The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias – Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – 2024Ep08

Pictured above – Anthony Advincula, National Communications Director (far left), and Brandon Arnold, New Orleans Community Organizer, of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, along with two members of the New Orleans hospitality industry who bravely shared their stories of sexual assault and violence on the job at a recent press conference at We Dat’s Chicken and Shrimp in downtown NOLA.

This time on The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we talk with Anthony Advincula, National Communications Director, and Brandon Arnold, Community Organizer for New Orleans, of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, aka ROC United. We discuss this national organization that advocates for members of the hospitality industry. Among other initiatives of theirs we cover; we highlight their effort to pilot a mandatory training on sexual harassment and violence in the industry here in New Orleans.

Carrying on from our previous installment, where we talked with Tammera Catchings of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation on their policy initiative designed to address critical issues for the bar industry, we continue in a similar vein. Anthony and Brandon let us know about the history of ROC United and the work they do to advocate for the broader hospitality industry. This includes pay, the sub-minimum wage, and the need for industry members to not only make a living wage, but a “dignity wage.” We talk about many of the issues and threats that industry members face on the job and in life.

Pictured above from left – Bryan Dias of The NOLADrinks Show, Anthony Advincula, National Communications Director, and Brandon Arnold, New Orleans Community Organizer, of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United at We Dat’s Chicken and Shrimp in downtown NOLA.

Importantly, we highlight ROC United’s current initiative being piloted in New Orleans addressing sexual harassment and violence in the hospitality industry. We discuss the connected issues as well as their attempt to launch mandatory training for the industry, including owners and managers, designed to curb the problem.

In fact, the interview took place at We Dat’s Chicken & Shrimp (thanks to them for hosting!) immediately after their press conference announcing the concept and the push to work with the City of New Orleans to make it happen. This also comes on the heels of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s annual policy committee meeting (and our previous show) where Anthony and Brandon presented.

If you are an industry member or someone who cares about it, this is an important show for you to catch!

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan

Connect –

Restaurants Opportunities Centers United – Website – Instagram – Facebook

Rock United – NOLA – Website – Instagram – Facebook

We Dat’s Chicken & Shrimp – Website – Instagram

Tales of the Cocktail – Website – Instagram – Facebook