We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rohani Foulkes. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Rohani, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Folk was recently mentioned in the New York Times. Which, after the many years we’ve been in business in the city we’re honored and very proud.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Rohani Foulkes is an Australian-born entrepreneur and community builder based in Detroit. She is the founder of Folk, a celebrated all-day café known for its seasonal menus, hospitality-driven service, and strong focus on local sourcing. Alongside it, she leads Neighbor X Folk (NXF), a sister concept that serves as a multi-use retail and event space spotlighting Michigan-made goods and community-centered programming. Through both ventures, Rohani champions values of inclusivity, sustainability, and neighborhood placemaking, creating spaces that nourish both people and culture.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Not a lot. As a child, I believed in myself without hesitation, I thought I could do or be anything. The truth is, I still believe that. If anything, that belief has deepened. Every challenge I’ve faced and milestone I’ve reached has only reinforced the sense that I’m capable. So rather than letting go of that childhood belief, I’ve grown into it and everything I’ve achieved is a testament to holding on.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’ve faced a great deal of adversity in both my personal and professional life, but I’ve never seriously considered giving up. My instinct has always been to ask, “How can I evolve through this?” rather than “Is it time to quit?” Challenges have been constant teachers, not stop signs. For me, growth and resilience come from moving through the hard moments not away from them.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Climate Change – I think a lot of smart people are getting it totally wrong when it comes to climate change. The truth is, intelligence and denial can co-exist, many of those ignoring or minimizing the crisis are otherwise brilliant. I’m not saying that’s right, in fact, it’s a devastating failure. The consequences of our inaction will ripple far beyond our lifetimes, impacting the planet and future generations in ways we can’t fully comprehend. We’re getting it wrong, not because we don’t know better, but because we’re not doing nearly enough with what we do know.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people may misunderstand my legacy by assuming that, because I don’t cook food that directly represents my Indigenous heritage or pull recipes from Indigenous cookbooks, that part of me isn’t present in my work. But the truth is, my upbringing, the weight of generational trauma, and the impact of systemic harm and violence have shaped every decision I’ve made especially in how I work to build businesses that center community, care, sustainability, and joy. Just because it’s not always overt or visually represented doesn’t mean it’s not there. My heritage is the root of everything I do, even if it’s not always what people see first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://folkdetroit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folkdetroit/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohani-foulkes
Image Credits
Taylor Higgins Photography https://taylordhiggins.com/
