Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa O’Connell-Hall.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the heart of Greenville, South Carolina, a quiet revolution is happening—one plate, one job, and one life at a time. Jasmine Kitchen isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a refuge. And in our tiny kitchen, something far more powerful than food is being made.
Jasmine Road and Jasmine Kitchen were born out of a single, urgent question: What would it take to truly help women survivors of s*x trafficking, prostitution, and addiction break free and build new lives?
The answer didn’t come from a boardroom. It came from the streets, from the stories of women who had tried to escape their pasts but found nothing waiting for them—no safe place, no job, no way forward. In 2016, a small but determined group of community leaders, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits came together to create South Carolina’s first long-term residential program for women survivors. Modeled after the successful Thistle Farms program in Nashville, Jasmine Road opened its doors in 2018 with a vision: to offer not just shelter, but real pathways to healing and independence.
But healing takes more than just a place to sleep. It takes purpose. That’s where Jasmine Kitchen comes in.
In 2020, Jasmine Kitchen was launched as the social enterprise of Jasmine Road, giving women in the program a chance to gain job skills, earn a living wage, and rebuild their confidence in a supportive environment. Through the rhythm of chopping, mixing, and baking, they find stability. Through the warmth of community, they rediscover their worth. Every meal served is more than just a plate of food—it’s a tangible step toward independence.
What started as a small café with a handful of employees has become a popular lunch cafe, offering catering, retail products, and an expanding reach throughout the Greenville community. And more importantly, it’s become a proven model for breaking cycles of exploitation.
The impact doesn’t stop at the kitchen doors. Jasmine Road’s holistic model ensures that each woman who walks through its doors is met with not only shelter but also trauma-informed counseling, education, financial literacy, and the kind of love that believes in second, third, and fourth chances.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Jasmine Kitchen is more than a restaurant—it’s a teaching restaurant. That means we don’t just serve meals; we serve opportunities. Because we are committed to training and employing the women in our program, we intentionally staff more people than a typical restaurant would. It’s part of our mission, but it also means that we operate at a financial loss each year and rely on the generosity of our community to keep our doors open.
What many of our guests don’t realize is that Jasmine Kitchen is a nonprofit. While they come in for a great meal, they are also stepping into a space that provides hope, healing, and a fresh start for women rebuilding their lives. Every purchase helps, but it’s donations that make our mission possible.
By dining with us, catering with us, or supporting us through donations, you’re not just enjoying great food—you’re helping change lives.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the CEO of Jasmine Road and Jasmine Kitchen, and I’ve spent my career helping local nonprofits grow through fundraising and community engagement. At my core, I love people—especially investing in women who have not always had a voice.
What drives me is working alongside the incredible women in our program—women who are smart, capable, and resilient, even after surviving unimaginable hardship. I want to spend the rest of my life helping to break cycles of trauma and abuse, creating pathways to healing, independence, and hope.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Dine with us at Jasmine Kitchen—every meal supports a woman rebuilding her life.
Cater your next lunch or small event and make a difference with every bite.
Donate—your generosity helps us provide jobs, housing, and healing for survivors. You can donate at https://www.jasmineroad.org/donate.php
Be an ambassador—spread the word, host a fundraiser, or bring a group to learn more.
Every action, big or small, helps us break cycles of trauma and create new beginnings.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jasmineroad.org and www.jasminekitchen.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminekitchensc/
