When community calls, we answer. That’s the FA-MLI way.
This week, our founder Torrence Brannon-Reese and FA-MLI family joined forces with the broader Crenshaw community to support a beloved institution in crisis. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen—a cornerstone of South LA for over three decades—faces foreclosure due to financial challenges stemming from expansion plans and high-interest loans.
More Than a Restaurant: A Community Lifeline
For 33 years, Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen has been more than just a place to get exceptional fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens. Located in the heart of the Crenshaw neighborhood, it has served as a gathering place, a cultural anchor, and a symbol of Black entrepreneurship and resilience.
Owner Greg Dulan’s story mirrors the challenges facing many Black-owned businesses in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. After closing for a two-year renovation to compete with new developments along the Crenshaw Corridor, Dulan reopened in 2023 with an expanded dining room and ambitious plans for growth. However, short-term, high-interest loans and cost overruns have put the family legacy at risk.
FA-MLI’s Response: Art, Music, and Community Power
True to our mission of preserving Black culture and supporting community institutions, Torrence Brannon-Reese joined the emergency fundraiser held on October 15th at Dulan’s restaurant. The evening featured live music, community fellowship, and powerful performances that demonstrated the healing power of art in times of crisis.
“When we see institutions like Dulan’s threatened, we don’t just offer thoughts and prayers—we show up with our voices, our talents, and our collective power,” said Brannon-Reese. “This is exactly what community organizing looks like. This is how we preserve our cultural legacy.”
The fundraiser brought together community members from across Los Angeles, including actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, who has promised to match all donations received. The event showcased the same intergenerational solidarity that FA-MLI has fostered for over three decades through programs like “See a Man, Be a Man” and our “Legendary Nights” series.
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Black Cultural Assets
Dulan’s struggle reflects broader challenges facing Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles. As development transforms neighborhoods like Crenshaw, longtime businesses face increased costs, reduced parking, and pressure to modernize without the capital resources of larger competitors.
This fight resonates deeply with FA-MLI’s work. Just as we successfully led the campaign to establish the Malcolm X Corridor along Crenshaw Boulevard, preserving and honoring our cultural legacy, we recognize that saving institutions like Dulan’s is part of the same struggle for community self-determination.
How the Community Is Responding
The response has been overwhelming. Since launching the fundraiser, Dulan’s has seen:
- A 40% increase in business
- Visitors from across Southern California and beyond
- Three new employees hired to meet increased demand
- Breaking projected sales goals consistently
“People are coming out,” Greg Dulan told local media. “I served a young lady from Russia and another from Argentina yesterday. We have a party of 100 coming, and I don’t know where I’m going to sit everyone.”
FA-MLI’s Commitment Moving Forward
As an organization that has weathered our own storms over 32+ years, FA-MLI understands the challenges of sustaining community-based work in an increasingly expensive city. Our support for Dulan’s extends beyond this single fundraiser—it’s part of our ongoing commitment to:
- Economic Justice: Supporting Black-owned businesses and community economic development
- Cultural Preservation: Protecting spaces that anchor our cultural identity
- Community Solidarity: Using our platform and resources to amplify struggles for justice
- Intergenerational Collaboration: Bringing together youth and elders in common cause
Take Action
The fight to save Dulan’s continues. While the immediate outpouring of support has been encouraging, owner Greg Dulan reports that the restaurant “is not out of the woods yet.” The fundraiser remains active with a goal of $500,000 to cover loan repayments.
How You Can Help:
- Visit Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen at 4815 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles
- Contribute to their online fundraiser
- Share their story on social media
- Support other Black-owned businesses in your community
A Model for Community Response
The mobilization around Dulan’s demonstrates what becomes possible when community members recognize their collective power. It’s the same energy that built the Malcolm X Corridor, the same spirit that sustains our youth mentorship programs, and the same vision that drives FA-MLI’s work every day.
As Tiffany Haddish said at the fundraiser: “For decades, Dulan’s has been feeding our souls—not just with food, but with love, community, and consistency. We can’t let this Black-owned institution disappear.”
FA-MLI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992, dedicated to developing young leaders, preserving Black culture, and building community power. Learn more about our work at famlisoul.org.
Support FA-MLI’s Community Work Your donations help us respond to community crises and support grassroots organizing efforts like this one. Every contribution strengthens our ability to show up when our community needs us most.
