07/19/2026
July 17, 2020.
I came across this post today and it reminded me how far this journey has come.
Back then, the goal wasn’t to be viral. It wasn’t to chase trends or convince everyone to eat vegan. The goal was simply to build something that didn’t exist. To create opportunities. To represent my city in a positive way. To prove that a Black owned vegan business from Compton could stand on its own.
Looking back, there are a lot of things I could focus on. The food truck. The garden. The interviews. The features. The long nights. The mistakes. The wins. The losses. The people who believed in me. The people who didn’t.
But if I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that you can’t build your future by living in your past.
Every chapter had a purpose. The apartment kitchen. The food truck. Catering. Meal preps. Pop ups. Every customer who took a chance on me. Every setback that forced me to figure it out. Every obstacle that made me become a better entrepreneur.
Today, Compton Vegan looks different than it did in 2020, but the mission hasn’t changed. I’m still trying to change the narrative around vegan food. I’m still trying to show people that great food doesn’t need meat to be memorable. I’m still trying to build something my sons can one day be proud of.
Legacy isn’t about one viral video or one successful year. It’s about showing up when nobody is watching. It’s about staying committed when it would’ve been easier to quit. It’s about planting seeds today that you may never personally benefit from.
I don’t know exactly where this journey ends, but I know I’m nowhere near finished.
Here’s to the next chapter.
Thank you to everyone who’s been rocking with Compton Vegan since day one, and thank you to everyone who’s just now discovering us.
We’re still building. 🌱🖤
