American Faces #109 - Second Chances

American Faces No. 109

South Minneapolis was Chef Jeff’s stompin’ grounds. The rough-woven tapestry of his young life involved street life and drugs. You could say he had it rough. But even in those early days, Chef Jeff was always entrepreneurial. His desire to have a “great product” was always important to him, the only trouble is, that “product” was drugs. But Jeff’s early life on the streets of Minneapolis, and drug addiction, took hold of his life and derailed his dreams  and brought him to a place where he needed professional rehabilitation treatment. 

In culinary school, someone interceded and gave Jeff the time he needed to get his life on track. Maybe it’s better said that he needed a new start. 

Jeff realized that the culinary arts offered a way to create another great product that wasn’t a drug. Becoming a chef has not only given Chef Jeff an outlet for his natural entrepreneurial drive, but also a way to serve others. 

Jeff has an amazing heart for helping others and making a difference in people’s lives, hiring folks to work in his catering business, and by providing savory meals to communities experiencing resource difficulties. 

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Chef Jeff provides the meals at Good in the ‘Hood programs. That’s how we first met. Chef Jeff’s meals are  a true gift. I’ve seen people laugh and share life together as they enjoy Chef Jeff’s food, experiencing the love baked into every bite.

Jeff's mom, like most moms, thinks her son is a true hero, She once said, “You always want to put a cape on.” Little did she know,  Jeff had a super power for creating incredible food, and Jeff’s cape is his apron, which he wears proudly while serving others.

I have written a fair amount about Jeff, but let me also tell you about his daughter, Amber. 

While Jeff was trying to figure out his life in the chaos of those younger years, Amber was there as inspiration for Jeff to move forward. Jeff and Amber spoke of what they have had to work through to get to the point of being able to work together. Jeff’s life and tumultuous life and bad decisions created a lot of hurt for Amber. But all these years later, and with a whole lot of love, they see their relationship is being redeemed as the business Chef Jeff created grows – father and daughter working together. Their Christian faith is inseparable from their business, and it is the guiding force in how they prepare and serve each and every meal.

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True transformation is at the core of the person Chef Jeff has become. That transformation was necessary to restore this father-daughter relationship. Grace fills their relationship, and the heart of their business. Together, they have experienced healing. And they hope the same for others – to provide second chances and to offer a platform for others to launch their own dreams.

Through all of the hard times this father-daughter team has journeyed through, these two are difference makers who have learned to create second chances – to one another, and to others.

Life is not easy. We all need second, third, or even fourth chances. Who needs another chance from you? Be a hero for someone. Forgive when it's hard. Offer grace, no strings attached. You may just open a door, and change a life

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios 

Editing by: Scott Whitman

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