b'CULINARY SPOTLIGHTThunder immersed herself in a four-yearWe would have folks who would come inis seen on national newscasts and in stories sociology program at Lakehead University,every day and ask if they could get a bowlof racism that claim the lives of Indigenous and while studying started working atof soup and our answer was always yes,women and men in this northwestern In Common for the previous owners.says Thunder.Ontario city. [Its] this idea of kindness and She joined their team in 2017, about sixwhat food can do for a person who might months after the restaurant first opened.Paying customers who noticed the ownersnot have it. We want them to come in, The owners, Mitch and Tara, took hergenerosity began putting extra money in theenjoy the atmosphere, warm up and be a under their wing, and it wasnt longtip jar to help cover these meals. Eventually,customer, says Thunder. before Thunder moved up from servingthey created the Pay-it-Forward program to managing to learning everything aboutwhere those who could contribute towardNews of the restaurants Pay-it-Forward running the restaurant. Our approach anda meal for others, did. They contribute halfprogram spread through word-of-mouth, values were the same, she says.the price of the meal, while In Commonand on any given week they would have 10 donates the other half. This way both theto 20 donated meals. Thats added up to In many ways, notes Thunder, her restau- restaurant and its guests can give back to theabout 3,000 meals over the last three years.rant work tied into her sociology studies.community by helping those who might not The restaurant industry is really abe able to afford to eat. community. Sociologically, youre dealingPANDEMIC FALLOUTwith people on a daily basis and under- Its about more than just donating a meal,Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and on standing how our society works. The restau- however. The customers who come into InMarch 16 In Common was forced to close rant is just a tiny version of that with all theCommon have different values than whatits doors. Thunder had only owned the daily happenings with people coming and going, she explains.HER OWN SPACEAs soon as Thunder graduated, Mitch andGrief Edu-Therapy TMTara decided to sell In Common and it was natural that their loyal employee would become the next owner. For Thunder, it wasnt a tough decision: she knew immedi- Certification Trainingately she wanted to take over the restaurant. While family and friends tried to discourage her by saying things like The work is too hard and too long for too little money, Thunder was undeterred. This was her dream and today she feels lucky to be ableHelp yourself. Help others.to do it day in and day out. She has always wanted to own her own space.Help your Community.In Common is located in downtownLearn the specific skills necessary to deal withThunder Bay, in an area of the city that isrelationship conflicts at home and in the workplace.much like the downtown core of any city inHelp your Community deal with the losses that negatively Canada. It is a gathering place for business-people, students, and people who live onaffect us all.the fringes of society. It is the latter group that In Common has always looked outTel:855.423.9263| Fax:519.937.9157| Email:admin@edu-therapy.net | Web:edutherapysolutions.comfor. There are people who are hungry. Serving Indigenous Families inImproving the health of every personthe Nbisiingwe service, responding to the needs ofTerritory our communities.High quality health careinspired and delivered by our team and partners.ktigaaningmidwives.com www.riversidehealthcare.caOntario Native Womens Association43'