Communal healing of the mind, body, and Sōl with "A Month of Sundays"

FLINT, Michigan — Get ready to have your body and soul healed this October. Every Sunday, in collaboration with Very Vegan and Healthy Side Juice Bar, the Sōl Section Where Better Begins will host “A Month of Sundays” events at Totem Book Store. These events are designed to help Flint residents “better understand plant-based living, dis-ease formation” and feel proud of their roots. But hurry, only 40 tickets will be available each Sunday.

Attendees of the event will get to engage in an enlightening conversation while enjoying a variety of healthy vegan food and juices, ranging from nachos to chili to mac & cheese. The admission price includes all food. Moreover, special guests such as Sophia Janell, Courtney Bell, Piper Carter, Babyfxce E & Mar, and renowned Flint native, creative artist, and writer Mama Sōl will attend.

A Month of Sundays will take place every Sunday at Totem Book Store at 620 West Court Street in Flint on the following dates and times:
 
  • Oct. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Oct. 8 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 15 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 22 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 29 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Flintside caught up with Buffi of Buffi’s Kitchen and “A Month of Sundays” event coordinator to talk about vegan food, musical guests, and the importance of healing and self-discovery. 

Flintside: What was the inspiration behind the “A Month of Sundays” event?

Buffi: “Concept of Communal Healing. A space where Better Begins. Better food, juice, conversation, music, energy, and to share this idea during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mama Sōl, a 2x breast cancer survivor, created the concept out of desire and necessity to share her healing modalities with the Flint community.”

Flintside: With Flint known as a food desert, was providing high-quality vegan meals always the plan?

Buffi: “Providing Flint not only better-quality food but also (90%) farm-to-table food grown locally by the owners of Very Vegan. Very Vegan is a vegan cafe that will be fully operational at the start of 2024, inside “The Sōl Section.” A Month of Sundays was our way of introducing the community to the food & the space prior to our grand opening.”

Flintside: Being a plant-based chef, how important is it for you to get Flint residents access to healthier and holistic eating and wellness?

Buffi: “Mama Sōl attests to a healthy diet as a means to heal, void of medication. Sōl feels diet is anything absorbed by the mind and body, which includes food, music, movies, and conversation. So, providing Flint with first an “understanding” of how food is medicine and how to get in front of dis-ease intruding the body is just as important as having access to the food itself.

Both Sōl & myself will be preparing the food and sharing recipes to achieve our highest quality vegan food and experience for our patrons. Preparing vegan food became my passion while assisting my father throughout his health struggles. Witnessing someone you love suffer can cause great change, and it put me on a path of self-healing & discovery which is paramount in obtaining optimal health & longevity.”

Flintside: This is a series of events for healthier living and a special guest component. What is A Month of Sundays hoping to achieve by adding these special guests?

Buffi: “Adding the special guests, we are hoping, will allow some of those hesitant or skeptical about a “plant-based” diet – in fear of judgment or ridicule from their hood or family – to see themselves in someone else’s story. We have rappers, singers, and authors from Black & Brown communities sharing their journey to a plant-based diet. The pros and cons they have experienced along the path.”

Flintside: For those who read this article and attend this unique event, what do you want them to take away from it?

Buffi: “We would like for those that attend these “A Month of Sundays” events to walk away with a better understanding of “plant-based” living, a better understanding of dis-ease, its formation, [along] with a deeper meaning and desire to live a longer, healthier life. [Finally], to feel good about being from Flint! Flint deserves to have options! Options that are provided by people from their community who love this city and want to see us healthier, happier, and better informed on holistic healing and self-care. We want the residents of Flint to be eager about adding more fruits and vegetables to their diets. We also want our people excited about the opening of “The Sōl Section” Where Better Begins.”

To learn more about the “A Month of Sundays” and purchase tickets for $10, visit: mamasolmusic.com/upcoming-events
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Read more articles by Xzavier Simon.