“So much work has been done for my dad and his children,” Council said. “He had seven children, my mother passed when I was two and he was our everything. He taught us to work and cook.”
Council, the creator and owner of Mama Dip’s restaurant in Chapel Hill, said the help her family received when she was growing up inspired her to help others, especially children in her community.
On Saturday, Nov. 12, Council received the POWER award from nonprofit EmPOWERment Inc for her community work, specifically the community dinners she organizes at elementary schools and churches in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Council, who has eight children, said she started organizing community dinners to feed young children who might not get a full meal at home. Since then, other restaurants have followed her example.
“At first we had one or two restaurants and then other restaurants joined in and they had stuff for kids to do, like sing or dance,” she said.
EmPOWERment hosted a gala, called Opening Doors of Opportunity, at the Friday Center — where Council was presented with the award. The organization, which helps with affordable housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, hosted the event to celebrate their 20-year anniversary.
“After 20 years, we created the POWER award thinking of a personality in Orange County that exemplifies the qualities of EmPOWERment, which is the ability to help those not as fortunate and advocate for the community we serve, which is low income families,” said Delores Bailey, executive director of EmPOWERment.
About 200 people attended, including N.C. Rep. David Price, Carrboro Board of Aldermen member Bethany Chaney and UNC men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, who presented Council with the award.
