Who is
Ma Michele?
An entrepreneur. A master chef. An innovator. A community advocate.
The producer & creator of The Culture Mix Radio.
A life-changing choice
When Michele Wilson was 50 years old, she made what some would consider a drastic decision. And it changed her life for the better.
“I left Corporate America in 2010, and I never looked back. I didn’t want to die in a cubicle. I wanted to pursue my passion and turn it into purpose."
Having always harbored a love of cooking and food; Michele went to culinary school.
“I've had a passion for cooking ever since I was a kid and my love for community is just as important. I’ve come to believe that food is a vehicle to use to connect with the community.”
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She opened Ma Michele’s Cafe and quickly became a soul food staple in the Midlothian-Richmond area. Michele’s story circulated and began to make headlines for more reasons than her five-star catfish dinners.
"Food is a vehicle to connect with the community."
-Michele Wilson
“I shared with others who were micro-business or small business owners. I was asked to speak at certain venues and events. I guess people thought it was interesting how I was an older person who threw away corporate America to pursue this and I sustained myself.”
Through all of this, Michele found that she had another calling blossoming.
“Believe it or not, probably more important than cooking. And cooking is very important to me – it's an extension of love and family."
"But I noticed that people out here needed direction and needed to sit up under somebody and learn and figure out what their purpose was. So I became a mentor.”
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Michele built her mentoring program off the foundation of Ma Michele's Cafe.
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Hosting up-and-coming chefs at pop-up events and providing services via Minty's Catering, Michele continues to influence the future of food-makers, giving them opportunities to learn, try, fail, succeed and grow.​ The brand "Ma Michele's & Co." encompasses her passion for food and cooking and mentoring.
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"Opening my café and starting my brand has been a combination of magic, sweat, tears, mishaps, and successes daily but it’s never been a mistake. It's realizing a dream and committing to my passion."
A Flavorful Phenomenon: the
Culture Mix Radio
The Culture Mix Radio evolved from what was started as The Culture Mix Experiment, to reach the radio and digital audiences. Michele began The Culture Mix Experiment, a TV show where food, fun and culture mix. The show has been a way for Michele to spotlight different chefs with much deserved airtime, support the community and put minority chefs at the forefront. Culture Mix Experiment aired on Taste on TV and the Roku Channel.
“I have a lot of ideas and I'm a go-getter. When you surround yourself with people who are imaginative and tenacious, it brings out the best. I love doing Culture Mix. People learn something new each episode to bring into their own kitchens."