Umoja Food

COLLECTIVE

Food Justice | Wealth Building

Our Mission

The Umoja Food Collective is a network of values-driven Black-owned food businesses in LA advancing food justice to improve Black health and increase Black wealth in the communities we serve.

The Heart Center | Story of Us LA

Umoja's SERVICES

Servicing Our Community

• In LA County, 1/4 of LA residents experience food insecurity.
• Among low-income residents, the rate is 41%.
• 70% of food-insecure residents in 2024 were between 18–40 years old.
• Umoja Food Collective is addressing food disparities plaguing our communities.

Building Wealth

• We provide strategies and workshops to build the capacity for business owners to provide healthy and AFFORDABLE options to community.

Creating Community and Building Food Systems

• Bring together local farmers business owners and consumers to a broader vision of community.

• Using food as the center piece for change invoking community to participate in healing through healthy food options, the importance of buying black and understanding the food chain from seed to table.

    About Us

    •Sustainability
    •Health & Wellness
    •Collaboration & Relationships
    •Integrity

    •Quarterly networking events
    •Newsletter / email with opportunities for advertisement in annual publication
    •Communications
    •Workforce development training and hiring
    •100+ participants
    •Advocacy (Good Food Zones, land use, etc.)

    The Toss Up
    Toss it Up
    Urban Comfort Foods
    Apryl’s Life in a Bottle
    Kathy’s Kitchen
    Bayou Grill
    Crop Swap LA
    Diaspora Groceries
    Build a Bite

    Black Equity Collective
    Durfee Foundation
    Welk Foundation
    Social Justice Partners LA

    LCF Townhall

    Our Amazing Funders

    Our Amazing Partner

    Board of Directors

    Rahje Branch
    Executive Director

    Umoja Food Collective
    My Bio

    Sonia Hooks
    Umoja Board Treasurer

    Umoja Food Collective
    My Bio

    Chris Baccus
    Umoja Board Secretary

    Concerned Citizens Community Involvement
    My Bio

    Breanna Hawkins
    Umoja Board President

    Fractal Strategies
    My Bio
    Scroll to Top

    Rahje Branch, Executive Director

    Rahje Branch is a proud native of South Los Angeles, with a deep commitment to fostering equity and justice within her community. Her experiences living in various places and traveling have enriched her perspective and fueled her dedication to creating positive change.

    As the Founder of Branchify Consulting, Rahje offers strategic guidance and expertise to organizations seeking to make a meaningful impact. She brings her passion for equity and community empowerment to her role as the Executive Director of Umoja Food Collective. 

    Rahje’s educational background includes a B.A. in Political Science from Pepperdine University and an M.Ed. from Harvard University. 

    In her personal life, Rahje enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling, and supporting her beloved Los Angeles Dodgers. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she is committed to upholding the values of sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

    Sonia Hooks, Treasurer

    Sonia Baccus Hooks is the Chief Executive Officer of Top Notch 365, LLC which provides executive consulting services in business strategy and planning, specializing in technology, marketing, and finance. 

    Sonia retired in 2023 as the Assistant Director of Technology Services, for the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), the nation’s largest regional education agency, serving 80 school districts and approximately 2 million preschool and school-aged children. She is a seasoned executive with over thirty years’ experience in project management. 

    Sonia is a proud native of Inglewood and enjoys spending time with her husband, adult twin daughters, and extended family. She enjoys working at her church and in the local community of South Los Angeles as a volunteer director of logistics and marketing for Concerned Citizens Community Involvement.

    Chris Baccus, Secretary

    Chris Baccus serves as the Executive Director (Volunteer) for Concerned Citizens Community Involvement (CCCI). He is an alumnus of the University of Southern California and was awarded his Master of Arts in Education from CSU Dominguez Hills. 

    Chris served several years as a counselor in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and continues to utilize his experience for CCCI. Throughout his career, he has worked with hundreds of Middle School, High School, and College-age students.

    Breanna Hawkins, President

    Breanna Hawkins is an experienced social justice and policy professional with a deep commitment to advancing solutions that foster racial equity, community power, and healthy neighborhoods. Breanna supports organizations in achieving transformative systems change through community and organizational development strategies. 

    Breanna serves on the boards of Sustainable Economic Enterprises Los Angeles (SEE-LA) and A Deeper Love Foundation, an organization focused on improving mental health and quality of life for youth with incarcerated parents. Breanna graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California (USC) where she earned an undergraduate degree in Public Policy and Management and a master’s degree in urban planning. In 2011, Breanna was awarded the Emery E. Olson award for outstanding achievements in civic leadership from USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. In 2018, Breanna was recognized by the UC Berkeley Food Institute as one of 20 Emerging Food System Leaders in California. Breanna was born and raised in LA and enjoys her little backyard garden, DIY home projects, and making messy science experiments with her seven-year-old.