Join WWRC member Cecka Parks of Mpls Meat Collective alongside Lachelle Cunningham of City Food Studio for a morning of connection and culinary learning in the heart of South Minneapolis!
We’ll get to tour the kitchen and production space, watch a chicken breakdown demo and hear how these two visionary ladies are dedicated to empowering local economy and community in their neighborhood and beyond!
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Cecka (Check-a) Parks has spent the last two decades living and working in the food scene in Minneapolis. Through her work as a head-butcher at a local coop, Cecka developed a passion for local and humanely-raised meat. She built relationships with local farmers and meat producers and came to understand the need for honest, transparent conversations about meat.
In the summer of 2022, Cecka started the Minneapolis Meat Collective and continues to build and grow the business. MMC offers a range of whole animal breakdown classes meant to meet people where they are. Regardless of whether you're a skilled butcher looking to hone your trade or someone who has never picked up a knife, you will find a great class to match your skills and knowledge. You can find her on IG @meat_musings or www.mplsmeatcollective.com.
With almost 15 years of culinary excellence, Lachelle Cunningham's journey began with the launch of Chelles’ Kitchen in 2012. She quickly gained recognition as the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe (2015) in North Minneapolis, earning accolades for her innovative cuisine and impactful social justice initiatives. Her culinary ventures have sparked change, inspiring a future where food education and empowerment take center stage.
In 2018, Chef Lachelle launched Healthy Roots Institute (HRI) for food education, culinary training, and food business support. At The Good Acre (TGA), she led transformative farm-to-school training sessions, and created VoCul—a unique culinary program in 2020. VoCul equips aspiring chefs with skills for scratch cooking, bridging gaps and offering informative and hands-on experience.
In early 2023, Chef Lachelle's influence expanded further with the acquisition of City Food Studio—a shared-use commercial kitchen located in the heart of George Floyd Square. This endeavor provides Twin Cities culinary entrepreneurs with a certified food-safe facility to craft and sell their creations, solidifying Lachelle's commitment to empowering local talent.
Lachelle's dedication fosters community investment, sustainability, and empowerment. Explore her story of culinary excellence and social impact at www.lachellecunningham.com.
In this eye-opening meeting, we will get a tour of the kitchen and production space as well as talk about what is happening in George Floyd Square. We will hear from Cecka about Minneapolis Meat Collective, watch a Chicken Breakdown Demo and hear from Lachelle about her culinary journey in Minneapolis through the years. Cecka and Lachelle hope to bring you all into their neighborhood and show you how dedicated they are to empowering local economies and communities!
Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot for this inspiring meeting!
Location: 3722 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Parking: Free parking is available in the lot south of the building