Meet Carlisa Thomas | Mother, Advocate, Chef, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlisa Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlisa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Purple Ribbon Chef was birthed through my pain from lupus and domestic violence. I started baking to help raise money for my soon-to-be nonprofit for lupus and it reminded me of why I went to school for culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. After I had a rough couple of years struggling with my lupus and being fired from my job because of it I decided to go back to my love for cooking all while leaving my domestic violent marriage. Purple Ribbon Chef allowed me to not only provide for my children but spread awareness for lupus and domestic violence with the awareness ribbon for both being purple I knew this would be much more than just a business but a mission!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a full service catering company located in Chicago Il where we are serving up delicious bites with a taste of advocacy for lupus and domestic violence  Purple Ribbon Chef was birthed due to me being both a lupus and domestic violence survivor. Our ultimate goal as a full service catering company is serving up delicious bites with a taste of advocacy for lupus and domestic violence . We want to continue to do this by not only being a pillar in our community by offer services where elegance meets budget where anyone from any walk of life can afford to put on a amazing event but also through our community events and classes for entrepreneurs, children, and seniors just to name a few this is how I got to where I am today. Lessons I have learned is to continue to believe in yourself and your mission regardless of the support of others or what your bank account may look like. All you need is 1 big break, 1 sell, 1 supporter to take you to the next level!

Carlisa N. Thomas, Mother, Chef, Entrepreneur, lupus & domestic violence survivor
and advocate, Author, Speaker, and philanthropist. After being diagnosed with lupus in
the eighth grade Carlisa became a champion for the cause and began educating herself
and others about the disease. Carlisa had an entrepreneurial spirit at a very young age
and saved her summer job paychecks to open and run a candy store. She has always
used a portion of her earnings to help people with Lupus and their families.
Carlisa went even further to make more of a difference in the lives of Lupus patients by
starting her own organization, Loop-Us, in 2011. Loop-Us mission is to bring this
mysterious disease and those who suffer with it to the forefront and thus provide lupus
patients the support they need to stay healthy and maintain a positive outlook on life.
Carlisa followed in her mother’s footsteps and fell in love with cooking. Her passion for
preparing delicious food led her to Johnson and Wales University in Miami, FL and
Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago, IL.
Carlisa courageously left her marriage where she had suffered years of domestic
violence and joined all of her skills and passions to start her own catering company,
Purple Ribbon Chef, in 2012. With purple being the awareness ribbon for lupus and
domestic violence everything had come full circle.
Carlisa has used her voice and platform to give back to nonprofits throughout the
Chicagoland area like The South Side Community Art Center, Chicago Defender, and
CHA to name a few. She also decided to add small businesses to this list due to her
knowing firsthand how difficult it could be to be a small business owner. Hosting events
where small businesses could gain exposure for their brands yearly through her
tastings, hosting entrepreneur meet ups, as well as sponsoring catering services for
two small businesses each month.
Carlisa dedication to creating unique and delicious food with a “touch of advocacy” has
awarded her amazing opportunities in the culinary industry from working with past White
house Chef’s to serving some of Chicago’s most influential. The Purple Ribbon Chef
has found a unique way to keep the conversation moving forward in a positive light
about lupus and domestic violence through her culinary creations.
In October 2018 Carlisa debuted her first book Purple Tears “A Domestic Violence
Journey”. In Purple Tears A Domestic Violence Journey Carlisa takes you on a journey
through her healing while allowing you to walk through yours.

The book explores the raw truth about living through and coping with the aftermath of
domestic violence. The importance of forgiveness for ones piece of mind. The need for
proper mental health services and support. Owning up to the role you play in taking
control of your life. As well as taking a good look at your past to see what it prepared
and possible didn’t prepare you for.
Shortly after the book release Carlisa launched “The Purple Power Hour”. In the Purple
Power Hour she tackles domestic violence causes and effects while walking through
“Purple Tears A Domestic Violence Journey”. She does this specially tailored for groups
ranging from survivors, their families, pre-teens, teens, employers, to religious
institutions.
Carlisa has dedicated her life to helping others get through this sometimes complicated
thing called LIFE. Carlisa is the definition of a warrior; she has gone through a cocoon
of pain to come out a beautiful butterfly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My Favorite spots in Chicago on the weekend are going to South Side Community Art Center to check out amazing art. Then heading over to Bureau Bar for delicious food and cocktails, Then heading over to watch the Bulls win at the united center. Then end the night at La Luna Chicago for music and cocktails.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be the woman I am today without the love and support of my Mother Earnestine Battles. She is my calm in every storm. She is the air I breathe. The reason I am so loving and giving. The reason I have fought so hard in life is to be my best self. Thank you Mother for showing me a warrior daily and giving me the blueprint to life! Also without my children Journe’ and Cedrick Thomas I wouldn’t even be alive. Going through domestic violence is never easy and many times one’s mind can get very cloudy about what love is and what that looks like. I know that when I didn’t love myself enough to walk away from the hurt I thought of them and decided to live for them even in the moments I couldn’t live for myself.

Website: www.purpleribbonchef.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purple_ribbon_chef/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/purpleribbonchi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purpleribbonchef

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/purple-ribbon-chef-chicago

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYKPNz8xFgl2UWnVasHmTeg