Abiodun Henderson

The early shape of this work was collaborative and hands-on. Abiodun Henderson began as co-creator and manager at Westview Empowerment STEAM Camp in Westside, Atlanta (2013–2015), helping establish the initiative during its formative years. That kind of role is less about directing from a distance than about making something workable on the ground, with enough structure to serve the young people it was built for. The foundation there was service, organization, and direct labor.

The range of roles he holds now maps onto a community-building practice that spans organizing, stewardship, and leadership. Abiodun Henderson is Community Organizer of Westside, Atlanta, Garden Coordinator of Westview Community Garden, Board Member of Georgia Cooperative Development Center, and Executive Director and founder of The Come Up Project. Taken together, those posts point to a consistent method: create places where people can contribute, learn, and move toward something more stable.

At The Come Up Project, Abiodun Henderson’s work stays focused on a clear mandate: helping formerly incarcerated young adults build stable lives through agriculture, employment, and entrepreneurship. The model is not framed as charity but as access to opportunity, with attention to the structure required for real entry into work and ownership. That requires patience, consistency, and the discipline to keep the pathway open. In that register, leadership is measured by whether the work gets done and whether it creates traction for others.

Abiodun's signature dishes include Sweet Sol.

Abiodun's honors include James Beard Foundation Leadership Award (2020).