UConnectCare employees Kenyetta Reese, Case manager; Sheila Rolle-Smith, Case manager, and Melissa Vinyard, The Recovery Station Coordinator planned the first Soul Food Brunch the beginning of February as a way to bring the community together to share some food and conversation.
“I really just wanted to bring people together, I love this. I love that we can all come together, we can all have a meal, we can all talk to each other, talk to someone that you don’t know, and maybe come away with a business contact or connection,” says Reese.
“I just really want everyone to experience soul food and have a good time. Spread some diversity and inclusion and inform people that racism still really does exist. It’s tough dealing with it and I was struggling for a bit personally, so I felt like I really needed to do something in the community, and we came up with this to just share awareness. You come talk to me about what food is, talk to me about what you need or like, I am excited to be here, I’m excited about the turn out, I just love it.
Fried chicken, greens, waffles, cornbread, grits, shrimp, scrambled eggs and mac and cheese were on the menu Tuesday morning at GoArt. VJ Roll Bell and Cynthia Black worked the kitchen with Melissa Vinyard assisting in keeping the platters filled, and Cory Beach assisting people as they walked in the door.
“Everyone worked together, everyone kind of took the hand of another. We all work at UConnectCare.
“I came up with the idea because I wanted to do something for Black History Month. Then Melissa was like, I am on board, and anything that I asked anyone it was always a yes. I would like to do it again. This is a great space. everybody is very supportive.
