To celebrate Black History Month, Creative Dining Services has partnered with local businesses founded by people of color to highlight the stories of the people and products behind these businesses. Mosby’s Popcorn, Malamiah Juice, Daddy’s Dough Cookies and Robinson’s Popcorn will provide select food products at various events hosted by Dining Services, the Center for Intercultural Student Development and the African Students Association during the month of February.

Marvale Jones, marketing manager for CDS, told Chimes that “the goal of this project is to strengthen our social responsibilities within the Calvin community and collaborate with student groups more.” When asked what those social responsibilities are, Jones said that due to the social and political climate today, CDS wants to do its part in recognizing and promoting people of color and their businesses.

Brian Mosby, founder of Mosby’s Popcorn, told Chimes that he had experience running businesses in college, which inspired him to eventually start his own. He and his wife, Shavyea Mosby, started Mosby’s Popcorn in 2015. The Mosbys hoped their business, which serves delicious batches of popcorn, would be a “timeless,” year-round, family-friendly business that they could pass on to their daughters. Mosby said he hopes getting on campus will be “a great opportunity to reach a demographic we wouldn’t usually get.” Since the pandemic, Mosby’s Popcorn has expanded to delivery and retail partnerships in order to combat the lack of foot traffic downtown. If he had to choose a favorite product, “my go-to flavor would be hot cheese, spicy cheddar popcorn,” Mosby told Chimes. Calvin students can sample Mosby’s popcorn in Commons on Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Malamiah Juice was founded in 2013 by Jermale and Anissa Eddie, after Jermale was introduced to juicing through a documentary in 2012. He and his wife decided to launch a juicing business that they hope to eventually pass on to their three children, after whom the business is named. Their mission, according to their website, is “to elevate community wellness through healthy products, local partnerships and youth employment.”

They fulfill that mission by using sustainably sourced local products and an employment framework that emphasizes mentorship and leadership development. Malamiah Juice products will be available in Commons on Feb. 9 from 11 to 2 p.m.

Daddy’s Dough Cookies is a small business founded in 2015 that sells over 15 different kinds of cookies, made with high-quality ingredients and “a little love in every bite”. Their daughter’s love for her dad’s cookies inspired MarQus and Tawanna Wright to start a business grounded in their family’s love for cooking and baking. Robinson’s Popcorn has a similar story; they are a relatively new family-owned small business, founded in 2018. They started small, fundraising for their storefront by selling t-shirts. Today, they are thriving with over 14 popcorn flavors and mixes. CDS is currently planning campus visit dates for these businesse