Vetiveah Harrison

Vetiveah Harrison is a Black American/Creole native from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her parents birthed an entrepreneurship spirit within her that kickstarted a journey of urban farming, herbalism, nutrition, food justice, anti-hunger advocacy, and economic development strategy. She is an expert with 10 years of in-depth food system industry knowledge. She is motivated by the dire need to have a more equitable food system and channels this motivation through leading efforts that inspire, educate, and transform marginalized Black communities and organizations that serve Black communities.

She is currently a Program Manager for CitySeed Food Business Incubator, a nonprofit organization that reduces barriers to food entrepreneurship in New Haven by working to create economic opportunity for all, increasing leadership by people-of-color and immigrant food entrepreneurs, and strengthening our local food system by linking food entrepreneurs to source food from farmers. At CitySeed, Vetiveah, plays a major role in supporting entrepreneurs in launching their food businesses by providing an affordable commercial kitchen, helping with obtaining permits, licenses, insurance, marketing needs, creating basic business plans, and successfully entering the marketplace. Through her commitment to this role, she has helped CitySeed improve their training, support, and resources food entrepreneurs need the most.

Outside her capacity at CitySeed, Vetiveah serves as the Committee Chairwoman for Environmental Justice at the NAACP Bridgeport Chapter. Additionally, she works part-time as an Urban Farmer and Community Nutrition Educator, providing vital support to various nonprofit organizations in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Chicago. Her work involves cultivating food in urban spaces, school gardens, and community gardens. Vetiveah offers straightforward nutrition guidance, aiming to enhance dietary choices, while also addressing food waste issues and ending food apartheid.