This Vegan Food Entrepreneur Is Helping Black People Get Healthy—And Register To Vote

With the rise of obesity and health issues in the African American community, many have become inspired to change their eating habits and lean toward a healthier diet. Vegan and plant-based diets have become increasingly popular among Americans. For one food entrepreneur, the move created an opportunityvto create a venture aimed at blending veganism with traditional African American food while also giving back to the community.

Aisha “Pinky” Cole is the mastermind behind the Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan food truck, which brings vegan food to underserved communities. Her pop-up eatery has become a huge hit, selling out in cities from Durham, North Carolina, to New York as customers rave about her delicious food. It isn’t uncommon to see lines for her food wrap around the block, which has put her brand on the map. On a typical day, it is normal to have to wait on a line for several hours before you can order Cole’s 100% plant-based burgers and her vegan twists on classic dishes.

“I was one of the people who would always try and to raise awareness about that and how and why heart disease and type 2 diabetes are so prevalent in the [black] community,” she told CNN last year. “People of color die and suffer at a disproportionately higher rate than any other race or community from chronic diseases and lifestyle diseases.”

While Cole currently travels around the country on a 50 city pop-up tour, she has also decided to use the opportunity to register customers to vote. Customers can complete their voter registration forms while waiting on line. Cole launched her voter registration drive through her Pinky Cole Foundation, which she founded in 2019 to inspire people in her community to vote in the upcoming election.