MINNEAPOLIS — Inside a red brick building on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis, you can find Louis Hunter performing small culinary miracles every day. He is a one-man band in the kitchen at Trio Plant Based, pumping out order after order as he works to bless his community.
"I know what God had me going towards. I want to touch the bases of the Black community, of the urban community," Hunter says.
Louis' story is one of redemption. Back in 2016, Louis' cousin Philando Castile was just killed by a police officer.
"I was attending a protest, woke up the next day and was facing 20 years in prison."
Louis was accused of throwing objects at police in the wake of Castile's death. He says miraculously, with God and the community, more than 18 thousand people stepped up to sign a petition and the charges against him were dropped. Looking to make the most of his second chance, Louis moved to start a business that would help his people... in his own way.
"I want my community to know how they loved on me, I want to love back on them."
Hunter started researching vegan cuisine and ways he could use it to combat health disparities in the Black community. Eventually, he had a revelation: How about changing the way soul food is served and eaten?
"As black people, we sit around and pray over food that is killing us," Hunter shared. "A light popped on in my head like "oh….we could do something about this.""
That's how Trio was born in 2018. The venture started with Sarah and Dan Woodcock, a couple he met during the protests. Six years later he's the sole proprietor of the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minnesota.
"[People} be like, "Wait, this is vegan?" and I'll be like "Yes!"
His restaurant has gained national attention and is changing minds every day about the possibilities of healthier eating.
"Knowing that my family (has) seen diabetes, high blood pressure, I'm telling them these are things that can help that. But you have to try it."
For Louis, it's a divine mission - providing both Soul Food and food for the soul.
"We want to save lives now, and this is a way to save so many lives."
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