SEATTLE—Elevate, the newest initiative of Streamate that recognizes individuals in or adjacent to the adult industry who are working to make a positive impact within their community, has concluded its second month.
Each "Community Partner" will be featured on Elevate's channels for a one-month period to bring awareness to their respective causes while sharing candid stories, resources, and more with the Elevate community. Additionally, partners will have an opportunity to collaborate with the Elevate team to create original content for its channels and/or stream live broadcasts onto the Streamate Network throughout the month.
Elevate launched its series of monthly partnerships on Sep. 1, 2022, beginning with veteran performer powerhouse, BIPOC Adult Industry Collective co-founder and adult talent activist, Daisy Ducati.
In its second month (October 2022), Elevate shifted the spotlight to Portland, Oregon-based chef and founder of Meals 4 Heels, Nikeisah Newton.
A representative said, "Meals 4 Heels is the world's only late-night meal delivery service that caters to sex workers and sex-positive clientele. Nikeisah has proudly stepped in to answer the call for nutritious, punctual, and professional food delivery service in an area known as the 'strip club capital of America.' In addition to healthy, late-night meal deliveries for dancers (and those engaged in other forms of sex work) who make up the city of Portland’s fifty-plus brick-and-mortar strip clubs, Nikeisah and her team have also been present on the front lines at trans marches, pride events, Black Lives Matter protests and food initiatives for the homeless."
The concept of Meals 4 Heels was inspired by the founder’s ex-partner, who worked as a dancer at a local club. Since her partner’s shifts often spanned into the late-evening hours, Newton put her professional cooking skills to work by preparing fresh, homemade meals and bringing them to her partner on-site. In doing so, Newton soon became aware of the logistical hurdles that dancers faced in trying to access healthy, late-night sustenance that wouldn’t leave them feeling bogged down the next day. Since Meals 4 Heels’ launch in 2019, Newton and her 90 percent LGBTQ+ staff have taken pride in providing Portland’s diverse population of sex workers and sex-positive clientele with the respectful service and delicious menu options they deserve.
In addition to a video Q&A that dug deep into the "why" behind Newton's work, she shared additional tips and resources for the Elevate community on topics such as "mutual aid groups," "how to be a supportive partner of a sex worker," and "how to support sex workers online," among others.
Declared Newton, "Meals 4 Heels is excited to be recognized as a part of this pioneering union with Streamate’s Elevate partnership. As chef and owner of Meals 4 Heels, I’m pleased to have this opportunity to work with one of the largest live-streaming networks, and to put a spotlight on our grassroots small business that stands in allyship of the sex working community!"
Thirteen-year industry veteran and newly-appointed director of community relations for Streamate (North America), as well as creator of Elevate, Vanessa Eve, echoed Newton’s sentiments.
Stated Eve, "The Elevate team is incredibly grateful to Nikeisah for allowing us to share the story and mission behind her sex worker-focused food delivery service, Meals 4 Heels. The past month has been a valuable opportunity to learn more about Nikeisah, a private citizen who recognized a need within her community and decided to take action. Nikeisah’s story is an excellent example of how sex worker allies and civilians (individuals who aren’t engaged in adult work) alike can help to destigmatize sex work by exercising inclusive practices that normalize and uplift sex workers as rightful members of our everyday communities."
Learn more about Elevate Community Partner, Newton, in her exclusive interview here.
Visit meals4heels.com for more information about the services offered.
Follow @meals4heels on Instagram and Twitter.
Follow Elevate, presented by the Streamate Network, at @beyondsexwork on Instagram and Twitter.
