My love for all things tasty began while I was tucked away in restaurant kitchens and back booths after school and in between daycare while my mom waited tables. It was cemented at home in the kitchen helping my dad cook cornbread for the holidays. Since then, I have hosted cooking classes, worked front of house in restaurants, managed food events and empowered community leaders to become food educators. Beyond the plate, my focus extends to breaking down barriers to food access. I have a masters degrees in public health and city planning, and consult with government agencies, nonprofits, and developers. I champion equitable food policies, hold community listening sessions, conduct needs assessments, and design evaluations for farm-to-school programs. I thrive in spaces where community members are at the forefront.