Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream and Treats Featured at the Museum of Ice Cream during Black History Month

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BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Museum of Ice Cream opened at the ‘Shops at Tribune Tower’, located at 435 N. Michigan, in 2022. The Museum is an immersive, interactive experience centered around all things ice cream. There are currently locations in New York City, Austin, Singapore and Shanghai. Throughout the United States locations, there have been more than two millions people that have come through the museums.

The Museum of Ice Cream is accustomed to always wanting to give back and get involved. Each year, Museum of Ice Cream tries to partner with local, community-based activations. Erin Levzow of Museum of Ice Cream said they had been in conversation with Nelson and wanted to serve her ice cream to the people who attend the museum.

“We want this to be about her and the amazing craft that she’s brought to the table and the social conversations that she’s bringing to the table. That’s really how we chose the brand. It is not only aligned with our values and our principals, but it’s about being able to highlight such a wonderful business,” Levzow said.

In each of the Museum of Ice Cream locations, there is a partnership with a local, Black-owned ice cream parlor to serve their ice cream. Levzow said it is about connecting with local, so each one is special to the location.

The Museum of Ice Cream will feature Nelson’s red velvet ice cream, which has chunks of red velvet cake from Buela’s Baked Goods, and Ida’s Mexican hot chocolate ice cream, which is a vegan ice cream.

Nelson was honored when Museum of Ice Cream reached out to her about the collaboration. She thought it was really important for the Black community to be represented in a space like the Museum of Ice Cream. “We’ve been asking for equity, we’ve been asking for representation and it fell in our lap, so of course, I wanted to do it,” Nelson said.

Levzow said having the Museum of Ice Cream on the Mag Mile just made sense, because it is iconic and a tourist destination. Not only are tourists going to visit, it is in the perfect spot for locals to get to it. It is important that people who come to visit Chicago, as well as the local community, are able to come to the museum and enjoy it.

In addition to the collaboration with Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream and Treats, Museum of Ice Cream also is collaborating with jewelry designer Kendra Scott. “This month is about sharing. So, whether we’re sharing the love with our fans and followers, our partners, with Kendra, with Three Wishes, or with Ida, that’s our goal, to spread the love,” Levzow said.

Nelson now has more than 50 flavors of ice cream in rotation. Business is going phenomenally well for her. She also has been instrumental in the Jett Hawkins Act, which bans discrimination for braids, locs and twists in Illinois schools. The legislation was named for her son, Gus “Jett” Hawkins. For Nelson, her journey has always been about impact and creating change for the community and she has been doing her part and influencing others to do it also. It feels good for her to have her work and her efforts recognized.

Nelson admits that as a Black entrepreneur, without the resources, it has been difficult. But, she has been able to create opportunities. She wants to manage and leverage her new relationship with the Museum of Ice Cream for other opportunities. Nelson’s goal is to use the capital and financial resources she gets to do good for Black people. She is always willing to do the work.

“I am here as a representative of the North Lawndale community. This is something that has never been done before. This community has historically been overlooked and underrepresented, so this is my way of paying homage to, and giving respect to a community that deserves that,” Nelson said.

For more information about Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream and Treats, visit https://idasartisan.com. For more information about the Museum of Ice Cream, visit museumoficecream.com.