Aligning Our Conversation, Our Presentations, and Our Tables.
Making food an extension of our commitment to community health, economic empowerment, longevity, and generational wealth.
The Chicago Urban League has long championed stronger communities through economic opportunity, education, advocacy, and empowerment.
There is an opportunity to extend that leadership to another essential dimension of community well-being: the food we serve, the environments we create, and the nutritional knowledge we share.
Let's align our conversations, our presentations, and our tables in the fight to change the health paradigm in our communities.
Presented by
Sadeek Colquitt, CPBN
Founder & CEO, NūFORM Center for Nutrition
The Table Is Part of the Mission.
Across business breakfasts, networking events, conferences, seminars, and community gatherings, the Chicago Urban League convenes leaders and stakeholders to discuss the issues that shape our collective future.
Financial health. Mental health. Economic mobility. Longevity. Generational wealth. Stronger communities.
Yet, the food environments surrounding these conversations do not always reflect the healthier communities we aspire to build.
Traditional event menus frequently feature foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars, while offering limited access to fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich foods, and other nutrient-dense options.
This creates an opportunity for institutional leadership.
The Chicago Urban League can become an example of what it looks like when the message being delivered is reinforced by the food being served.
This is not about eliminating cultural traditions, compromising flavor, or telling people what they can and cannot eat. It is about expanding access, improving food choices, supporting better nutritional balance, and creating culturally affirming experiences that demonstrate how delicious and accessible healthier eating can be.
"We cannot consistently advocate for healthier communities while overlooking one of the most influential factors shaping community health: the food we make available in the environments where we gather, work, learn, and build relationships."
Introducing the Director of Nutrition.
A strategic leadership role connecting food procurement, nutrition education, organizational wellness, and community economic development.
The proposed Director of Nutrition would provide strategic oversight of the Chicago Urban League's food procurement practices and nutrition-related programming.
This position would establish a coordinated approach to how food is sourced, selected, prepared, and presented across organizational events and community initiatives.
Working in partnership with NūFORM Center for Nutrition, the Director would create an integrated system that simplifies catering procurement, establishes preferred vendor relationships, improves nutritional offerings, and introduces meaningful nutrition education opportunities.
Primary Responsibilities
- Oversee food procurement strategy for organizational events.
- Establish and manage a preferred network of catering partners.
- Develop nutritional guidelines and culturally affirming menu standards.
- Coordinate catering services and streamline ordering.
- Introduce nutrition workshops, seminars, and educational programming.
- Support local food businesses and expand economic opportunities through vendor partnerships.
Position
Director of Nutrition
Proposed Leadership
Sadeek Colquitt, CPBN
Founder & CEO, NūFORM Center for Nutrition
A Comprehensive Approach to Food and Community Health.
The proposed initiative is organized around four interconnected areas of responsibility, creating an approach that delivers operational value while advancing the Urban League's broader mission.
Pillar I — Food Procurement & Catering Management
One Relationship. A Better Food Procurement Experience.
Establish a curated network of preferred catering partners to serve the Chicago Urban League's meetings, breakfasts, conferences, receptions, and community events. Through a centralized procurement approach, the Urban League gains access to qualified caterers, standardized menu options, competitive pricing, and streamlined ordering.
Key Responsibilities
- Recruit and evaluate preferred catering partners.
- Establish culturally affirming, nutritionally balanced menu standards.
- Develop standardized breakfast, lunch, dinner, and reception packages.
- Coordinate catering orders and vendor communications.
- Negotiate preferred pricing and explore volume-based savings.
- Ensure dietary accommodations and food safety requirements are addressed.
The Value
A single point of contact for catering coordination, reducing administrative workload while creating consistency, convenience, and greater purchasing efficiency.
Pillar II — Nutrition Education & Community Engagement
Turning Meals Into Learning Opportunities.
Food is one of the most accessible entry points to conversations about health. Introduce engaging, practical, and culturally relevant nutrition education experiences that help individuals understand the relationship between food composition, disease risk, and long-term wellness.
Potential Programming
- Nutrition workshops and seminars.
- Healthy breakfast and lunch-and-learn sessions.
- Small-group nutrition discussions.
- Cooking demonstrations and food experiences.
- Nutrition education integrated into existing Urban League programming.
- Executive and business leadership wellness presentations.
The Value
Equipping individuals and families with practical knowledge to make more informed food choices and take an active role in their long-term health.
Pillar III — Organizational Health & Food Culture
Modeling the Change We Advocate For.
Establish an organizational food culture that reinforces the Chicago Urban League's commitment to healthier communities. The food served at organizational functions becomes an extension of the organization's message and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership through action.
Key Initiatives
- Establish healthier food standards for organizational events.
- Introduce balanced menu recommendations across departments.
- Expand healthier options at recurring networking events.
- Incorporate employee nutrition education and wellness initiatives.
- Develop seasonal nutrition and health programming.
- Encourage consistency between organizational messaging and food offerings.
The Value
Positioning the Chicago Urban League as an institution that not only advocates for healthier communities but actively demonstrates what that commitment looks like.
Pillar IV — Community Economic Development & Vendor Partnerships
Building a Healthier Food Economy.
The proposed catering network can become an additional vehicle for economic empowerment by creating business opportunities for local food entrepreneurs and catering companies. Through intentional vendor partnerships, the Urban League can help strengthen the local food economy while expanding access to healthier food experiences.
