Meet Lauren Slade

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Slade. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

I’d say my generosity comes from my grandmother. Growing up, I watched her give so selflessly to everyone around her. She spent years caring for my great-grandmother when she got sick, and even after all that, she never stopped showing up for our family. There was never a time I needed something and she didn’t come through — whether it was helping with my school tuition, making sure I had clothes, or just doing what needed to be done without hesitation.

To me, she’s always been the glue that holds our family together. Her friends became family because of how deeply she loves and gives. She goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels supported, and I think that’s where my heart for people really started. Watching her taught me how powerful it is to give — not for recognition, but because it’s a blessing to be able to help others.

That’s the same spirit that fuels my passion for Arukah. I pour into families in Detroit the same way my grandmother and mother poured into me — to remind them that they’re not alone and that someone genuinely wants to see them win.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As the Founder of Arukah, I’m passionate about helping families in Detroit restore their physical, mental, and financial health. Our mission is to create thriving families by addressing the root causes that often prevent growth and wellness — starting with access, education, and community support.

We launched Nourish Detroit to address nutritious food insecurity and equip families with the knowledge and skills they need to make healthier choices for themselves and their children. Through this program, families learned to grow their own produce with guidance from Tiffany Pilson Evans of Red Flower Growers and Elena Mosher from Michigan State University’s Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning & Innovation (DPFLI). They received biweekly grocery packages filled with fresh, nutrient-rich foods they helped grow — supported by our amazing partnership with Trader Joe’s.

We wanted Nourish Detroit to be more than just about food — it’s about transformation. Our Plant-Based Family Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach, Milan Robinson, helped parents understand how nutrition impacts their overall wellness. To tie everything together, a. MSU Extension Community Nutrition Instructor partnered with us to lead hands-on cooking classes, helping families put what they learned into practice. Watching families grow, cook, and share meals together has been one of the most rewarding experiences — a reminder that healing truly happens in community.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re expanding our work with Mindset Workshops to help families overcome limiting beliefs, manage stress, and heal from generational trauma. Because lasting change begins in the mind — and when families are whole, communities thrive.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are compassion, resilience, and determination.

Compassion is something I’ve had to be intentional about. It’s easy to get caught up in your own world and forget to truly see the people you’re called to serve. To develop compassion, you have to challenge yourself to care about the well-being of others — especially those God has called you to help. We all face different situations, and it’s only by the grace of God that we’re not fighting certain battles ourselves. You may not always be able to relate to what someone is going through, but you can still choose to show grace and ask, “How can I help?” Have a genuine desire to see people beyond their circumstances, knowing that so many are hurting and just need someone to believe in them. That doesn’t mean helping everyone to the point of overextending yourself — it means allowing God to guide you to who you’re meant to help and how. For example, I’m not a single mother, but I can only imagine how challenging it must be in today’s world to raise a family, build a career, and still take care of yourself. That’s why I have such deep compassion for the families we serve — because I see how much strength it takes, and I want to help lighten that load.

Resilience has also been a key part of my journey. In life, trials will come — no matter who you are or what you’re building. Challenges are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities to grow stronger. I learned resilience from my father, who never gave up no matter what life threw his way. When I faced loss, betrayal, and moments of uncertainty while building Arukah, I knew I couldn’t give up on what God showed me and the families who needed me to keep going. To develop resilience, you have to expect that challenges will come and choose to see them as opportunities for growth. Surround yourself with a community of people who are also building great things. Listen to their stories, learn how they overcame their own obstacles, and let their experiences strengthen your faith and perseverance.

Lastly, determination is what turns vision into reality. When I set out to create programs that would restore the health and wellness of families in Detroit, I meant it. Starting Nourish Detroit took long nights, prayer, and faith that things would come together even when they didn’t look promising. There were moments of doubt, but I stayed rooted in the vision God gave me. For anyone early in their journey — hold on to your “why.” Believe in God and the purpose He’s placed inside of you. Rest when you need to, reflect when you must, but never give up. The path won’t always be easy, but your obedience and persistence can make a lasting impact on someone else’s life.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

A book that has played an important role in my development is The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley. This book is incredibly insightful, especially in a time when so many people feel pressured to prove something to strangers on social media or live up to unrealistic images of success. It completely shifted how I view wealth .

It taught me that true wealth isn’t about material things, but about using our resources wisely — whether that’s money, time, or energy — to build stability and freedom for the future. The book also reminded me that when you have a greater calling, you have to move differently than most people.

It reinforced the importance of prioritizing mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health, and learning to say no to anything that pulls me away from the vision God has for my life. Seeing how true wealth is built — often quietly, intentionally, and with purpose — challenged me to redefine what success really means. I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a real mindset shift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Arukahrestores.org
• Instagram: Arukah.Restores
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmslade/
• Other: Email: [email protected]

  Lauren’s Instagram: Ellemichelle_

Image Credits

Isaiah Green- iGreen Grphix

Logan Newman-94feet.co