Meet Benjamin Tyson of Patchwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Tyson. 

Benjamin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been cooking for about 18 years. I went to culinary school, graduated then moved all around the country, and even had a 2-year stint overseas in the Kingdom of Bhutan cooking at a boutique resort. Before moving to Nashville, I was in Chicago as the Head Chef of Smyth and in Virginia as the Chef at Three Blacksmiths. I was hired on to be a chef at Sean Brocks flagship restaurant, Audrey, here in East Nashville. Due to the pandemic, we had to find a way to utilize our kitchen. We were granted an opportunity in collaboration with Rethink to provide free meals for our community. As Audrey prepared to open, I saw the need continuing and wanted to find a way to keep providing meals, so I founded Patchwork – a nonprofit focused on providing meals to vulnerable communities and food-insecure areas of Nashville. I’ve always loved cooking and feeding people and I knew that I wanted to do something different. I now run Patchwork full-time and feel extremely content and fulfilled.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To be honest it has been surprisingly smooth. There were a few bumps in dealing with the IRS and getting Patchwork set up as an operating nonprofit organization, but that is a given. People have been really receptive to our food and we’ve had so much support from not only our partner organizations but people interested in what we do. I am constantly blown away by the generosity we’ve received and the overall sense of community here in Nashville.

We’ve been impressed with Patchwork, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Patchwork is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on providing free meals to food-insecure areas of Nashville. We work with over 20 different organizations that provide our meals to their guests. Our partners include nonprofits, free stores, individuals, and mutual aid organizations. We are a group of chefs that are passionate about providing access to quality food, our passion drives us to create restaurant-inspired meals and make them approachable for our community. We seek to empower people through providing meals, mentorship, and mutual aid to work towards a more equitable food system. To us, food is not only nourishment but an expression of love and dignity. Our motto is “Solidarity In Community, Community Through Food”.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Leadership and empathy. I’ve always tried to be a leader no matter where I was and what situation I was in and it has helped me to learn so much about myself. Later in my career, I’m noticing that empathy is becoming more and more important. Being able to empathize with people is crucial to being a successful leader and understand the world around you.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@patchworknashville.com
• Website: https://www.patchworknashville.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patchworknashville/

Image Credits
Trox