Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Howard II.
Hi Frank, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Honestly my story started back when I was a child. My parents often told me to survive in this world people need three major things; food, shelter, and clothing. Those three things, that we can seem to overlook at times have truly stuck with me.
With the mindset of being a provider for the world, I set out to become a person who would be able to do multiple things for a multitude of people. From attending a high school that specialized in construction (Construction Career Center), to culinary school (Lecole Culinary), to starting a clothing/food brand (Residers of Earth). The goals of unification, selflessness, and love will forever remain the mission.
Today as a father of three and husband of 16 years, I’m truly blessed to have the family and friends that I have. Without the love and support I don’t know where I’d be right now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road traveled definitely hasn’t been smooth, but it has been full of enlightenment and discovery.
As a kid from north Saint Louis growing up in the O Fallon Park area in the 90s was crazy. A lot of gang violence around us. For some reason though our home was the one place that people from different walks of life could coexist and have fun.
While growing through my school years I had the privilege that I understand most miss. Meeting my wife in 8th grade was probably the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. Though it took until the last year of high school to be with her, she has always been the light that brings warmth and comfort.
Recently within the past 5-6 years life has taken the biggest shift. I’ve met some of my best friends and people who I consider family at this point. I’ve had the amazing opportunities to work with some of the most amazing creatives in my city, from working with Mvstermind and his Mvstercamp as the food and beverage manager and provider. To helping make and sale merchandise for up and coming artist like Khiro Kano. To now being the dough maker not just for Residers Bagel Co. but also Nicky Slices pizza club.
Naturally as a full time dad, husband and entrepreneur life’s gonna throw its curveballs, but my family always said to me “god won’t give you anything you can’t handle.” So I live accordingly to those rules at the end of the day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a chef, and a clothing designer.
I feel my specialty is connecting with people.
I’m known for being the bagel guy, the guy who pulls up whenever someone needs a chef at an event, the guy who makes dough for one of the best new restaurants in Saint Louis (Nicky Slices), and just a solid individual.
One of the things that makes me extremely proud, is that my children get a chance to see so many people who look like them make a living doing exactly what they want to do. For me them seeing happiness in different ways will make a huge impact in their upbringing.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Community makes me happy. With community comes understanding, perspective, empathy, love and so much more. Life really.
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