Restaurant and rapper partner for TEEM effort
A metro-based rapper and a local restaurant recently joined forced to show appreciation for two organizations that have continued their mission despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rapper Jabee Williams said Jeff Dixon, one of the co-owners of Broadway 10 Chophouse, asked him for the names of two groups that deserved recognition for their work. Williams said Broadway 10 is one of the restaurant partners for his Jabee Likes Food blog, which highlights local restaurant establishments and eateries.
Williams said he didn't hesitate to nominate The Education and Employment Ministry, known as TEEM, and Restore OKC.
TEEM is a nonprofit offering individuals educational preparation, social services and job training and placement. Restore OKC is a faith-based community development agency that recently opened a small grocery in a northeast Oklahoma City neighborhood.
Acting on Williams' recommendation, Broadway 10 provided complimentary lunch on May 20 for staff members of TEEM and Restore OKC. Williams delivered the meal to the two groups.
Williams said he chose the two organizations because they continued to offer services even as many agencies were shuttered to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“Thinking about others is what this is about,” he said.
He said people may not realize that TEEM continued to provide vital services to individuals working on rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
“These are people who had to show up and grind through all this. It isn't work that you get to see and it isn't often talked about — it's behind the scenes,” he said.
Kris Steele, TEEM's executive director, said he was pleased to learn that his staff's efforts were going to be recognized with a free lunch from one of the metro area's popular restaurants.
“It is remarkable and greatly appreciated that Jabee would take time to participate in providing us lunch given everything he has going on,” Steele said.
“He is in the midst of releasing a new album and opening a new restaurant on the east side of Oklahoma City. The fact that he would take time out of his schedule to bless us is pretty special.”
TEEM staff members also expressed their gratitude.
“It's really sweet. It's one of those things you don't think about and when it happens, you're like, `Oh, it's the best day,'” said Brittney Berling, TEEM's development coordinator.
Liz Young, the nonprofit's finance and internal operations director, said she was “very grateful, and full.”
Dixon at Broadway 10 said he appreciated Jabee for recommending the two organizations.
He said the meals were designed to give back to the community-at-large for its support in the midst of the shutdown caused by the pandemic.
And Dixon said the agencies Jabee chose were just two that received the restaurants' tasty way of saying thanks. He said Broadway 10 gave out 200 burgers, condiments and fixings everyday of the same week. Dixon said the burgers were his favorite, basically made of ground steak.
“When COVID-19 happened, we immediately thought the best way to give our staff hours, shifts and tips was to sell everything curbside. We said let's just do a blanket 50% off everything. We made that pledge, and the community in Oklahoma City really stepped up.”
That situation lasted for about eight weeks, he said.
“The alternative was to go full price and probably not be as busy in our minds.
“I wanted to be a fighter. I wanted our staff to make a wage and we were able to stay relevant and keep the wheels turning,” he said.
“This (free meals) was a way to say `thank you.'”
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