Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Bryce Fluellen of Arthur Lee Consulting & Advisory Is Helping To Change Our World
Don’t look to other people to validate your VISION. Your ideas and dreams are just that, YOURS. Most people will not see or understand your vision, because they don’t truly understand the full extent of your talent, passion and desires. Don’t waste time trying to get everyone onboard.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryce Fluellen.
Bryce Fluellen has fought for food justice and social equity for more than 20 years, developing and implementing strategic programs at Everytable, American Heart Association, Starbucks, and Magic Johnson Enterprises. He is the President & Co-Founder of Arthur Lee Consulting & Advisory, a social-impact enterprise that collaborates with food entrepreneurs and organizations of color to increase their social equity, impact and access to flexible, catalytic capital. He is also a classically trained chef and operated a Los Angeles full-service catering company, Yams Catering, where he created partnerships with health-focused organizations to support Black and Brown communities with healthy eating and nutrition. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 most influential restaurant leaders by the NRN Power List and has been a featured subject matter expert at the Culinary Institute of America and Harvard University’s TH Chan Public School of Health Menus of Change Summit, Fast Casual Magazine’s Franchise Innovation Conference, and WK Kellogg Foundation’s Radical Social Enterprise Convening. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council. and is the author of The Fruitful Journey, published in 2016.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Growing up as a kid I was deemed a “Professional Eater” by my mother’s sister, Aunt Bessie who was like a mom to me. I lived with her and my Uncle Nathanial from 7yrs-11yrs old in a small working class city 30 mins outside of Detroit, MI called Ypsilanti. They were really into growing and cooking fresh food from scratch. My Aunt Bessie had a garden in the backyard and would take me to farmer’s markets during the summer. Their house was the place everyone came during holidays because of her cooking. Her Apple Pie was incredible and I still remember sitting at the kitchen table with her and my Uncle N.C. when fresh produce was in season like tomatoes, cucumbers and peaches and the conversations they would have about the taste, smell and texture. She always said the key to good cooking was fresh ingredients.
I didn’t look at the food industry as a career until I went to college and my first job was waiting tables at this beautiful jazz restaurant owned by a black family named the Cavanaughs. Mrs. Cavanaugh was the owner and she hired me with no experience. Her son was the manager and her sister was the bartender. My first day was a disaster and her sister pulled me aside at the end of my shift and said if I really wanted to work there, come in an hour early for my shifts and study the menu like a final exam and she would help me out. I ended up working there the entire time during college and moved up to floor supervisor. They told me if I wanted I could probably do it as a career because I was calm under pressure, connected with guests and staff well, was coachable and always asked great questions about the operations and the food.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I have been able to meet and work with individuals and companies from as far as Africa within the world of food who are passionate and committed about utilizing their talents to make the current food system and the world a better place. From coffee owners working on food insecurity within their local communities to restaurant owners giving people who others think are unemployable a second chance and opportunity to build careers, to filmmakers creating documentaries elevating the inequities and challenges of black farmers within this country. It is incredibly inspiring and keeps me motivated to do my best everyday so we can elevate, support and scale each other’s work. It also dispels the myth that no one cares about these complex issues and isn’t doing anything about them.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
It was actually when I had my previous business, a catering company called YAMS. In the beginning I closed a few big contracts without fully thinking through if I had the capacity to fill them. The one I can laugh at now was where I had to make 3000 mini cupcakes for a big luncheon and the client also wanted them boxed and individually labeled. I was still a small enterprise with only 2 PT staff and neither one of them were available to help. The boxes also had to be put together! I ended up having about 3 of my family members help. We had a box building party with boxes and labels all over my house and made an assembly line. Then I had to go to the kitchen and be there all night because I also had to make the other food for the luncheon and deliver everything the next day and stay at the event for a few hours. I learned the lesson of really thinking through a job and analyzing if I truly have the capacity to do it right, and the importance of always building a budget to have a team!
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Arthur Lee Consulting & Advisory is named after my late Father who we lost on Aug 8th, 2022 after a long battle with kidney and heart disease. He was one of my biggest supporters and always encouraged me to live by one of my favorite quotes from MLK, “Life’s most urgent and persistent question is what are you doing for others.” It is through their spirit that we are working with food entrepreneurs and organizations working to fight inequities throughout the food system. For example, we are supporting one client by raising philanthropic capital for a social equity franchise program that provides a pathway for underrepresented entrepreneurs of color to own their healthy food retail business with zero net worth or upfront capital.
What are the three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Support legislation, grassroot organizations and invest long term in people and businesses that fight to create a healthier and just food system for underserved communities.
- Spend consistent dollars with the local grocer, farmers market, and restaurateur
- Research and volunteer with your local food organization or non profit fighting food insecurity and working to support the health and wellbeing of underserved communities.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
“Setting up others to win!”
A true leader is a servant of others. My stepmother, Mattie Fluellen, was an elementary counselor and educator who believed in the power of words. Growing up she shared with me that when you speak life and positivity into people’s lives they start to believe in themselves and rise to the occasion. A leader is always finding ways to encourage, grow and support individuals within their organization and outside of it. You have to be intentional about developing and cultivating talent. You should have a strong training program that provides a clear path for people to grow, and consistently provides opportunities for your staff to learn. A true leader understands one of their most important roles is that of a servant.
Servant leadership creates an ecosystem where everyone can flourish.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. Don’t look to other people to validate your VISION. Your ideas and dreams are just that, YOURS. Most people will not see or understand your vision, because they don’t truly understand the full extent of your talent, passion and desires. Don’t waste time trying to get everyone onboard.
2. It takes a team. No one does anything of true significance without others. Always be on the lookout for the talent in others, especially those things that are your weaknesses and try to bring those folks along for the journey.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You learn and grow so much from always being curious. If you don’t know or understand , ask until you do.
4. Be courageous. Most people maintain the status quo because they are afraid to fail or be the first. Courageous leaders and people are out front leading, failing and changing the world.
5. People in positions of power don’t have all the answers. Don’t be afraid to provide your insight and perspective even if you are not in a leadership position. You have a vantage point that a lot of leaders cannot/will not see because they are oftentimes far removed from the day to day struggles of those on the ground.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I would inspire a movement of Intellectual Humility. That more of us would understand that what we know is just a small fraction compared to all the stuff we don’t. In order for us to grow and be better as human beings we have to be open to the fact that we could be wrong about our thoughts and perspectives on so many things we consider truths or facts in our lives. As my favorite Hip Hop icon MC Rakiim said, “Constant elevation leads to expansion.”
We need to be constantly challenging our own thoughts and opinions.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others? ‘” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s been a consistent reminder and driver for me to always figure out how I can do more for others within my family, friends and work. Dr. King and so many others literally gave their life so I could live a better one. I try to never forget that and consistently pay it forward.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.
The first person is Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin & Founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation. I remember like it was yesterday, where I was when the verdict of the trial came down. I was coming out of a movie in Sherman Oaks, California with my younger son during the summer. The verdict came through my cell phone and almost stopped me in my tracks. I was shocked, devastated and reminded that in spite of how far we have come, black lives were still under attack at any moment in this country and as a father of three African-American children, I could never fully protect them from this fact. To witness her experience such extreme trauma and now help others in the fight for social justice is inspiring.
Secondly, Ryan Coogler, Director and Producer. His storytelling ability and humility is powerful. From his first movie, Fruitvale Station to the once in a lifetime story and movement he created with the Black Panther series, I truly admire. He created hope and pride in black people of all ages. I remember seeing groups of Black folks dressed in African attire going to see the 1st Black Panther 2 or 3 times, celebrities like Snoop and others renting out whole theaters for kids and families to see the movie. Kids dressing up as Black Panther for Halloween. It was a special movie and time. Not an easy feat at all!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-fluellen-8307468/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work.
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Bryce Fluellen of Arthur Lee Consulting & Advisory Is Helping To… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.