The Rock Island Public Library presents “A Taste of Love with Maya-Camille Broussard" -- November 8.
Wednesday, November 8, 7 p.m.
Presented by the Rock Island Public Library
Participating in a special virtual event co-offered by the Rock Island Public Library and Illinois Libraries Present, a world-class chef, author, and restaurant owner will share stories and Thanksgiving-dinner tips in A Taste of Love with Maya-Camille Broussard, the November 8 online program featuring the star of Netflix’s Bake Squad and owner of the Chicago based Justice of the Pies.
Broussard grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and experienced food scarcity as child, in part due to the expense of her father's alcoholism. Her hunger and health worsened after her parents divorced and Broussard chose to live with her father, and she credits the adversity as inspiration for her baking career and community work. Having lost 75 percent of her hearing in a childhood accident, Broussard learned English primarily through reading and attended speech therapy for many years, and relies primarily on lip reading in order to communicate. She graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and went on to run Congo Square Theatre's educational outreach program from 2003 to 2008, teaching workshops in lower-income schools.
In 2014, Broussard founded Justice of the Pies in honor of her late father (who passed in 2009), and the establishment operates out of the Hatchery, a food-and-beverage incubator with more than 50 private professional kitchens, of which the highest-profile occupant is celebrity chef Rick Bayless. Justice of the Pies has sold pies to local grocery stores and farmers' markets and also operates as a catering service, and in 2022, Broussard released her book Justice of the Pies: Sweet & Savory Pies, Quiches, & Tarts, Plus Inspirational Stories from Exceptional People. About the book, Publishers Weekly stated, “This deliciously loaded collection is a baker’s dream."
In her November 8 presentation, Broussard will deliver a demo from her kitchen just in time for Thanksgiving, sharing her love of pie, the stories of those that inspired her, and some tips and tricks to help you make the perfect Thanksgiving pie. Through her community-outreach work, she offers an “I Knead love” workshop several times each year for kids from low-income households to learn basic cooking skills, healthy eating habits, and nutrition, and Justice of the Pies has partnered with many Chicago area charities to provide meals for communities on the South and West sides
Broussard's online event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The virtual program A Taste of Love with Maya-Camille Broussard will take place on November 8, participation in the 7 p.m. presentation is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.org.
