Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin

Bread & Justice is a micro-bakery on a mission. By donating 100% of the profits from the sale of every loaf, they are working towards a more just society. In this presentation, hosted by the Culinary History Enthusiast of Wisconsin (CHEW), Bread & Justice founder Mo Cheeks will share his story and show how the bakery is part of a larger movement of organizations using food for social justice.

Bread & Justice was launched in Madison in the summer of 2020. Cheeks had begun baking naturally-leavened (sourdough) bread in early 2020.  At first his routine was to bake on weekends for fun and then give bread away to friends in the Madison area. It was a simple hobby and a way to stay connected to friends during Wisconsin’s Stay at Home orders.

After the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Cheeks’s bread production increased rapidly as it became a form of self-care, a time for quiet prayer, and a practice of manifesting joy during a dark summer. Realizing that bread making could transition from self-care to activism, Cheeks joined a group of bakers across the country in a national bake sale called #BakersAgainstRacism, and launched Bread & Justice. In time, he was named Bread Hero of the Midwest by World Bread Awards. In 2021 his organization donated nearly $6,500 to social justice organizations.

Bread & Justice’s sourdough loaves are made with local flour and are available for sale.  The bakery accepts pre-orders of bread every Tuesday for customers to pick-up on that Thursday. Additionally, Bread & Justice offers a Bread Club subscription for customers who want to guarantee themselves a loaf of sourdough every week. For more info about the bakery, visit https://breadandjustice.org/. 

For the May 4 presentation at the Goodman Center, masks are required in the building’s public areas, and CHEW highly recommends masks in our meeting room (seating will be socially distanced).  To join the meeting via Zoom, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89743552947?pwd=U2JMVmVOOWJLcHV3R2FqaDgvTmV3UT09, Passcode: 344630.

For additional info, visit the CHEW website: www.chewwisconsin.com.