Dion Dawson

Dion Dawson, a TED Fellow and founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, fights food insecurity in Chicago by providing fresh produce to thousands. He discusses how challenging outdated charity models can lead to innovative solutions that benefit communities. Dawson highlights his nonprofit's success, achieving a million dollars in revenue in just 18 months. He emphasizes the crucial role of food equity in health outcomes and advocates for a data-driven approach to ensure that your zip code doesn’t dictate your lifespan.

Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, discusses his innovative approach to tackling food insecurity in Chicago. He shares how he replaced outdated pantry models with a data-driven system that delivers fresh produce to thousands of households, promoting dignity and health. Dion emphasizes the importance of economic empowerment through paid staff and quality food over charity handouts. Additionally, healthcare expert Shoshana highlights the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and calls for structural changes to improve community well-being.