Meet Danilo Batson: Spicy Green Book, Founder and Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danilo Batson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danilo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The demand and the support created this business. I never set out to start my own nonprofit organization. After the George Floyd murder and seeing everyone wanting to be more intentional about supporting Black-owned businesses, I wanted to create an easy to use website to find a Black-owned eatery in Southern California. As others started to hear about this site our supporters were reaching out to us asking for expansion. Soon we realized we were creating something that many people wanted to get behind and because of the support of the people we will continue to expand.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Spicy Green Book, we want to not only compile a directory of Black-owned businesses, but establish a space where business owners and loyal patrons can come together to support their local community. We proivde a variety of professional services to Black restauranteurs. Our growing team helps provide marketing services like photography, videography, graphic design, and other creative services. We aim to represent everyone with authentic storytelling so our communities can discover and support Black-owned businesses near them.

Spicy Green Book’s mission is to build substantive relationships and increase social trust between three groups of people, Black small business owners, potential customers of these businesses located in their communities, and volunteers passionate about economic justice, all in order to improve the economic well-being of Black business owners, better integrate racially separated communities, and develop marketable skills in volunteers.

We offer all these introductory promotional services all a no cost to the business owner. Our service aims to decrease the wealth gap, create more job opportunities, prevent further injustices, implement needed reform, and ensure marginalized people will receive the representation they deserve.

Spicy Green Book is offering a space that allows these nationwide black owned businesses to amplify their voices. Spicy Green Book is hand curating content for each business so, everyone is represented well and the image coincides with the owner’s vision. Nothing is listed on the business’s webpage that was not approved by the business owner. This way we can assure everything listed on the businesses web page is high quality and is brand consistent. Additionally, we are a nonprofit organization. Money donated will be repurposed back into the black community. Spicy Green Book will look to also make donations to causes that benefit the black community. Together we can contribute to the fight against racial inequality.

I would like to our supporters to know that Spicy Green Book is a resource. Meaning we will continue to work to grow and provide even more opportunities to our community as they become available. We are committed to doing the work and doing our part.

Getting here has not always been easy but with the drive of our large network we have been able to accomplish so much. I have learned that there are so many passionate people waiting on a route to be created on how they can be involved in social change. We at Spicy Green Book are driven by that thought everyday.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Luckily I know of a few places now. I would be taking my friends to several of the businesses listed in our directory. I have learned so many cool stories meeting these owners and I love to go back and support their business every chance I get.

We would be dining at some great BBQ restaurants, beverage pop ups, dessert food trucks and more. I’m more of an outdoor person so I would prefer going on walk or setting up to eat outside.

We would also be on the look out for any pop up art events or street fair markets happening. I think the great thing about this area is there is always some little fair or event happening outside. Lastly, I love the water so a bonfire with some fresh s’mores is also necessary.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our volunteers deserve all the credit. I can’t say enough about the work they have put in to put this resource together for the community. Volunteers all across the globe have shown up in considerable ways to build something that is going to have immeasurable impact. I have been truly humbled by how many people who have put their time and effort into making this nonprofit something others want to be a part of. Spicy Green Book would not exist without their dedicated and professional work.

Website: https://www.spicygreenbook.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spicygreenbook

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spicy-green-book/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/spicygreenbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spicygreenbook

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS5gEWNUF2fibLwwxFibKGg

Other: https://www.behance.net/spicygreenbook/ https://github.com/spicygreenbook/greenbook-app

Image Credits
Danilo Batson Credit: Marlin Salazar