Breaking Barriers, Building Solutions

How Innovation is Changing the Future of Food Access

Eshelman Innovation believes that great ideas can come from anywhere—and that by investing in underrepresented innovators, we can create meaningful solutions for some of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

One of those initiatives, PowerUp, focuses on bridging gaps in food insecurity, nutrition, and healthcare access. Through a partnership with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), the nation’s largest HBCU, PowerUp is tackling food insecurity in Black communities by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Ashlie Thomas, an NC A&T alumna, gardener, advocate, and tech entrepreneur, is developing Terralink, an AI-driven platform designed to connect food production and distribution with nutrition education. “I want to see people have access to the foods they need, not just to survive, but to thrive!” shares Thomas.

Eshelman Innovation partnered with Blueline to bring this initiative to life through a documentary-style video that captures the impact of PowerUp and the people leading it. Our goal was to visually reflect Eshelman Innovation’s collaborative and mission-driven approach while keeping the focus on the changemakers themselves.

This project was part of a broader video series we created to highlight Eshelman Innovation’s work in advancing entrepreneurial solutions for public health challenges—from food insecurity to vaccines, oncology, and addiction treatment. Each story serves as a reminder that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it thrives through collaboration, investment, and the power of storytelling.

As PowerUp is being featured this month in recognition of Black History Month, we’re honored to have played a role in amplifying these voices and highlighting the solutions emerging from historically underrepresented communities.

A Future Built on Access and Innovation

Access to healthy food is more than a necessity—it’s a foundation for stronger communities, better health, and greater opportunities. The innovators behind PowerUp prove that with the right resources, solutions can be built by the communities most impacted, for the communities that need them most.

At Blueline, we’re grateful for the opportunity to help tell these stories—stories that highlight the people making a difference and the impact they’re creating.

With gratitude,​The Blueline Team

P.S. Stories have the power to shift perspectives and drive meaningful change. If you have a story to tell, we’d love to help bring it to life. Visit us or reply to this email so we can learn more.