FOUNDER BIO:
MIKELLE (KELLY) BRUCE

Kelly is the founder of Rise & Reign Collective, a youth-focused workforce initiative operating under Sunrise Eatery LLC in Rochester, New York. Her work is centered on empowering young people through leadership development, culinary training, and real-world workforce opportunities. Kelly has a deep passion for youth development and currently works as a Program Coordinator with the Center for Teen Empowerment, where she supports young people in using their voices to advocate for justice, equity, and social change. Through this experience, she has developed strong skills in youth mentorship, program facilitation, and community engagement. Rise & Reign Culinary/Catering Collective was created from Kelly’s vision to combine food, leadership, and economic opportunity. What began as Sunrise Eatery, a small culinary venture known for signature dishes such as steak bagels, shrimp & grits, and stuffed salmon, has evolved into a mission-driven initiative focused on building a pathway for teens to gain culinary skills, workplace readiness, and confidence. Through structured training, mentorship, and supervised catering experiences, Kelly aims to create a sustainable youth workforce pipeline that will eventually grow into a youth catering team and a community social café. Her long-term goal is to create meaningful employment opportunities for teens while fostering leadership, discipline, and entrepreneurship. Kelly’s work is guided by her faith, commitment to community, and belief that when young people are given the right opportunities and support, they can rise into leadership and reign in their purpose