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A Smoke Signal That Ignited a Movement

86C, HK, HK Stories /

There are people who run into the fire. Lindsey Brown is one of them. As the Executive Director of the Southern Smoke Foundation, she didn’t come from the kitchen — but she arrived with open eyes, a deep understanding of crisis communication, and a heart tuned to the people who keep restaurants alive. She met her husband, a chef, while working in hospitality PR. Then a call came from a friend — a sommelier recently diagnosed with MS — asking for help. That moment sparked what is now one of the most impactful relief organizations in the food and beverage world.

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A Movement for Restaurant Equity

86C, HK, HK Stories /

Some industries evolve, and others must be rebuilt. The restaurant industry falls into both categories. It’s long been romanticized for its grit and hustle, but behind the scenes, too many people work without a real path forward.

That’s why MORE: The Movement to Organize for Restaurant Equity exists — not as a think tank, not as a trend, but as a coalition that understands this isn’t a problem one organization can fix alone.

MORE began as a collaboration between three veteran organizations — Women in Hospitality United, Regarding Her, and the James Beard Foundation — who saw the same thing: fragmentation. Many people are trying to move the industry forward, but they are working in silos

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