We recently connected with Melissa Muganzo and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
My name is Melissa Muganzo and I am a proud Queer Black (Kenyan/West-Indian) entertainer and business owner. I began my journey as an entertainer, dancer, actor, showrunner, and filmmaker at the age of eight (8) years old through the performing arts program at my local church. By the age of 13 I was asked to become one of three (3) lead choreographers of my dance company and transitioned into production and leadership alongside my two co-choreographers. This led me to launch a traveling dance company curated for 16-25 transitional aged youth which affirmed my love for expressive communication through performing and visual arts and confirmed my career goal(s) of one day being a famous entertainer and actress.
During my college years, I oversaw a traveling gospel trio called “perfect pitch” and became the first Black hip-hop dance teacher for the university and city of Davis, California. This amplified my reach in the community and inspired me to begin acting in local theatrical plays. After graduating college and being admitted into graduate school, I started auditioning for commercial and theatrical roles that allowed me to use my love for Black empowerment and Queer liberation and verbally showcase my advocacy for rights, liberties, and protections for BIQTPOC folks.
Now, as an emerging media entertainer and entrepreneur, Muganzo Entertainment has produced a feature length documentary and co-hosted two seasons of an economic empowerment podcast, all in the name of entertainment and activism on behalf of BIQTPOC.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Melissa Muganzo serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Muganzo Entertainment and Founder of Mindy’s Kitchen of California. Melissa launched Muganzo Entertainment in 2020 out of a desire to bring more Black excellence to the Northern California screen and be a resource in ensuring the Black dreams never die. Melissa is a graduate of UC Davis (2011) and Sac State (2013) and received her professional certification in Entrepreneurship in 2018. Her company’s inaugural film entitled “The Big Hysto: A Black Womb Revolution” addresses the present-day medical racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobic practices embedded into the medical industry due to it’s historical foundations and founder. It was through Melissa’s journey of healing through wellness practices and a vegan diet that led her to launch her film and birth Mindy’s Kitchen.
Mindy’s Kitchen was founded in January 2023 and serves as a dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free salad food line in honor of the CEO’s mother Melinda “Mindy: Muganzo, her personal plant-based journey that aided the CEO in surviving her fibroid journey, and her mother “Mindy” losing 110 lbs. Mindy’s Kitchen provides fresh and full meal shakable salads for customers on the go seeking healthy, plant based options with minimal preparation.
Outside of these two ventures, during her leisure time, Melissa loves to (re)watch 90’s sitcoms and laugh at internet memes and gifs that she shares with her friends in an annoying abundance.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Womb holders are not supposed to cramp. Cramping in the uterus or womb is a sign of hormonal dysregulation or dysfunction that needs attention. However, due to capitalism and the billion dollar medical industry, society is told to purchase medicine or products to reduce or eliminate the cramp instead of healing themselves of cramps all together.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Immigrant and LGBTQ liberation in it’s most inclusive and highest form.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.muganozentertainment.com / www.mindyskitchen.com
- Instagram: @muganzoentertainment / @mindyskitchen_ca
- Facebook: Mindy’s Kitchen of California
- Linkedin: @muganzoentertainment / @mindyskitchenofcalifornia
- Twitter: @melissa_muganzo / @mindyskitchen_ca
Image Credits
Credits: Kenny G Photography Email kenneth.g.mcrae@gmail.com