From Soulful Kitchen to Hope 4 the Hungry: Laquisha Jackson’s South Bend Entrepreneurial Journey

Laquisha Jackson’s Entrepreneurial Journey in South Bend

While most children her age were learning to paint or draw, Laquisha Jackson found her creative passion in cooking. At just seven years old, she began helping her grandmother prepare family dinners — an experience that ignited a lifelong love for food. By the age of nine, her grandmother’s kitchen had become her personal playground.

Over the next 19 years, Jackson built a career in the hospitality industry, working as a server, prep cook, and kitchen manager. But she knew she was meant for more. In 2017, driven by her entrepreneurial spirit, Jackson launched her own catering business: Soulful Kitchen, a company offering high-end Southern cuisine in South Bend. Her mission was simple — to celebrate and elevate Southern homestyle cooking.

“Lack of knowledge is a challenge for entrepreneurs who come from adverse situations,” Jackson shared. “When you’re constantly trying to survive, you’re not exposed to the skills needed to grow a business — things like bookkeeping or budgeting.”

To strengthen her skills, Jackson joined the South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (SBEAP), an 11-month bootcamp designed to support disadvantaged entrepreneurs in South Bend. Through mentorship, consulting, and training, she learned business management, finance, and marketing — and her company began to thrive.

The program also helped her connect with other local entrepreneurs, exchange services, and gain new clients. After graduating in 2021, Jackson continued her journey at the SBEAP Collaboration Hub, where she received ongoing technology and financial education support.

“I started realizing I was becoming successful — not just because I was earning money, but because I was achieving the goals I’d set,” Jackson said.

Empowering Others Through Food and Faith

As a mother of eight, Jackson credits her parenting experience for her multitasking and leadership skills.

“Being a mother prepares you for catering — you learn to multitask, plan, and delegate,” she laughed.

Her experience in hospitality also taught her how to adapt recipes to meet special dietary needs — a skill she still uses in her catering business today.

But Jackson’s ambitions didn’t stop at business growth. Remembering her own struggles with food insecurity, she founded Hope 4 the Hungry, a nonprofit organization in South Bend that provides food assistance and empowerment programs to local families.

“There’s no judgment at Hope 4 the Hungry — we hug people in our pantry lines,” Jackson said. “Our goal is not just to feed people but to help them navigate out of poverty.”

Through community food pantries and youth culinary training, Jackson continues to create opportunities for others to learn, grow, and dream. Her story embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship through adversity — transforming personal challenges into lasting community impact.

Recognition and the Road Ahead

In 2023, Jackson was honored with the Michael H. Boyce Award by the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business at Notre Dame — recognizing her leadership and resilience as a South Bend entrepreneur.

“This award is symbolic of our community being seen and served properly,” Jackson said. “It’s for everyone who’s part of this mission.”

Looking forward, Jackson dreams of publishing her own cookbook, appearing on Food Network, and launching a line of cookware and seasonings. Her story — from a struggling single mother to a respected community leader — inspires other entrepreneurs in South Bend to believe in themselves and build something meaningful.

“If you believe in yourself, you can create change,” she said. “Find what you love, and use it to lift others.”