WHEN IT COMES TO BAKING A BETTER
WAY AND BETTER FUTURE FOR HER
COMMUNITY.
>> PEOPLE NEVER SAY, OH, PIE.
THEY ALWAYS SAY, PIIIIEEE.
IT’S THIS DRAWN OUT EXPRESSION
OF LOVE FOR PIE.
>> Reporter: FOR MAYA KAMILLE
BROUSSARD, THE LOVE OF PIE IS
BAKED INTO HER DNA.
>> MY DAD WAS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY IN CHICAGO AND WAS
COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH BAKING
AND EATING PIE.
>> Reporter: HE HAD ANOTHER
PASSION, AS WELL.
>> MY DAD WOULD SAY, EVERYONE
DESERVES REPRESENTATION.
EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND
CHANCE.
>> Reporter: WHEN MAYA KAMILLE
GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, SHE WAS
AN ART TEACHER, OPENING HER OWN
GALLERY ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE.
DAYS BEFORE, TRAGEDY STRUCK.
A WEEK BEFORE YOU OPEN UP YOUR
GALLERY, YOUR DAD TRAGICALLY
PASSES.
>> I’M THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT
WHENEVER SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS
TO ME, I TEND TO THROW MYSELF
INTO MY WORK.
THE GALLERY WAS SLATED TO OPEN
SIX DAYS AFTER HIS FUNERAL.
IT WAS A LOT.
>> Reporter: FIVE YEARS LATER, A
CHANCE ENCOUNTER INSPIRING MAYA
KAMILLE TO BLEND HER FATHER’S
MEMORY WITH A NEW MISSION.
>> I WAS VISITING SOME OF MY
COUSINS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THERE WAS THIS PIE SHOP, AND MY
COUSIN SAID TO ME AS WE WALKED
INTO THE SHOP, "YOU KNOW, THEY
HIRE A LOT OF TEENS SUFFERING
FROM HOMELESSNESS."
SOMETHING JUST CLICKED.
YOU KNOW, WITHIN ME, LIKE, I’M
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: IN 2015, JUSTICE OF
THE PIES WAS BORN, WITH AN
UNUSUAL RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.
WHAT’S THE MISSION OF JUSTICE OF
THE PIES, BESIDES GREAT PIE?
>> WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THE
SERVICE WE GIVE IS SECONDARY TO
THE PIES WE SERVE.
OUR GOAL IS TO LEND A HAND AND
TO TAKE UP A CAUSE WHERE WE SEE
FIT.
>> Reporter: WITH THAT IN MIND,
LAUNCHING THE I NEED LOVE
INITIATIVE FOR KIDS EXPERIENCING
FOOD INSECURITY.
>> WE’LL GO TO A GROCERY STORE,
AND I’LL HAND EACH KID A $50
GIFT CARD TO KIND OF TEACH THEM
THE LIFE SKILLS OF BUDGETING AND
SHOPPING FOR A RECIPE.
I AM ENCOURAGING KIDS TO
EXERCISE THEIR CREATIVITY IN THE
KITCHEN.
>> Reporter: IN THE MIDST OF THE
PANDEMIC THOUGH, MAYA KAMILLE
HAS HAD TO PIVOT.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE FOR YOU?
>> I RELY ON FARMER’S MARKETS.
FAIRS IS WHERE I MAKE THE
MAJORITY OF INCOME, AND I ALSO
RELY ON CORPORATE CATERING.
SO THE MARKETS AND FAIRS
CANCELED, AND NOBODY IS WORKING
IN THE OFFICES.
MY SOURCES OF REVENUE, THAT IS
COMPLETELY SHUT OFF.
>> Reporter: IT’S NOT THE ONLY
OBSTACLE THE PANDEMIC CREATED.
>> I’VE RELIED ON LIPREADING.
IMAGINE ME TRYING TO COMMUNICATE
WITH PEOPLE WHILE EVERYONE IS
WEARING A MASK.
IT’S FRUSTRATING.
>> Reporter: MAYA KAMILLE NOT
LETTING IT DETER HER FROM HER
MISSION OF SERVING OTHERS.
>> PRIMARILY, I’VE BEEN FOCUSING
MY EFFORTS ON FEEDING THE FRONT
LINE.
WE SERVE AND DELIVER OVER 2,800
MEALS TO DOCTORS, NURSES,
HOSPITAL STAFF.
>> Reporter: WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
>> FOR ME, RICHNESS IS ABOUT NOT
ACQUIRING A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT
LOVE IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR
LIFE.
WHEN I’M GIVING BACK AND MAKING
AN IMPACT FOR SOMEONE IN A
POSITIVE WAY, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT
MYSELF.
I FEEL WEALTHY.
>> Reporter: IT DOESN’T HURT THE
PIE IS PRETTY GOOD, TOO.
WOW.
>> YEAH?
>> Reporter: WHILE I DIDN’T GET
ANY OF HER SECRET RECIPES, I DID
GET ANOTHER KIND OF SECRET OUT
OF MAYA KAMILLE.
IS THIS TRUE, THAT, IN FACT,
YOU, MAYA KAMILLE, LIKE CAKE
MORE THAN PIE?
>> YES, I DO.
HA!
POUND CAKE, COME ON.
IT’S BUTTERY, MOIST, AND IT HAS
A CLENCHY BOTTOM.
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOUR DAD WOULD THINK ABOUT THIS?
>> MY DAD USED TO SMILE WITH HIS
WHOLE FACE.
I JUST IMAGINE THAT HE’S SMILING
WITH HIS WHOLE ENTIRE FACE.
MY DAD, I KNOW HE’S JUST
BRAGGING AND WON’T SHUT UP.
>> IMPRESSIVE YOUNG WOMAN.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
>> SHE IS.
>> AND CAKE!
>> THAT’S RIGHT, POUND CAKE.
CAN’T GO WRONG.
NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH HER.
SINCE OUR INTERVIEW, SHE’S
DONATED EVEN MORE MEALS TO FRONT
LINE WORKERS.
IN FACT, MORE THAN 3,000.
>> WOW.