In our ongoing “unprecedented times” that have now just become the precedent, culture has dove into nostalgia like never before. Reboots of movies, TV shows, even early aughts pop stars are in the news every other week (and yes, I am amongst the Millennials seeing Hilary Duff’s comeback tour this summer).

And while these pop culture returns act as our emotional security Beanie Babies, there’s a deep need to recognize the history that has shaped us and bring that into our zeitgeist. The generations before us that made the first iterations of our favorite recipes, the base of the music we blast to get through our silly little spreadsheets, or even just the lessons of how to better treat our fellow human beings.

They laughed and sang and struggled for us to have the livelihoods we have now. This is where innovative leaders and restaurateurs like Emery Whalen come into play.

Emery grew up in the Big Easy of New Orleans, falling in love with cooking and food as she helped her grandmother in the kitchen. As she got ready to leave for college at Princeton, she pictured a future that included a stint living in Paris. Then, Hurricane Katrina hit.

Emery quickly recognized that New Orleans is not only home, but a huge part of her identity. Her work since has focused on helping the city rebuild after tragedy, and also finding ways she can help fuel the future while respecting the past that got her and the region where it is today.

From public school teacher incorporating food into her lessons, to scholarships sending New Orleanians to culinary school and micro loans to farmers, to now nine restaurants throughout the South under her hospitality group QED, Emery has poured her heart and soul into the place that has given her so much. She and her cofounder Chef Brian Landry even took a step during COVID to keep their staff working while helping others that actually left me speechless—and for a semi-professional yapper, this is quite the feat.

I hope that you’re inspired by Emery’s story and the singular mission she brings into her work and life. To honor the history and people that came before you while building a legacy and future you can be proud of.

So yes, we may be living through chapters of the history book that are really hard in the moment and for us to look back on. But I ask that you think of the days ahead and how you can make them better. That’s the real comeback story. Hey, maybe they’ll even make a TV show about it.