December Alumni Accolades

Airian McDuffy’s Sunshine Story: From Dream to Delicious

Airian McDuffy’s journey with Sunshine Enterprises began at a networking event where she met a fellow member of her sorority. Sharing her dream of opening a restaurant, Airian received a pivotal recommendation: connect with Sunshine Enterprises. “Shortly after, I attended a Sunshine informational session, and the rest is history!” Airian recalls. In 2022, Airian enrolled in our Community Business Academy (CBA). Reflecting on the curriculum, Airian highlights the value of financial clarity. “I found the practice of break-even analysis and startup projections to be the most valuable. These tools gave me clarity on my business’s financial foundation and helped me make more informed decisions,” she explains.

Airian took full advantage of our additional resources, including mentorship and business support services. “I worked with a mentor for a short time. She was incredibly encouraging and provided helpful insights that supported both my personal growth and my small business,” she shares. Before finding Sunshine Enterprises, Airian faced significant challenges. “I struggled with accessing resources, networking opportunities, and understanding how to effectively engage with the City of Chicago Business and Consumer Protection Affairs,” she says. Sunshine Enterprises bridged these gaps, providing her with the tools and connections to move forward.

This past spring, Airian participated in our food incubator program, further laying the groundwork for her entrepreneurial goals. The specialized set of workshops we offered in the first two quarters of 2024 were funded by the City of Chicago’s Early State Food Incubator program. Completing the food workshops was a transformative experience for Airian. “The most helpful aspects were earning food and safety certifications and having Sunshine cover the costs,” she explains. With our guidance, she secured a shared kitchen license and navigated the insurance requirements with confidence. These achievements proved invaluable when catering events, such as a recent occasion requiring customer-specific insurance. “Thanks to what I learned in the spring, I was able to navigate that process with ease,” she adds. These certifications are critical as Airian works toward his ultimate goal: launching a brick-and-mortar restaurant where she will proudly serve as owner-operator.

Sunshine’s food festival training provided Airian with practical tools for safe food handling, from proper transport to maintaining safe temperatures. She also deepened her understanding of operating under a shared kitchen license, which she describes as a “game-changer” for her business. Participating in our recent Taste of Sunshine event was another milestone. “It provided excellent exposure,” Airian notes. “We networked and shared our food and vision with people outside our usual neighborhoods, creating excitement from individuals in nearby areas and even visitors from other states and countries.” One standout moment? Her business, Soul Ramen, was featured on Fox News as part of the event promotion. “It offered incredible exposure for our brand,” she says proudly.

Airian with Lamont J Robinson Alderman for Chicago's 4th Ward at the recent ground breaking of Soul Ramen at 508 East Pershing Road - a restaurant which will be a hub of arts, culture and cuisine. “Ms. McDuffy has been working tirelessly on this development, it is a great honor to see this realized as an investment in our Bronzeville neighborhood. As we continue to push for economic justice and cultural representation, this new venture is an example of what’s possible when we support each other and invest in our communities.” – Alderman Robinson

Taste of Sunshine

Soul Ramen was one of our alumni food-based businesses that participated in our Food Incubator program and food festival.

“Find mentors, tackle challenges one at a time, and always remember that there’s a solution to every problem. Most importantly, if you don’t bring your vision to life, someone else will—so why not you?”
— Airian McDuffy

Discover more about Airian’s culinary journey and explore her creations:

Jeannine Skarbek-Kubas