Val’s Cheesecakes

As a Haitian who earned a green card and later became a naturalized American citizen, I followed the rules.

TPS holders are not hiding. They came forward under U.S. immigration law, sought protection, worked hard, paid taxes, raised families, started businesses, and became part of the fabric of this country.

Now, many are being told to return to a country that the U.S. government itself advises Americans not to travel to because of the extreme security risks.

I cannot support or find logic in this decision.

I will do everything within my reach to advocate for the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for my Haitian brothers and sisters.

Haiti and Haitians have too often been blamed, misunderstood, and reduced to harmful narratives. I won’t spend my energy debating those misconceptions today.

Instead, I choose action.

If you believe in fairness, compassion, and the rule of law, now is the time to speak up, organize, and support those whose lives hang in the balance.

It’s time for collective action.
Val

June 23rd.

Today, I celebrate the birthday of my mother, Marie José Labossière.

For years, I’ve called her my latest, my greatest inspiration, but the older I get, the more I realize those words are just not enough.

Her spirit permeates everything I do. It lives in the way I love people, the way I persevere when things get difficult, the way I believe that small acts done with great care can change someone’s day. It lives in every cheesecake, every class, every conversation, every risk I’ve taken, and every lesson I’ve learned.

When cancer defined her days, she chose to fight. When life gave her reasons to quit, she chose courage. When others would have focused on the ending, she taught me to focus on how we live in the middle of the story by wanting to bake a cheesecake.

As I grow older, I am beginning to understand that my purpose may not simply be to build a business or create desserts.

My purpose is slowly unraveling before me: to become the best version of myself so that I can continue telling her story through the way I live my own.

The world knew her as Marie José Labossière.

I knew her as "Manmi" (Haitian term)
..And every day, I hope that something I create, something I build, or someone I encourage carries a small piece of her forward.

Happy Birthday, Manmi!

Your love is still teaching me.

Val

A small percentage of people believing in what a business does and are willing to support it consistently can change things drastically that business.
..And for some and many small businesses, 0.1% could change everything!

Love our small business community...it really doesn't take a lot!

Honestly,
Val

customerloyalty