Facing resistance: DEI’s journey in the US
In Union County, South Carolina, the cotton mills that once supplied many jobs have vanished. Now, the county is labeled as a "food desert," indicating residents are often distant from grocery stores. Acknowledging this challenge, local non-profit leader Elise Ashby initiated a project in 2016, working with farmers to deliver affordable boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables across the area, where around 30% of the population is Black, and about 25% face poverty.Initially, Ms. Ashby funded the initiative with her personal savings and small grants. However, in 2023, her efforts received a significant boost when the Walmart Foundation—the philanthropic branch…
