Voices Of Effective Change, GBC DBA Lutunji's Palate

Lutunji’s Palate Bakery & Cafe is a purpose-driven, social-enterprise company. We are addressing three basic problems: a shortage of Black-woman-owned bakeries and community gathering spots in the Elliott Park neighborhood, the need for community healing in Minneapolis due to recent and recurring racial tensions and the pandemic, and the need for a place to teach and life-skill with our community members. Lutunji’s Palate provides sweet treats and savory eats to the people of the Twin Cities and beyond--like our Harriet’s Escape Peach Cobbler and Gourmet Turkey Pastrami Sandwich, and so much more! Many of our offerings are vegan and gluten free, and are available in our cafe, in retail stores and farmers markets, and online. We are also a workforce development company. We partner with a teen program, a young adults program, and a program for men returning to society after incarceration. We teach these community members about baking and how to run a business--and we “life-skill” together, which means we help each participant discover what they’re good at and how to pursue their life purpose. Our bakery and cafe is a favorite gathering spot. Workers in the neighborhood stop by to pick up pastries or lunch. Others use our space as a remote working location. We have open mic nights. And we host several community events every month! For example, our cafe is used by Representative Ilhan Omar for meetings, by the local City council member for community office hours, and we will be hosting a voter registration event.