My Night as Emcee of the Hummingbird Soirée
I’m Raphael Brown, a kitchen assistant at Kindred Bakery BK. On April 27, 2026, I emceed Kindred’s first Hummingbird Soirée. Here is my reflection on the night.
Hosting the Hummingbird Soirée
On April 27th, 2026, Kindred Bakery was proud to host the organization’s first-ever Hummingbird Soiree event. The Soiree highlighted Kindred’s tight-knit community of bakers, volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Each of these individuals received an award based on their achievements in and out of the bakery. Co-hosting the event was a true honor for me, but it also gave me a unique perspective on the event and Kindred itself.
When I first started working with Kindred, I participated in the company’s baking lessons like any other program participant. I grew to love baking cinnamon buns, banana breads, and other pastries with peers who were neurodivergent like me. It was because of this passion that I became one of the first people to be hired as a kitchen assistant with the organization. Since then, Kindred’s growth and evolution have been amazing to watch. The Hummingbird Soiree was the event that encapsulated that for me.
The Soiree celebrated everything Kindred Bakery had accomplished since its founding. Galleries spread across three floors of the Pearl Box displayed volunteers baking bread, learning recipes, and making lasting friendships. Longtime community and staff members were given awards, acknowledging their roles in shaping Kindred’s programs. As an Emcee, I would help these honorees accept their awards and reiterate the principles that make Kindred such a special organization.
I wasn’t just announcing which community members would receive awards, though. I would often reiterate to guests that Kindred is a community built on compassion and acceptance. I acknowledged sponsors like Radicle Health’s role in providing Kindred with funding to obtain new supplies and resources. I talked about my own history with Kindred, reminiscing about the baking lessons and friends that made me proud to be neurodivergent. In many ways, hosting the Soiree gave me the chance to embrace my connections with Kindred and how they’ve left a positive impact on me and many others.
The Soiree’s impact on Kindred is wholly positive. Coverage by outlets like Charter School Business Management gave glowing reviews of how the event empowered underserved youth. Steadfast members like Amanda Jones and Kaliyah Benjamin were honored for their work in building Kindred’s community. Overall, the event cemented that Kindred Bakery’s mission of providing opportunities for neurodivergent youth is still going strong.
Photos by Babs Photography LLC, except where noted.
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