Finding community doesn’t happen overnight. Whether someone is leaving home or stepping into a new workplace, feeling connected takes time, trust, and intentional effort. At Parkhurst, we recognize that shared experiences, especially those rooted in culture, can play a powerful role in bridging that gap. This Black History Month, we turned that understanding into action.
Across our 11-state footprint, our teams partner closely with students, employees, and on-site inclusion groups to bring cultural programming to life through food, creating spaces for stories to be shared, histories to be honored, and connections to grow within the communities we serve.
“Partnerships with student groups and employee resource groups are vital to advancing DEI at Parkhurst because they provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard and included,” said Nashé Scott, director of partnership development at Parkhurst and chair of ENPHG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. “These collaborations with student groups support education, engagement, and community by creating spaces where cultural exchange and mutual understanding can flourish.”
Rather than coming up with a predefined menu, our teams lead by listening. Working alongside campus organization and employee resource groups, Black History Month programming was shaped by lived experiences, historical context, and the voices of those being celebrated, ensuring each event was both meaningful and reflective of its community.
Collaboration at the Campus Level
At Marietta College, Parkhurst partners closely with the Office of Student Connections & Outreach (OSCO) weeks ahead of major heritage celebrations like Black History Month to engage directly with students.
These early conversations guide menu development, ensuring dishes reflect the traditions, experiences, and flavors students want to see represented.
In 2026, that collaboration led to a full Black History Month dining hall takeover. Lunch featured comfort-driven favorites like fried catfish, collard greens, and cornbread, while dinner highlighted dishes such as calypso pork with mango papaya sauce, Charleston red rice, and sautéed green beans with bacon.
Throughout the month, the environment itself became an extension of the learning experience. Curated by Dining Operations Manager Dawn West, the dining space displayed spotlights on Black chefs, bakers, and food innovators, reinforcing the stories behind the flavors on the plate.
OSCO’s team also hosted an interactive table in the dining hall offering Black History Month–branded giveaways and tabletop posters sharing fun facts across music, art, culture, and food. These thoughtful touchpoints created intentional moments of discovery that invited guests to learn, reflect, and engage throughout the day.
Student Voices in Action
At Heidelberg University, Parkhurst partnered with the Black Student Union to bring awareness to Black History Month through a limited-time beverage feature at The HeidelBean, our on-campus coffee shop. As part of an ongoing initiative, students are invited to help design custom drinks tied to heritage celebrations. During February, BSU member Makayla helped create the Freedom Dream Freeze: a vanilla crème frozen drink layered with blue raspberry and cherry flavoring and topped with whipped cream and red glitter sprinkles.
The student-led creation sparked conversation and curiosity. Guests who stopped in for coffee were reminded of the significance of Black History Month through a drink rooted in creativity and collaboration.
Later in the month, Parkhurst and the Black Student Union continued their annual tradition of a station takeover, with students shaping the dinner menu and sharing information about their organization – further reinforcing the value of student voice and participation.
Inclusion in the Workplace
Partnership also extends beyond higher education into corporate dining. At a software company in Pittsburgh, Parkhurst built Black History Month menus in collaboration with both Parkhurst team members and company employees who wanted to contribute. These shared stories reinforce the idea that inclusion lives not only in celebration, but in participation.
“Shrimp and Grits, Fried Okra, and Pork Steak are things my grandmother and I used to make growing up, so making these dishes reminds me of her,” said Parkhurst team member, Terrence. “I appreciate that Parkhurst takes an interest in what I can do and how I can add value through ideas. It’s nice they allow me to share a little bit of myself during Black History Month with these recipes.”
“I like that Parkhurst shows interest in our history and what we take pride in making,” says Parkhurst team member, Sheila.
That same spirit of collaboration is reflected at another corporate site in Pittsburgh, where Parkhurst partnered with an employee resource group to shape Black History Month meals throughout February. Recently, a Shrimp and Grits feature sparked enthusiastic guest feedback, highlighting how thoughtful collaboration can turn a meal into a shared point of connection.
Food as a Connector
When dining programs are shaped in partnership with the communities they serve, food becomes more than a meal: It serves as a connector, especially for those navigating new environments or finding their place within a campus or workplace. Through collaboration, respect, and shared purpose, Parkhurst continues to create inclusive dining experiences that educate, celebrate, and bring people together.
It’s a people-centered approach that brings Pride in Partnership to life in the moments that matter most. Follow along on our social channels to see these partnerships in action and explore more stories from our kitchens on the Parkhurst blog.
