Adrian Lipscombe is a native Texan, a chef, an urban planner, and a civic activist, though she prefers the term catalyst. In 2016, she moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin and opened Uptowne Café, a gathering place and a space for her to explore the synergy behind her Southern upbringing, Midwest ingredients and African American culinary history. In 2020, she founded the 40 Acres Project, which seeks to preserve the legacy of Black agriculture and foodways through the purchase of Black owned land. She's also a founding member of the Muloma Heritage Center, a non-profit exploring the African Atlantic influences in American culture, she serves on the board of the Edna Lewis Foundation, she's cooking at festivals and events all around the country, and today, was featured in NY Daily News for an upcoming Juneteenth Celebration with the James Beard Foundation. Adrian currently lives in Austin while pursuing a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Texas at Austin. And yes, her intelligence and enthusiasm for life is an understatement.

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