Potential Partnerships
- Black-owned catering companies.
- Minority-owned food businesses.
- Local restaurants and food entrepreneurs.
- Emerging culinary businesses.
- Caterers interested in developing more nutritionally balanced menus.
The Value
Creating new business opportunities, supporting local entrepreneurship, and encouraging the growth of a food economy that contributes to healthier communities.
Honoring Heritage. Elevating Longevity.
Healthier eating should never require sacrificing culture, flavor, or fellowship. Our Intelligent Design Nutrition™ approach transforms beloved African American culinary traditions into nutrient-rich, plant-forward experiences that celebrate who we are while protecting our collective health.
Executive Catering StandardIntelligent Design Nutrition™
The Modern African American Executive Table
A vibrant showcase of what becomes possible when event menus are curated with intentionality. Every dish preserves the soul, depth, and warmth of classic family tables — prepared entirely plant-based, rich in fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients.
- 100% cholesterol-free, zero saturated animal fats
- High-fiber whole foods supporting metabolic longevity
- Culturally celebratory flavors that honor tradition
"When we nourish our bodies with foods aligned with our biological design, the food becomes medicine and the table becomes a sanctuary."
Morning Executive TableGolden Sunrise Scramble with Crisp Roasted Potatoes, Braised Greens & Fresh Salsa
Handcrafted BreakfastArtisan Breakfast Sandwich with House Herb Patty, Melted Cheddar & Spiced Aioli
Nutrient-Dense MorningWarm Savory Breakfast Bowl with Sliced Avocado, Ripe Tomatoes & Warm Flatbread
Classic Breakfast ServiceCountry Herb Scramble with Sourdough Toast, Fresh Berries & Baby Greens
A Smarter Approach to Food Procurement and Programming.
This initiative is designed to create organizational value beyond the food itself. By centralizing food procurement and coordinating nutrition-related programming, the Chicago Urban League can improve efficiency, create purchasing opportunities, and strengthen alignment with its mission.
Time Savings
- One central point of contact for catering needs.
- Reduced time spent researching and coordinating vendors.
- Prequalified catering partners.
- Standardized menus and event packages.
- Simplified ordering and communication.
Cost Savings
- Opportunity to negotiate preferred vendor pricing.
- Potential volume-based purchasing advantages.
- Standardized event packages and predictable pricing.
- Greater visibility into catering expenditures.
- Reduced duplication of administrative effort.
Mission Alignment
- Food offerings that reinforce organizational messaging.
- Nutrition education integrated into existing programming.
- Greater exposure to healthier, culturally affirming food.
- Opportunities to support local businesses.
- A visible commitment to community health and longevity.
"The goal is not simply to spend differently on food. It is to create greater value from the resources already being invested in organizational events and community engagement."
Experience, Education, and an Established Nutrition Framework.
NūFORM Center for Nutrition brings more than 25 years of experience in nutrition education, behavior change, and helping individuals understand the relationship between food choices and long-term health.
Founded by Sadeek Colquitt, CPBN, NūFORM is built around Intelligent Design Nutrition™ (IDN), a framework that emphasizes nourishing the human body with foods that align with its biological design.
Through nutrition education, coaching, seminars, food demonstrations, and community engagement, NūFORM makes nutrition understandable, practical, culturally relevant, and actionable.
The partnership would bring together an established nutrition education framework, strategic food procurement, and a network of culinary partners to create a coordinated approach to organizational and community wellness.
Core Capabilities
- 25+ years of nutrition education experience.
- Intelligent Design Nutrition™ framework.
- Definition of FOOD™ educational methodology.
- Nutrition seminars and workshops.
- Customized nutrition education programming.
- Food demonstrations and culturally affirming culinary experiences.
- Established experience working with individuals and communities on nutrition behavior change.
"We don't believe healthier eating should require sacrificing culture, flavor, or enjoyment. We believe people deserve access to food experiences that nourish, educate, and affirm who they are."
The Chicago Urban League Can Model the Future of Community Health.
1Imagine attending an Urban League breakfast and experiencing a meal that reflects the organization's commitment to healthier communities.
2Imagine participating in a business networking event where the food reinforces the conversation about longevity and quality of life.
3Imagine local Black-owned caterers gaining new business opportunities through an institutional partnership that values both economic empowerment and nutritional quality.
4Imagine attendees leaving a seminar not only with new information but with a better understanding of how everyday food choices can influence their health and the health of future generations.
This is the opportunity.
The food becomes the entry point to education.
The education becomes the entry point to informed choices.
Those choices have the potential to influence families, workplaces, and future generations.
The Chicago Urban League can help demonstrate that community transformation is not limited to what we discuss, advocate for, or present from a stage. It is also reflected in the environments we create and the experiences we provide.
Let's Put Our Mission on the Table.
The Chicago Urban League has an opportunity to establish a new standard for how institutions approach food, nutrition, and community wellness.
Through the proposed Director of Nutrition role and partnership with NūFORM Center for Nutrition, we can create a coordinated approach that saves time, improves procurement efficiency, supports local businesses, and makes nutrition education a more visible part of the Urban League experience.
Let's align our conversation, our presentations, and our tables in the fight to change the health paradigm in our communities.
"The table is more than a place where we gather. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the future we are working to create."
Executive ProposalPresented by
Sadeek Colquitt, CPBN
Founder & CEO
NūFORM Center for Nutrition
Proposed Position
Director of Nutrition
Chicago Urban League
