My story begins and will end with Legacy…

I was born into hospitality.

My Mother’s Legacy

My mother’s side of the family was a product of the Great Migration to the north; they were entrepreneurial pioneers who established one of the first Black-owned restaurants and taxicab services in Evanston, Illinois (S&W Restaurant and Better Cab, which was later known as Best Taxi). My great-grandmother, “Big Mama” Cordelia Clark, transformed their living room into a dining hall and prepared meals for the public in the family kitchen. Her husband, Rabe, operated the taxi dispatch from an alcove on the side of the restaurant.

Back when Black folks didn’t have much, my great-grandparents beat the odds and chose service. I’m still in awe of the perseverance and grit they must have had to own not one but two small, thriving businesses out of their modest home.

My grandmother, Lucille (Big Mama’s daughter), bore 11 children. The elder girls all became masters in the kitchen, getting their start with meal prep in Big Mama’s restaurant. The boys worked alongside my great-grandfather servicing the taxicabs. “Granny Tucker,” as we affectionately called my grandmother, was always prepared to feed the hungriest of armies. She was especially known for making tens of sweet potato pies at a time. I remember, as a child, seeing the pies all lined up in the living room, cooling down on the coffee table…and on the dining room table…and on the kitchen counter. So many pies. As the beloved mother of 11 children, making food and love stretch was Lucille’s gift.

My Father’s Legacy

After long nights working as a certified nurse, my paternal grandmother (Royetta Rose) worked a second job with a housekeeping agency during the daytime, cleaning the homes of well-to-do White families in 1950s and 60s Chicago. As a single mother back then, she did what she had to do…to provide for her young son, Darryl. “Granny Dukakis,” as I called her (it’s a long story), was a beautiful bright light. She was extremely funny, spiritually present, a talented vocalist, and very resourceful. She married Charles Justice and together they relocated to the south to start a new life.

After settling in Marietta, Georgia, Granny Royetta and Poppa Charlie took a risk — they established their own professional cleaning service, Sunshine Janitorial. By the time they retired, Sunshine had several employees, a large portfolio of office buildings and homes, and a rich legacy of love and hard work to leave behind to my sisters and me.

I was raised on service.

That same spirit of hospitality was passed down to my own mother and father, Carlotta (daughter of Lucille) and Darryl (son of Royetta). My parents became small business owners as well — my mother owning and operating her own catering company (food service, just like “Big Mama”), and my father owning and operating his own cleaning company (janitorial service, just like Royetta). It’s worth noting that while my mom and dad were running their own service companies, they continued to work full-time jobs in public education and transportation, respectively.

From the age of 4 years old, I watched and learned from my parents. The legacy unfolded right before my eyes. I was thrilled to help them manage so many moving parts, in a fervent effort to serve others and remembering to never “half do” the job.

As a teenager, I chose the service industry, working in restaurants, hotels, concessions, and catering. Later, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from The Hotel School at Cornell University.

In the last 15 years, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands in hospitality, food management, and social impact including Aramark, Best Western, Chicago Public Schools, Eat.Learn.Play by Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Marriott, and Wynn Resorts. I’ve presented at over 20 industry conferences as a panelist and workshop facilitator. And I’ve partnered with phenomenal creative agencies — like Dentsu Mcgarrybowen, 510media, JFM Unlimited, Joyistry, and Mind Control Industries — to tell dynamic stories that honor culture and make change.

It’s been over 30 years since I folded my first napkin. One thing I know for sure is that hospitality is about people — those we serve and those who serve — and my passion is curating memorable moments that honor and inspire the human connection between them. It’s what lights me up inside. It’s my purpose. It’s what I was born and raised to do.