We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Stopera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
PF Cafe offers the Northrup King Building artists and guests vibrant, nutritious, and artistically inspired dishes from international cuisines with vegan and gluten-free options, coffee, Thai tea, smoothies, and pastries. PF Cafe nourishes our creative community in a welcoming space for gathering at Public Functionary. Executive Chef Shea Maze and Pastry Chef Yon Hailu are both artists and chefs who intentionally create beautiful and delicious foods for the community. They curate a seasonal menu with weekly specials based on events and availability of produce from the Lor Family Farm.
The PF Cafe mission is to serve delicious food, provide employment opportunities to artists and creatives and support vendor collaborators from the community.
We proudly partner with the Lor Family Farm, Misfit Coffee, BLNCD Naturals, Gus Dean Coffee, BlackBerry Bakery, Konjo Treats, and Pillsbury House Theatre.
Profits from PF Cafe support programming at Public Functionary.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a mixed race, Chinese American, award winning writer, director, photographer, producer and educator based in Minneapolis. A self taught artist, I began my career working with individuals experiencing homelessness, children and families, and foster care youth, as well as in program development and affordable housing development. I began documenting protests after the recession in 2008. My photos and films helped elevate narratives not seen in the mainstream media, and catalyzed my passion for documentary and narrative storytelling. My background in social work and community organizing, and my relationships across communities make collaboration essential to my work, whether in creative projects such as filmmaking, or making space for connection, such as producing community events or program development. Working in community, creating connections, and sharing stories with each other is what drives my work.
In 2020 I became the Director of Community Programming at Public Functionary, an arts non profit supporting the expression of art and culture through studios, galleries, and performance space — pouring into an abundant community of practice, where possibility is seen in relationship to each other. Shortly after I developed PF Cafe in partnership with Public Functionary to nourish the community, create jobs, and build the ecosystem of creative opportunities even further.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Twenty years ago my sister passed away, and 6 years ago my father died. Being in an already small, immigrant family, my mother has showed me how to live with resilience. I took the grief I experienced and channeled it into love by becoming a social worker. This led me to build community and chosen family. In doing so I cultivated a network of artists and people who now are a part of the creative ecosystem at Public Functionary. Along the way I have made art on the topic of grief, from a photography exhibit honoring my sister’s life, to my short film, serenity, which is the true story of my family that has won two awards during it’s festival tour.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
After experiencing addiction in my family, I went to school to become a social worker and supported individuals and families with mental and chemical health issues. During this time I began organizing with community around racial and economic justice, and started to document protests. I taught myself how to tell stories through photo and film, and in doing so began a transition in my career. Now I continue to use my skills, experience and relationships as a social worker and community organizer in my work as an artist and cultural organizer. Although this was a significant pivot in my career, I integrate all I have done into my work every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: ryanstopera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_stopera/
- Facebook: @ryan_stopera
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-stopera-msw-mba-67529a64/
- Twitter: @ryan_stopera
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pf-cafe-and-lounge-minneapolis
- Other: https://publicfunctionary.org/cafe