In 2010 after some health scares, I decided to adopt being vegan. I did a lot of research but I kept having this nagging feeling-a feeling that I needed a mentor who…well looked like ME! At that time it wasn’t easy to find Black Vegans, or at least I didn’t think so. While cruising social media I came across this wonderful example of veganisim…someone who didn’t just talk that talk but walked that walk..seriously. I was blessed to make the acquaintence of John Lewis, who quickly became my role model for veganisim. Everything about him just made sense. Everything about him STILL makes sense, and I am happy to say that largely due to his wonderful mentorship, I have been Vegan for 12 years! But well enough about me…let’s get to him. Funny, smart and well, a pillar within the Vegan community, I am so very pleased to introduce ya’ll to him. Maybe just maybe, one of you may consider veganisim…not just for your well being, but for the animals and our mother earth..
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1977, John grew up in St. Louis, MO. At a young age of 13 John found himself at 315 pounds, but through hard work and dedication he lost the weight and excelled in football and basketball. He continued his streak of athletic excellence throughout his high school and college years in Mc Cluer Senior High in the heart of Ferguson, Mo. and Harris-Stowe State College respectively. Graduating with a Bachelors degree in marketing, he later went on to pursue his MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. John’s education in business coupled with his love for health and fitness gave him the ability to start his venture – Bad Ass Vegan – a health and nutrition company that strives to educate individuals on plant based nutrition. John’s love for his community brought forth the brainchild of “VeganSmart”, a plant based protein shake company with a foundation whose mission is to prevent obesity through education, physical activity and plant based nutrition.
John is also working on completing his first book in which he explains his remarkable journey in order to help others take control of their own health, happiness and life. Bad Ass Vegan has come out his it’s apparel line that will feature high quality, cruelty free clothing. Along with his gaming app company, John now is also stepping into a new realm in which he will be the co director/producer of the upcoming full length documentary “Hungry For Justice”… a film focused on food and social justice through the lens of hip hop and urban culture.
Outside of health and fitness, John interests include public/motivational speaking around the world, reading, writing, brainstorming business ideas and most of all… helping others fulfill a healthy life.
As a well renowned fitness expert, John Lewis has spent over 2 decades in the health and fitness industry and played Division I College basketball. John is highly passionate about not only his own health and fitness, but that of others as well… Which are evident through his motivational messages either through his international public speaking engagements or simply through his social media outlets.
Today, John has taken his passion for health and is now directing his first feature length documentary focused on food and social justice. John has teamed up with the maker of the award winning “What The Health” to create their joint venture “Hungry for Justice”.
The film follows co-director John Lewis from his beginnings as an adopted child from a crack-addicted birth mother, growing up as an overweight kid in the violence of Ferguson, Missouri, to becoming a prominent health and wellness advocate promoting compassion.
Audiences journey with John as he crosses the country seeking answers to why Americans of Color suffer from disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease than their European American counterparts, while examining the intersections of food, disease, race, poverty, institutional racism and government corruption.
Through interviews with cultural influencers, doctors, researchers, politicians, attorneys, professional athletes, activists and experts in the field of food justice, John begins to unravel a story of collusion that has kept millions of US Americans sick, while the industries responsible make billions of dollars.
And voila! Just like that…you just made sense cause you read this article. Now Imma need ya’ll to head on over to his site and lap up all that bad ass vegan knowledge…Tell John I sent ya…Amen and pass the greens…
~Epiphany Castro
NevahBlackDown 