Local StoriesDecember 2, 2021

Check Out Just Eats’ TN Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Just Eats.

Hi Just Eats, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I (Jasmine) founded Just Eats TN @JustEatsTN as a rising senior in college at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I’ve lived most of my life in the greater Nashville area. Something I started to hear more as I got older was “I love Nashville,” but a lot of times, people expressing it were expressing their love for a gentrified Nashville.

Gentrification in Nashville has impacted predominantly Black neighborhoods across the city, and I wanted to create a way to push back against some of the erasure I saw.

Starting Just Eats was a way to highlight Black-owned restaurants across Nashville and the state, and encourage others to #JustEat at them too. Just Eats features restaurants owned by people of color more broadly as well, but there are justice scales in the logo and it is intentionally Black Centered because of the reasons above. Just Eats also creates posts related to Food Justice, with the help of friends of mine like Kyra Jones and Sarah Henson.

The first Just Eats was at Jackie’s Dream in Knoxville in August 2018. Since then, with the help of friends, family, and AMAZING business owners, Just Eats has been able to spotlight 55+ restaurants, festivals, food markets, and more in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities.

Just Eats posts on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, and, occasionally, the Just Eats blog.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting this as a student, I started where I was: with social media and friends. There have been times when leading as a sole founder, I’ve felt pressure to always have a post ready, but I am learning to take the pressure off, enjoy the journey, and trust God one step at a time. The road has been a good one!

Meeting with restaurant owners always encourages me, and reminds me how important it is to spotlight and support local businesses, especially during this time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I am working at an education-technology start-up called Possip! I am grateful to be under the leadership of our CEO and Founder, Shani Dowell– the first Black woman in TN to raise $1 million in start-up funding.

We connect schools and districts to the voices of their parents, students, and staff through short email and SMS surveys known as Pulse Checks. They help keep a “pulse” on how families, students, and staff are doing routinely, and they ask them to share praise with schools too.

Outside of Just Eats, a lot of my focus has been on education equity through schools and nonprofits. I’m grateful to continue and further the legacies of my grandparents, Civil Rights activists, and educators, and my family through the work I’m doing through Just Eats and Possip.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was an avid reader and also enjoyed writing. I love stories and storytelling, and one of my favorite things about Just Eats is when I get to amplify others’ stories– learning about their families, favorite recipes, faith, inspiration, famous guests who’ve enjoyed their food, and more.

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