Meet Shemecka McNeil of SLICE 325

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemecka McNeil.

Hi Shemecka , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m Shemecka McNeil, but folks who really know me call me Chef Mecka. I was raised in Horry County, South Carolina farm life, big skies, and the kind of wisdom you don’t get from books. My grandmother taught me to season beans like they were gospel, and my grandfather planted by the moon. They didn’t call it sustainability back then they just called it surviving smart.

I thought I was going to be a farmer and care for people. Turns out, I started by becoming a healthcare worker first. I saw firsthand how food and health are inseparable, especially in communities like the one I came from. I kept asking myself why do the healthiest options feel the farthest away from the people who need them most?
That question lit the match. From there, I became a chef and eventually started blending my medical background with culinary creativity.

I founded SLICE 325 to bridge gaps between nutrition, culture, affordability, and joy because healthy food shouldn’t feel like punishment. Over time, I started bringing in VR (yes, virtual reality in the kitchen, y’all), immersive learning, and sustainability lessons because our communities deserve the kind of education that sticks. Not just facts but stories, smells, memories.
From clinic charts to country roads, from late-night meal preps to last-minute grant deadlines…I got here by staying curious, showing up when it wasn’t easy, learning as I went, and always keeping a pot on the stove for somebody.
So no, I didn’t take the straight path. I took the one with potholes, detours, and a couple of wrong exits but it led me right here, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been smooth…but I’ve learned how to dance in work boots.
I’ve dealt with everything from limited resources to being the youngest and often the only Black woman in the room. I’ve had to convince folks that food, technology, and health can belong in the same conversation, especially in rural and underserved communities. Some didn’t see the vision… so I learned to build while explaining it one spoonful and one headset at a time.

Funding? A constant hustle. Burnout? Been there. Moments of “What in the world am I doing?” Oh, plenty.
But I’ve also had incredible mentors, community love, and a deep-rooted faith that reminds me why I started. Every challenge taught me something from how to fix a garden bed in a thunderstorm to how to write a grant that actually gets noticed.

So no, it wasn’t smooth. But I got good at pivoting, praying, planting, and pressing on. And every bump just gave me better traction.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
SLICE 325 stands for Serving Locations Inviting Culinary Education, and the 325? That’s how many days a year we commit to this mission. We intentionally take 40 days off for mental health, rest, and reflection because even purpose needs pause. That’s why it’s not SLICE 365.

We started in 2017 with affordable, culturally rooted cooking classes; but we’ve grown into something much bigger. Today, SLICE 325 is advancing beyond healthy eating as a stand-alone goal. We embed food into the larger conversation about social equity, climate resilience, economic justice, and clean energy. Because what’s on your plate is deeply shaped by what’s happening in your neighborhood, your power grid, and your pocket.

Our specialty? Immersive, hands-on education that blends culinary wisdom, public health, and virtual reality. Whether you’re learning how sodium affects blood pressure through a VR headset or understanding compost in a community garden, we bring the science to life and keep it grounded in culture and joy.

We’re known for:
• Culturally inclusive health education that honors heritage and health
• VR-powered learning experiences focused on food justice and sustainability
• Community-driven cooking classes, garden programs, and health workshops
• Empowering people to connect what’s on their plate to what’s happening in the world

What sets us apart is how we help people see the full picture and give them the tools to change it. I’m proud that SLICE 325 doesn’t just feed people. We nourish understanding, spark change, and create a future where wellness is a right, not a luxury.

And this year, we’re taking things to another level with the launch of our new culturally inclusive cookbook for people managing diabetes and hypertension a blend of global flavors, real talk, and health-centered storytelling. It’s more than recipes it’s a celebration of food, resilience, and joy, no matter where you’re starting from.

You can also find our other three books each packed with flavor, culture, and purpose available now on our website.
Whether you find us in a garden, a headset, or a book you’ll walk away fed in more ways than one.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We believe in building together not just reaching out when things are shiny but showing up when it matters. So, if you’re looking to collaborate, support, or just roll your sleeves up with purpose, there’s room at the table.

We’re especially interested in meaningful partnerships the kind where both sides bring something to the plate, whether it’s funding, skills, space, or shared vision. If your organization cares about health equity, sustainability, food justice, or immersive education, let’s talk. We’ve worked with healthcare systems, schools, libraries, Rotary clubs, farmers, and tech companies and we’re always open to new ideas that serve the people.

Donations help us keep our programs accessible, pay teaching artists and community educators, and bring immersive VR learning to places that have never had access to that kind of technology before. Every dollar makes a real impact, and every donor becomes part of the story.

And listen. We’re not above a good barter. Got a service, skill, or resource you think could help the mission? Let’s trade. We’ve bartered for fresh produce, graphic design, space rentals, even help repairing garden beds. We value people’s time, talent, and heart just as much as a checkbook.
You can visit our website to make a donation, browse our books, or reach out directly if you want to build something meaningful together. We’re here for real partnerships not just transactions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://slice325.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slice325/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemecka-mcneil-els-sme-gap-a83941198/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SLICE325