Night At The Museuem: Chef Red Caters Annual NAACP Conference

Chef Red, founder of Come Eat Daddy, brought her signature Southern soul food to the 2025 NAACP State Area Conference for Alaska, Oregon, and Washington earlier this month at the Tacoma Glass Museum. The event brought history to life by celebrating civil rights leaders from across the region, with Chef Red’s food setting the tone for a night of cultural pride and empowerment.

Chef Red, who started her catering business during the pandemic, described her intense passion for all things culinary. "I've been cooking all my life, honestly. But in the pandemic, as a single mother, I was trying to get it, and this was my passion,” she said. “It felt like what I needed to do. It was my calling." She specializes in bringing Southern comfort to the Pacific Northwest, with popular dishes like dirty rice, macaroni and cheese, and Cajun green beans.

Sheley Secrest, President of the regional NAACP, emphasized the event's purpose. "We are celebrating the civil rights historic leaders from Alaska, from Washington, and from Oregon,” she said. “We make sure our rights we have fought so hard for don't roll back."

The event drew approximately 200 people from the region, all united in their commitment to the ongoing fight for civil rights. Secrest discussed the dynamic nature of their work. "This isn't something about history. It's alive and it's well. We are fighting the fight and we're winning,” she said.

A key highlight of the night was the keynote address by historic Olympian John Carlos, who famously raised his fist in a powerful gesture of Black pride at the 1968 Olympics. “We get to sit at his feet and learn from the greatness of those who have paved the way before us in this fight,” Secrest said.

Secrest offered a heartfelt shout-out to Chef Red, praising her professionalism and dedication, especially as a Black woman in business. “You are dedicated, you are a servant leader, and you are using your food as your craft. Keep going, Chef Red. You are on to something big, sis," she said.

Visit comeeatdaddy.com to check out Chef Red’s menu, order food and catering, and learn more about her mission behind the food. Learn more about the regional NAACP at naacpaowsac.org. 

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