We were lucky to catch up with Lutunji Abram, MA recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lutunji, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Lutunji’s Palate is a social enterprise built with purpose; fortified with love. Back in 2018, I met with Pastor Jeff Cowmeadow of Calvary Baptist church in South Minneapolis to discuss launching my Charter School for teen parents developed in partnership with my organization, Voices of Effective Change. I brought along my signature peach cobbler. Right in the middle of the middle of the meeting, He stops and says, “You are going to sell this Cobbler at our Farmers Market this Summer. I laughed and reasured that my plan was to work with teen parents; two months later I began selling at the farmers market and the rest is history.
Impact is literally and figuratively baked into our model. We bake with people and community in mind by partnering with a teen program, a young adults program, and a program for men returning to society after incarceration, teaching community members about baking and how to run a business. Most importantly, Lutunji’s Palate offers community members not only a place of employment, but a place to “life skill” together, to discover what they are good at and how to pursue their life purpose. Lutunji’s Palate further provides a space in Minneapolis for much needed community healing after the recent racial tensions and pandemic, and provides the Elliott Park neighborhood with a Black-woman-owned bakery and community gathering spot.
Also, check us out at: Lunds & Byerly’s (Downtown, Northeast, Uptown, Nokomis, Roseville and Golden Valley) North Market, Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex, Handsome Hog and, The Plantbased Popup
Find us at: 1400 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis 55404
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born in St. Paul, Mn and raised in North, Minneapolis where I still live as a homeowner. I am the founder and CEO of Voices of Effective Change, Inc. (a social enterprise), WBENC-Certified Women’s Business with the mission; to send the effective voice to the masses, stand with young parents and their parents using the tool of personal empowerment and community development. I am a gourmet Pastry Chef and the founder of Lutunji’s Palate Bakery & Cafe-”Built with Purpose; Fortified with Love,” located in the Elliot Park community of Minneapolis.
I am a renaissance artist and socially impassioned diversity and inclusion community activist with an eclectic repertoire of works spanning the spectrums of theater, music, education, and civic engagement. I designed my undergrad degree; B.A. in Community Development and a minor Performing Arts Management from Metropolitan State University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University, and a DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative fellowship alumnus. Most recently, I was nominated along with 15 other leaders from around the U.S. to join the REDF Accelerator program, an amazing organization that brings together emerging social enterprise leaders with a focus on lived experiences in overcoming employment barriers. This expereince will enhance Lutunji’s Palates’ efforts with sustainable strategies for growing and creating an inclusive economy.
My passionate blend of arts, education and advocacy has far-reaching impact on varying fronts including being a John Lennon Songwriting finalist, an opening act for the late Tupac Shakur, The Goodie Mob and others, volunteer teaching of poetry to elementary through high school aged students at Metropolitan State University, baking with youth, tireless contributions as a former legislative aide and recurring political campaign volunteer. I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Iota Zeta Zeta Chapter and proud Mother of one son, Aaron.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation within my market is my passion and committment to community. “Built w/purpose; fortified by Love.” I sell delectable treats with a social justice focus. Yes, the gourmet treats are delicious but they’ve a specific anointing if you will, to bring persons together from all walks of life. We life skill together and no we do not always agree but are committed to authentically supporting one another. Because of this reputation, have we had persons “make way” into our sacred space with ulterior motives? Absolutey. Is it annoying? Yes, indeed but as my #1 Niece Soul Beautiful Jess always says, “Auntie, the garbage will take itself out!” Blessed!
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
We keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty with consistent social media outreach, quarterly e-blasts; quarterly because most people say yes to sharing their emails but will unsubscribe to your eblast in a hot second! LOL. We are also known for offering customer highlight photo ops, promotions and specials via our farmer markets, networking at special events and demos at local vendor grocery stores. All of these tecniques work well with our continuous growing clientele.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lutunjispalate.com
- Instagram: lutunjispalate
- Facebook: lutunjispalate
- Linkedin: lutunjispalate
- Twitter: lutunjispalate
- Youtube: lutunjispalate
- Yelp: lutunjispalate
- Other: tiktok: lutunjispalate
Store hour: Find us at: 1400 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis 55404 M-F 7 a.a.-5 pm and Saturday 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
Image Credits
Lutunji’s Palate Poetry Night photo: Kenna Cottman