Our Story

A diverse group of neighbors coming together to make a difference in Spokane.

Our Mission.

Feast Collective empowers Immigrants and former Refugees as leaders, using international cuisine to foster economic resilience, holistic growth, and cultural exchange. Our vision is for all former Refugees and Immigrants to feel a deep sense of belonging in Spokane and have the opportunities to build healthy, flourishing lives.

  • The program fosters community connections while supporting economic resilience for Immigrant and Refugee families in Spokane.

  • Chefs in the program use their earnings to save for home purchases, further their education, or invest in their own businesses.

  • Over 90% of each dining dollar goes directly to the Immigrant or Refugee chef preparing the meal.

Get a sense of what we do! This short video shares recent stories about our work - check it out

The Beginning

A Shared Passion for Food & Community

Before Feast Collective was born, co-founders Maisa Abudayha, Ross Carper, and Dan each pursued their own food ventures in the lower south hill neighborhood, while also connecting deeply with Spokane’s Refugee and Immigrant communities. Dan ran Inland Curry, a weekly takeout pop-up, while Maisa, an asylum seeker from Jordan, launched a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean catering business. Just a few blocks away, Ross operated The Compass Breakfast Wagon, a neighborhood food truck. Despite their separate paths, they shared a deep commitment to food and cross-cultural friendships.

Building Connections

From Friendship to Collaboration

Through their work—Maisa’s role as a bilingual specialist in Spokane Public Schools, Ross’s organizing First Presbyterian Church’s (FPC) community engagement and service efforts, and Dan’s popular refugee-chef dinner series through Inland Curry—they built meaningful relationships with Spokane’s Immigrant and Refugee communities. When the neighborhood had a vacant restaurant space in early 2019, there was an opportunity to create something bigger: a nonprofit that combined their love of food with their passion for supporting and empowering our community’s newest members who have come from all over the world. The first seeds of an idea started growing: Feast World Kitchen, a cooperative space and a network of support, friendship, and food!

The Opening

The Launch of Feast Collective

By summer 2019, after months of planning, dreaming, and assembling a diverse leadership team of neighbors, Feast Collective officially came to life. With FPC offering the building for rent at a discounted rate, the nonprofit took shape as a hub for immigrant chefs to share their culinary traditions, build financial stability, and connect with the Spokane community. Over the years, Feast has supported nearly 100 families, expanded into catering and product wholesaling, and navigated challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, always staying true to its mission of empowerment and cultural exchange.

More Than Food

Growing Support & Opportunities

Feast Collective is more than just a restaurant—it’s a network of friendships that is supported by our community, for our community. While chefs gain income and career skills, the organization also fosters leadership and belonging. Beyond food, in 2022 Feast launched “Table Time,” a program staffed by trained Community Health Workers who offer complex care coordination in a variety of categories, from health to housing to education to workplace readiness… and more. Restaurant customers will notice: during the daytime, this program always has a couple of tables reserved in the back. Perhaps you’ll see our team helping someone build their first resume in the U.S. over a plate of baklava! In 2025 we launched a special high school internship program, which serves 15 teenagers from all five Spokane Public Schools high schools in paid internship roles focused on building career/academic skills and vital connections. In many ways, Feast continues to grow as a space where Spokane’s Immigrant and Refugee communities can flourish.

This video shares a bit of Feast’s story at our beginnings through the lens of Abou, Maisa, and Ross - check it out:

Ways You Can Help

Fill in this volunteer form and join the unfolding story of Feast World Kitchen! (you’ll get a monthly email)

  • Join us by donating to help sustain our work!

  • COME EAT in our restaurant any Wednesday—Sunday for lunch or dinner!