Patron Michelle Nasir on Gathering Around the Table and Celebrating Diversity

James Beard Foundation (JBF) Patrons are a community of supporters that believe in an equitable and sustainable future for the food and beverage industry—one where everyone has the opportunities and resources to thrive. Our Patrons include both food lovers and the people behind the plate, from chefs to restaurateurs, winemakers, front-of-house, and more. In this series, we’re highlighting members from across our Patron program who are invested in meaningful change throughout the culinary industry, and who embody our mantra of Good Food for Good.

Meet Michelle Nasir, our June member spotlight. Nasir is a leader in people, strategy, and workplace culture and we spoke to her about her longstanding engagement with JBF, her early memories around food, and her diverse upbringing in Brooklyn, New York.

James Beard Foundation: How did you first hear about JBF?  

Michelle Nasir: I first heard about the James Beard Foundation early in my career. It’s one of those New York institutions where you would have intimacy with other guests, great meals, and incredible community. When my dad passed away, right after I graduated from college, I secretly hoped my mom would fall in love and meet someone else to remarry. I would bring her to Beard House dinners like a little matchmaker, and she never knew what I was doing. It never quite worked out as I had hoped because, in the end, she just loved good food and was really happy to spend this time with her daughter!

JBF: What made you interested in joining as a Patron and what has kept you engaged?  

MN: What interests me the most about JBF is that it occupies a unique space in the food conversation. This is an institution that has had its ups and downs, but has grown from it, reinventing what it stands for in the best way possible—promoting new food entrepreneurs, giving them a platform at Market 57, and highlighting chefs who wouldn't traditionally be showcased.  

What keeps me coming back is this diverse community and those interesting collaborations, which take you out of a traditional dining experience at a restaurant. Since Platform by JBF opened last year, I’ve been to close to 20 dinners! There is something really powerful about sharing a meal and breaking bread with others in a communal setting, especially when you are joined by people from diverse walks of life. There is an alchemy that happens at JBF dinners, and it keeps me engaged and coming back for more.

I’m also proud to support the Good Food for Good® mission. I know that my membership goes back to the Foundation to support new voices and to honor contemporary conversations around food, specifically those individuals and cuisines that have been sidelined in favor of more Euro-centric cuisines.  

JBF: Could you tell me about the role that food plays in your life? What are some of your favorite childhood memories around food?

MN: My first food memories revolve around cooking with my mom. As a kid, I’d be so excited when she gave me a little task like peeling a potato or [chopping] some garlic and onions. I would get every Food & Wine magazine, rip out the recipes, and try to recreate them. I used to have these dinner parties in high school with a lot of help from mom for all my friends. After my dad passed away, we kept that tradition going with my family and friends in the neighborhood. For me, food has always been a place of gathering and love.  

Growing up in Brooklyn, there was no scarcity of food choices. I’m first-generation American and my family is from Guyana, which is a country of numerous ethnicities and cultures. The food is interesting because it's a melting pot of Indian, African, Chinese, Indigenous, and Caribbean cuisines. Every week, we’d have Sunday soup, which is made with plantains and cassava, but also has the Indian flavoring from the coconut milk and spices.

In New York City, we naturally support the mom-and-pop businesses of our neighborhood and local community. And that’s what’s special about the James Beard Foundation—you support diverse voices and businesses in an industry that's been predominantly narrow. People are tired of “big food.” We want to hear about the chefs and smaller operators that are creating and cooking amazing things in their own communities. My favorite JBF event was the Diwali reception at Platform, where you brought together so many incredible South Asian female entrepreneurs.

JBF: As a supporter and member of JBF, can you tell me about your approach to philanthropy?

MN: I love supporting organizations that I have a very strong personal connection to. I recently joined the Board of Directors at Green-Wood Cemetery, a historic landmark and one of the first rural cemeteries in the U.S. It was the inspiration for Central Park and is an incubator for sustainability [practices]. It’s also the resting place for my family, so there is a deep personal connection, as well. But it's more than a resting place…it's a living love letter to New York City.  

And so, I want these kinds of unique markers of New York history to continue, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to support the rich legacy and mission of JBF. While JBF has a national footprint, I see it as an incomparable New York institution.

JBF: How does your career inform your passions, interest, and philanthropy outside of work?

MN: I decided to pivot from software engineering to human capital and people operations over 15 years ago, and that has been truly joyful for me because I believe in mentorship—in working with folks to look within and understand the things that give them joy and fulfillment, and how are they are linked to the inherent gifts and capabilities they have.

In my work, community is so important. Naturally, I'm always introducing people from my network to the James Beard community because I want them to experience the magic of JBF events and extend to them the gift of community that attending these events offers. The intimacy of sharing food breaks down barriers and allows for more authentic and real conversation.

Learn more and join our Patron Program.

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Persis Singh is director of development at the James Beard Foundation.