Mae Suramek had two goals when she started her restaurant in a small town in Central Appalachia: to create epic noodle bowls and to change the world. Noodle Nirvana’s business model includes substantial donations to nonprofits, valuing workers with good salaries and stable schedules, and creating an atmosphere that brings people together. Suramek asks us to imagine a world where all businesses invest in community agencies that address poverty, hunger and violence because “we belong to each other.” Mae Suramek is a philanthropist and socially-conscious restaurateur in Berea, Kentucky.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx