Status Spotlight: Kendra Hazel and Green Things Work — DC's Plant-Based Food Creator

The Status Spotlight series has always been about shining light on the people in the Status Apparel DC community who are building something real. In June 2017, we featured Kendra Hazel — a Washington, DC native, Florida A&M University graduate, and the creator of Green Things Work, a plant-based food brand that turned a school assignment into a thriving community presence. Her story is still as inspiring today as it was the day we first told it.

Meet Kendra Hazel: The Creator Behind Green Things Work

It's truly amazing what ideas and projects begin as jokes, small talk, or — in Kendra's case — a school assignment. What started as a business plan for her Principles & Management course at Florida A&M University blossomed into a brand that made a real name for itself in the DC area.

Green Things Work is a plant-based, holistic food brand. Kendra made clean eating her lifestyle — being vegan herself — and documented her spectacular creations on social media. She has made food fun, healthy, and nutritious, taking familiar meals and transforming them into better versions. Plant-based tacos, vegan spring rolls, vegan steak and cheese, crab cake sandwiches — if you could think of your favorite non-vegan meal, Kendra could transform it.

From a Class Assignment to a Community Brand

Once people started asking Kendra if she did professional events, it seemed impossible not to build Green Things Work into something more. She participated in several events where she sold her delicious meals and continued trying new and exciting food combinations — constantly challenging the myth that vegan dishes will lack flavor or be unfulfilling.

Kendra's vision for Green Things Work extended beyond food prep: she hoped to grow it into a well-established business that documented travel experiences through blogging, created meaningful documentaries, and continued taking creative ideas and bringing them to life through food.

Why Status Apparel DC Celebrates Creators Like Kendra

Status Apparel DC has always been more than apparel — it's a platform for community. From the Black Market Creatives Showcase to the Do Good By Your People initiative, the brand has consistently created space for Black creatives and entrepreneurs in Washington, DC and the DMV to be seen and celebrated. Kendra Hazel represents exactly the spirit the Status Spotlight was built to honor: a young Black woman turning a vision into reality.

The Black Market Creatives Showcase — founded by Status Apparel DC's Gabriel Massalley — has been creating this kind of platform since 2016, and was recognized as a 2024 Shop Small Neighborhood Champion. Creators like Kendra are the reason these spaces matter.

Support Black Creatives — And Rep Your Status

The same energy that drives Green Things Work — building something with purpose, community, and authenticity — is the same energy at the heart of Status Apparel DC. If you're someone who lives with intention and shows up for your community, these pieces were made for you.

• Daily Motivation Series — apparel built for people who live with purpose. Shop at statusappareldc.com/daily-motivation-series

• Status T-Shirts — clean, premium DC streetwear tees. Shop at statusappareldc.com/shop

• Status Socks — comfortable, stylish, community-approved. Shop at statusappareldc.com/shop

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Green Things Work?

Green Things Work is a plant-based, holistic food brand created by Kendra Hazel, a Washington, DC native and Florida A&M University graduate. The brand specializes in creative vegan and plant-based dishes — from tacos and spring rolls to sandwiches — making clean eating flavorful, fun, and accessible.

What is the Status Spotlight series?

The Status Spotlight was a blog series launched by Status Apparel DC in 2017 to highlight talented Black creatives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Each feature told the story of someone building something meaningful — aligned with the brand's belief that true status is defined by character, community, and purpose.

What is Status Apparel DC?

Status Apparel DC is a Black-owned lifestyle apparel brand based in Washington, DC, founded by Gabriel Massalley. The brand designs premium streetwear — hoodies, tees, socks, and hats — with messages rooted in community and personal growth. "Status: It's a Way of Life." Explore the brand at statusappareldc.com.

Read more Status Spotlight stories on the Status Apparel DC blog and shop the latest collection at statusappareldc.com/shop.