Brilliance in Bloom: April Booker on Food Justice, Community Gardens, and Purpose

In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, host Nicole Beverly sits down with April Booker, founder and executive director of Zealous Empowering Nurture (ZEN), to explore how a pandemic pivot transformed into a thriving nonprofit addressing food insecurity in Charlotte.

April shares her journey from following her husband's basketball years in college, to discovering her own purpose through community gardening during COVID-19. What started as a way to feed her five kids during unprecedented times grew into an organization that has raised over $35,000 at their recent annual fundraiser and operates 1.8 acres of educational edible landscape.

From teaching over 100 students where their food really comes from to creating Lulu's Garden Club (an intergenerational program connecting seniors in assisted living with youth through therapeutic gardening) April discusses how she's building "power and purpose" by planting seeds in both the ground and in people. She opens up about the importance of patience, finding your tribe, using your voice as a Black woman leader, and why she wouldn't tell her childhood self anything different.

This conversation is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, community building, and letting your work speak louder than your words.

Connect with ZEN: Follow @bethezen on Instagram and Facebook, or visit bethezen.org to volunteer or learn more about their programs.