Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, Fresh started remixing southern culinary traditions as soon as she
could walk and hold a whisk. Transplant to the Midwest, they now call Chicago home. An
engineering and physics nerd turned chef, she has professionally studied cooking in Thailand and the U.S. and
has worked in elite kitchens, including Google and Facebook. But their community-based edible activism among
communities of color, elders, and youth is where her heart most deeply resides. They strive to make nutritious food accessible to all. She provides weekly meals for
various non-profits and programs dedicated to increasing food access for the homeless, street youth, and seniors.
Chef Fresh is a full time employee of Growing Power Chicago, the Chef in Residence for Peterson Garden Project's Fearless Food Kitchen and Fresh 82 Kitchen . Outside of cooking, Fresh is a sex positive fat activist, lover of hip hop, tiny homes, riding their bike ridiculously long distances, and growing their own food. They are proud to serve as the board chair for RAD Remedy. They have recently closed their community cafe to focus on more community collaborations , writing, teaching cooking classes, and creating a web-series and pop up dining experiences in Chicago. She is currently fascinated with the role food plays in social justice movements and queer community.