For 36 years, Dolly Grimes-Johnson (Miss Dolly) served as the Shelter Director at Sojourner Family Peace Center. Over the years, she provided care and guidance to shelter residents and assisted an estimated 25,000 women in pursuing safety and independence from domestic violence.
Even in her retirement, Grimes-Johnson continues to advocate for abused women and children. For the third year running, she will be hosting a very special dinner that celebrates African culture while raising funds for the important work of both the Sojourner Family Peace Center emergency shelter and ExPosed Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and fostering healthy relationships through awareness, prevention, and education.
Miss Dolly’s Taste of Africa will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the River Club of Mequon, 12400 N. Ville Du Parc Dr.
The evening will include a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. featuring African appetizers and music. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature cuisine representing the African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, and South Africa
The evening will also feature entertainment, stories from domestic violence survivors, a live auction and a raffle.
Get your tickets
Tickets for the event are available for purchase online. Individual tickets are $150 per person and include the reception, dinner and entertainment. Sponsorships opportunities are also available. Learn more here. All proceeds go to support the work of Soujourner and ExPosed Inc.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
