BACKING COMMUNITY CAFÉS IN BRIXTON AND ‘REBEL IN THE KITCHEN’ IN MEXICO As part of the Dine Local program, run by the International Downtown Association and Brixton BID, and supported by American Express, 10 independent Brixton restaurants received £5,000 grants to make critical improvements to drive their business forward. Among the recipients is Lounge Brixton, which is supporting local artists by expanding its live performance space; Papa’s Café, a park-based community cafe serving local residents; and family-run restaurant Banh Banh Café, that plans to use the grant money to install new kitchen equipment. In March 2022, the IDA and the Placemaking México Foundation, supported by American Express, announced ten restaurants in Mexico that would receive the equivalent of $7,500 in Mexican pesos for adjustments and renovations to support their operations as part of the Backing International Small Restaurants program. One of the recipients is Doña Vero. Located at Colonia La Roma Sur, the eponymously named restaurant is a Mexican kitchen concept that combines pre-Hispanic and traditional flavors together with exotic and nutritional ingredients. The restaurant, run by its namesake, brings inclusion to gastronomy, running special tastings for people with disabilities and supporting local causes and businesses. INTRODUCTION PROMOTING DE&I ADVANCING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS BUILDING FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE OUR ESG GOVERNANCE & OPERATING RESPONSIBLY SUPPORTING DATA OUR COMMITMENT TO ESG 71