We were lucky to catch up with Safiya-Mae Lewis and Monique Proctor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Safiya-Mae Lewis and Monique Proctor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Our mission is to be a go-to trusted resource for women entering motherhood by providing them with a blueprint for what a pre & postpartum, healthy lifestyle should look like. We foster community through tailored content, carefully crafted meals, products & services on how to take care of the new mother right from the start. We aim to cultivate a supportive community and provide holistic solutions that enable mothers, babies, and children to thrive, physically, mentally and emotionally.
As mothers ourselves and experiencing this journey together (our babies are 4 weeks apart) we realised that there was a desperate need for a tribe like ethos behind raising our children, nurturing and supporting ourselves through the various emotional and physical changes motherhood brings. Having our mothers step in to nurture and feed us when our babies were born, highlighted just how many people around us in Los Angeles did not have that option with their families often living on another coast. So Chébona hopes to be that helping hand you need right from the start.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Safiya-Mae: My background is in the entertainment industry working in global record companies around the world. Seeing and being a part of some incredible artists journey’s was rewarding as well as motivation to follow some of my own passions. After over a decade in music, I entered the world of events as an Events Producer. Travelling the world creating and organizing simulations, community events, and major international programs with global clients such as Diageo, ExxonMobil, Mars, SAB Miller & UBS to name only a few. I love to exceed the expectations of others from behind the scenes. Tenacity should be my middle name, having that wow moment in the smallest or biggest things. I always put myself in the shoes of the consumer to ensure they leave with an experience they have to share with others.
Monique Proctor: For nearly a decade and a half my passions in the music and entertainment industry have afforded me a lifestyle which traversed the globe. My profession as DJ/Producer, “Smiles Davis”, has taken me to 3 continents, 15 countries and 32 states, for which I am forever grateful. I took everything I learned from the hospitality industry during these travels and used it as inspiration to start a series in my living room which featured emerging artist playing stripped down acoustic versions of their sets. In this series, I would make food, serve custom cocktails and generally cosplay the hostess with the mostest. During this time I discovered my affinity to feed and take care of my friends. Chébona was born many years later after I gave birth to my first child. Safiya and I met at a time in our lives where our journey into motherhood collided. Our desire is to utilize our resources and collective backgrounds to provide new moms, children and families with thoughtful nutritional meals, guidance, and community as well.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
Safiya-Mae: I met Monique through her partner who has been a dear friend of mine, pretty much family for over 20 years, he asked me if I’d show her how to make Jamaican rice & peas, and our affinity for food, family and nurturing through nourishing blossomed into us becoming business partners at Chébona
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Recently for one of our clients we had a VIP guest who the evening before arrival sent an extensive list of dietary restrictions that did not align with our approved menu for that week. We are diligent with ensuring we have a profile for each guest, so meals can be tailor-made when required as we also begin our prep 48hrs prior to delivery, which is essential for our bone broths. We had to pivot immediately to create a new menu, which included last minute runs to several grocery stores and back to our kitchen to begin prep to ensure we could deliver on time the next day. Dinner was due to be served at 6.00pm, we were still cooking at 3.45pm but managed to pack, deliver and serve ahead of schedule.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chebona.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chebonamama/
