Bringing People Together for Good

I grew up on the eastside of Detroit, surrounded by an incredible melting pot of home cooks. Food was everywhere—rich with history, tradition, and love. By the time I was eight years old, I was already preparing picnics for my friends, carefully laying meals out on a blanket in the dusty playground of Clark Elementary School. Even then, I knew that food had the power to bring people together.

In 2020, I watched as small businesses began thriving across Metro Detroit. Inspired by the energy of Detroit Style brands and the culture of Woodward Avenue, I felt a spark—one that planted the seed for my own adventure in handcrafted soup.

But dreams need a plan. After spending years as a nonprofit leader, I built a multi-year roadmap to transition from my career and launch Local Soup. That’s when I discovered Detroit Kitchen Connect, a program that helps food entrepreneurs like me turn ideas into reality.

With the support of an incredible community of chefs, mentors, and local food advocates, I officially launched Local Soup LLC in 2022!

Behind the scenes, Michael keeps everything moving — delivering soup, loading up the van, showing up at every pop-up and market. His steady presence and support have been part of this journey from the very beginning. Local Soup may have started as my dream, but it’s something we’ve built together, side by side. 💛

Today, Local Soup continues to grow through local partnerships, e-commerce, and face-to-face connections at Metro Detroit’s vibrant markets. Whether I’m serving soup at an outdoor event, sourcing fresh ingredients from local farmers, or sharing a meal with new friends, my mission remains the same: to bring people together through food, and to do good while doing it.