♪ >> Well, today is the first day of southeast an event that celebrates black owned restaurants and farmers and helps them bounce back from the effects of the pandemic.

>> Southeast, we give a 10 day celebration of black culinary agriculture in central Kentucky.

It started during Twenty-twenty.

We kicked off in 2021.

But the idea started.

>> You know, social injustice without was at its height in the pandemic was at its peak in.

So I wanted a way to give back.

So it's my twin brother.

And I was like having to a black restaurant week.

But my second call was to Ashley Smith Co Blackfoot, Kentucky.

I want to take it a step further to support the agriculture in this great state is pretty take yearly black farmers.

At least one ingredients sourced directly from a black farmer through blacks.

Little Kentucky.

>> In so I really want to showcase the great agriculture in the state in support of those black farmers as well as a small black businesses and >> you know, of course, the pandemic.

So we wanted to really create something that the community a tangible opportunity to different black owned businesses in Central Kentucky.

And you know the way to everybody's heart is food.

So we challenge everyone to put their money where their mouth were.

Literally.

We've been jokingly third-party since we were 10 years old.

>> And so we to cure rate event, expect particularly farm to table in order to fellowship and come together as we celebrate black farmers, black chefs, but culinary in Central Kentucky, the restaurant and service industry as a you know, is a very volatile industry.

>> In especially out into the fact of, you know, blacks and minorities in that space even more So, you know, we've seen restaurants that have participated in our week do extremely well.

Whether be going from ghost kitchens you know, now brick and mortars opening up multiple restaurants in multiple but are driving focus around some of what we do a Southeast week is also making Lexington, a for regional travel and national travel across the Juneteenth holiday.

>> I'm also work for visit LAX and we saw an 11% increase in food and beverage been in the month of June Not think selfies is completely responsible for it, but we're happy to be a small part of the economic to generate no revenue for the community.

The first event is our farm to table dinner that kicks off at common cause farm featuring set by the screech.

Then on Saturday, we will have June 15th at movie theater will have what we call, you know, Lexington's biggest cookout.

So teen festival which is a free Juneteenth event.

>> And then that night will be at the void in the warehouse block for the cocktails.

With the guys on Sunday will be at last palm at the Manchester Hotel.

The rooftop for our Juneteenth hip-hop branch and then on that Monday we kick off the Black Restaurant week participating locations.

You can get a $12 off menu on trade and then we'll end the week on Sunday, June 23rd at LeBron, the event venue for our gas.

So full gospel brunch been able to bring the community together in a safe environment with fun and family-friendly activities and has really been a winning formula for us you know, not only celebrate how far we've came.

>> Paying homage to our ancestors, but also looking forward to our future.

>> Well, tonight's event just started at 6 at Coleman Crest Farm, which is Kentucky's first African American owned USDA farm.

It has been in the Coleman family for 136 years.