26/06/2026
Dr Shola’s Shola Oladipo-IN3 evening at the COCO COLLECTIVE - Ital Community Garden 5th Anniversary was unlike any CIC event she has attended in a long time.
It quickly became clear that this hidden gem is part of the solution to achieving truly holistic wellbeing.
What a courageous collective of people, young and old, bringing together wisdom, lived experience and expertise to intentionally create spaces where culture, community, science and health can thrive side by side.
The evening’s theme, “Tending the Ground: Legacy of Nourishment,” beautifully honoured the relationship between people and the earth, celebrating its abundance while creating space for meaningful conversations about science, health equity and Black health.
One of Dr Shola’s greatest highlights, apart from happily getting stuck into watering the plants 🌱, was bringing along a dietetic intern who was experiencing Coco Collective for the very first time. Witnessing a model of health promotion that was culturally rooted, community-led and deeply human was an invaluable experience and a reminder of what is possible when communities lead the way.
Events like these remind us that many of the solutions to our greatest health challenges will emerge through collaboration, intergenerational wisdom, reclaiming our heritage and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and nourished.
A huge congratulations to Val, founder of this incredible organisation, for her vision, courage and unwavering commitment to cultivating a community that is transforming conversations around health, nourishment and collective wellbeing.
Here’s to many more years of tending the ground and nurturing healthier futures for generations to come. 💚
