!!! E.Y.L. 💪

43:07 that part 59:00 yiiiiikes!

Love this guy's energy! He's a trip! Lol

We will..thank you.

I'm in Oklahoma City and did not know any of this

Thank you for all the Information

"Black Wallstreet is not a location it's a mindset" facts

Thank yall

FAV EPISODE

I'm starting a chicken farm on my land next year, just remember the name Shoeboot!!!

Dope Interview

Love this 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Thanks!

Oasis come to Philly

Great interview 👍🏾

I thought this may help. maybe yall should update the hashtag to the proper writing of #FoodDesert

Is the what black folks should be growing there own food is that the future

I would go here instead of walmart 😒 but I'm all the way in Florida

Yoooo thankful

I LOVE IT

Good I'm end for ending food deserts.

Harrisburg, PA is a food desert

Roots & Vine Produce And Cafe out of Chicago is the story... interview me 😏

Diddy gets millions of views for appearing on this platform. At the time of this comment a video about FOOD, the most important THING we take in daily is under 100K. There's no push for Black ownership of food sources here in NYC, this man is in OK. I am here for more Black ownership of food businesses presenting fresh foods, healthier foods, clean water and sources to get and/or create clean water, etc. THAT is what matters!!

Salute!✊🏾🙌🏾

I need to connect w/ this guy.... 🔥

To serve others

This brother seems like !Kevin HART reincarnated. Low key comedian Much respect

Nah.. they did it in Philly too

Master P has a ton of grocery products