Deidre Grim spent her formative years growing up on a farm in South Carolina. She learned how the land is connected to her ancestors and how we are all connected to each other through food. Today, she fights for food justice, which is essential to our shared humanity and our shared responsibility to one another.

A food justice advocate, social scientist, planner, and activist who believes in overcoming challenges without excuses, Deidre Grim’s passion for equity and equality stems from her family’s dedication to activism. As the principal and owner of Grim Consulting Group, CEO of Ivory Bay Community Development Corporation, and the former executive director of Forsyth Farmers’ Market, she strives to create opportunities for others. She earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of California-Irvine, a master’s in Public Health from Columbia Southern University and a B.A. in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston. Inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris, Deidre believes that it is her duty to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities.