Pictures by Martha Williams
Ebony Austin developed a love of hospitality at an early age, serving to out along with her mom’s takeout area whereas rising up in Chicago. Though he took a detour—first to a company profession at Godiva after which to founding his personal actual property firm—serving others was at all times on his thoughts. “I wished to get again to fundamentals, and the factor that made me happiest was cooking, serving others and being a part of the neighborhood,” she says. “I wished to open a restaurant, however I wished to do it someplace that showcased black excellence.”
Austin packed up and moved to Atlanta and instantly started in search of a restaurant. It took him three years to seek out what he was in search of in Faculty Park. In 2019, he opened Nouveau Bar & Grill, with the following location opening in Jonesboro in 2021.
Nonetheless, service doesn’t finish on the restaurant for the chef-owner. He based Nouveau Creations, a model of stone-ground grits, to offer again to HBCUs. His time at Langston College was formative; A employees member sympathized and helped him by means of his monetary struggles—one thing he by no means forgot and used to gas his personal compassion. A hundred percent of Nouveau Creations’ gross sales help HBCU school college students with every little thing from scholarships to materials objects like fridges and meals. The road is now accessible on-line in addition to at greater than 45 Meals Lion areas.
Her philanthropy continues to encourage others and is a serious a part of her every day life. “Each staff member at Nouveau is aware of {that a} sale is a chance to place one other youngster by means of school or pay for his or her meal plan,” she says. Along with donating to HBCUs, Austin has helped households have fun the vacation with hundreds of free Thanksgiving meals and high-ticket presents like online game consoles, laptops and even two totally furnished townhomes for households in want. “I attempt to provide you with alternatives that I feel folks will keep in mind,” she says. “The place they will say, hey, anyone gave me an opportunity. Somebody gave me a head begin.”
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