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This month's special edition episode in partnership with the Libro-EPIC Social Initiative is featuring COOK-UP Inc.\\xa0

COOK-UP Inc. is a social enterprise that believes that boosting female entrepreneurs who want to build a thriving business by doing what they love will have a transformative impact, not just for the entrepreneurs, but for our entire community. Female food entrepreneurs still face disproportionately higher risks and barriers to market entry. This imbalance is further amplified for people of color, particularly women. As a result, talented entrepreneurs miss out on the opportunity to contribute their gifts to their community; and the larger community, all of us, lose a chance to experience a new and interesting dish, be inspired by an entrepreneurial journey, and enjoy the benefits of a vibrant and inclusive local food scene.

COOK-UP aims to shift this imbalance. By providing access to affordable commercial kitchen space, a network of support services that sustain growth, access to entrepreneurship coaching and professional services, and access to market opportunities, we are building a space committed to nourishing the growth of the talented entrepreneurs market so that the entire community is transformed for the better.

Trishauna Linton, Co-Founder
The daughter of an immigrant mother, Trishauna learnt early on that business ownership and economic independence, particularly for immigrant women of color, can be life changing. Born and raised in Maypen, Jamaica, she is passionate about fresh and locally grown food and, at any given moment, is ready to climb a tree in pursuit of a fresh mango. In 2017, she spearheaded a one-year project to propel entrepreneurship for refugee women which resulted in the creation of 4 new women-owned businesses in Windsor. The positive energy that Trishauna witnessed from that project, from the confidence and renewed hope among new business owners, overwhelming support from community and corporate partners, and ultimately, community members who said \\u201cwe need more of this!\\u201d, brings her to present day. She brings her conviction for female entrepreneurship and community networking to the role of Co-Founder of Cook-Up Inc.\\xa0

Delna Buhariwalla, Co-Founder
Having lived, worked, and eaten in Bombay, Oman, Minnesota, St. Maarten, Japan, Cameroon, and Canada, Delna comes to Cook-Up Inc. with a belief in the power of food to create deep connection and strengthen the human spirit. With an MA in Communications and Social Justice from the University of Windsor and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, Delna is most at home in grey areas that bring together profit and people. Her passion is exploring the history, the peoples, and the politics in a single dish and, most of all, celebrating the story, the voice, and the creativity of the cook. At Cook-Up Inc., Delna works towards creating an ecosystem that cultivates connections and nourishes human potential through a plate of food.

Links:
www.cookupinc.com
Instagram www.instagram.com/cookupinc\\xa0
Facebook www.facebook.com/cookupinc\\xa0

Social enterprises primarily focus on a social purpose; it is a new lens through which we can view traditional businesses making a positive impact in the world. EPICentre's Social Enterprise 101 Coaching service, sponsored by Libro Credit Union, is aimed to support local community members who are working to start a social enterprise. Through this initiative, you will receive coaching, resources, tools and networks to help you build a thriving social enterprise. Learn more at www.epicentreuwindsor.ca/social-enterprise-101-coaching\\xa0