What Keeps You Rooted? Behind the Scenes at The Well Collective’s Rooted Event

Sometimes, the most profound stories fall into your lap simply because you shared what piqued your curiosity.

I talking with someone I met in a Facebook group about my business, Jennuine Raydiance, when the topic turned to local community initiatives. I happened to mention an upcoming event that had caught my attention: The Well Fest, hosted by The Well Collective, and specifically their Rooted event.

The concept behind Rooted was striking. The event honored local community champions alongside a curated culinary showcase featuring eight esteemed chefs representing three specific port cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Savannah, Georgia.

These three cities were intentionally chosen because of their history as major port entries where enslaved people were brought to America. Each chef was tasked with crafting a dish that felt native to their region—whether through traditional ingredients, historical techniques, or personal heritage. They had complete creative freedom to bring history to life on a plate.

The person I was chatting with in the Facebook group happened to be a close friend of Ashley Williams Hillman, the Executive Director of The Well Collective. Before I knew it, she put me on a three-way call with Ashley. I had actually interviewed Ashley years prior while working as a producer on a previous podcast, so connecting again felt right. She and her team of four have been doing the work that's needed in the city I love so much, and it was a way for me to be part of the team--if only for one day. 

I secured media credentials to cover the event as an official partner (on top of my initial plan to volunteer), brought my camera gear, and got to work.

The Core Question: "What Keeps You Rooted?"

I interviewed all eight chefs throughout the event. While we talked about their culinary inspiration, local ingredients, and regional heritage, there was one underlying question I asked each of them at the very end of my interview:

"What keeps you rooted?"

Their answers were raw, grounded, and deeply personal. Some spoke about lineage and honoring the ancestors whose recipes paved the way for their careers. Others talked about community, the land, or the quiet discipline of their kitchens.

As a storyteller, it was a powerful reminder that food is rarely just sustenance. It is memory, history, identity, and resistance.

Check out the full video below to hear directly from the chefs on what keeps them rooted: