In 2015, Derek co-established Black Restaurant Week in Houston, a two-week celebration of the vast ethnic flavors and cultural variety black culinary professionals bring to Houston’s restaurant scene. The annual campaign features restaurants, caterers, food trucks and local black-owned businesses. Through partnerships with corporations such as Verizon, Pepsi, Urban League, Uber, UPS, Bacardi, BB&T, and Diageo Reserve, Black Restaurant Week continues to expand its efforts across the United States. To date, Black Restaurant Week to host 15 campaigns nationwide, including in Toronto, Canada strengthening its mission of stimulating local economies and promoting awareness of minority-owned businesses.
In 2020, amid a global pandemic, Black Restaurant Weeks LLC established Feed the Soul Foundation. The idea to establish Feed the Soul Foundation occurred as Black Restaurant Week traveled to various cities and noticed the systemic challenges of marginalized culinary businesses. Feed the Soul Foundation expands Black Restaurant Week’s mission to dismantle food injustice by working with marginalized entrepreneurs and professionals to ensure they obtain financial assistance, business development, educational training, and equitable opportunities.
Through its work, Feed the Soul supports business growth for BIPOC owned-culinary businesses to ensure a level playing field. By supporting the Black, LatinX, Indigenous, disabled, formerly incarcerated, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities through business development, financial assistance, and mentorship, Feed the Soul is reimagining food justice and encouraging economic stability in the culinary community.
He is a very active member of the Houston community. He served as a member of the Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals (HAULYP), Texas Young Professionals (TYP), and Houston Rodeo Black Heritage Committee (BHC). He uses his talents to support these organizations by increasing their brand awareness in the community.