We’re looking forward to introducing you to Keyatta Mincey Parker. Check out our conversation below.
Keyatta, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building that nobody sees is the stuff underneath it all, the part that doesn’t get photographed, celebrated, or even noticed. The resilience when I wanted to quit. The discipline of showing up when no one else did. The patience it took to hold a vision long before anyone else could see it.
I’ve built trust, consistency, and a way to keep going even when I felt alone in it. I’ve built a version of myself that is softer, stronger, and more grounded than I ever thought I could be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Keyatta Mincey Parker. I’m a mixologist, storyteller, and founder of A Sip of Paradise Garden, a nonprofit community garden created for bartenders and hospitality professionals. I also own Pictures and Cocktails LLC, where I design luxury cocktail experiences, and Pieces of Paradise, a retail line made from ingredients we grow in A Sip of Paradise Garden.
What makes my work unique is that I don’t just create cocktails, I create spaces, stories, experiences, and opportunities. My focus is always on sustainability, community, and showing that luxury isn’t only for the rich. Whether it’s growing herbs in the garden, curating events, or telling stories through drinks, I bring my Liberian roots, hospitality background, and passion for people into everything I do.
Right now, I’m working on expanding the garden, building more retail products, and developing creative projects like dinner series, YouTube shows, and media content that highlight culture, wellness, and storytelling through cocktails. My story is about blending beauty, resilience, and community, and making sure that what I build leaves a lasting impact.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My kids, lol. I swear they think I’m famous. But honestly, they’ve seen me in every version of myself, the good, the bad, and the magical. Before I could see my own strength, or even believe that I was building something bigger than me, they saw it. They’ve always looked at me like I was capable of more than I realized, and that vision has pushed me to keep going.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As me:
I try to quit at least once a month, lol. This work is hard; some days it feels heavier than I can carry. But every time I get close to walking away, my anchors are my kids, my community, my friends who really get it; they talk me off the ledge. The truth is, there’s no clear path for what I’m building, because it hasn’t been done before. I’m literally making it up as I go. And while that’s terrifying, it’s also the part that keeps me going.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. The public version of me is real. I don’t put on a mask; what you see is definitely me. But it’s not *all* of me. People see the polished, smiling, “got it all together” version, and that’s true, but behind that, there’s also the tired, vulnerable, messy parts that don’t always make it to the surface.
The real me is both: the one who can light up a room with cocktails and stories, and the one who sometimes just wants to hide under the covers. I think the balance between the two is what makes me whole.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What false labels are you still carrying?
I have to be strong all the time. That I can’t ask for help. That I’m “just” a bartender, when in reality I’ve built whole ecosystems around community, creativity, and sustainability. I still carry labels that try to box me into being one thing or that measure me only by how much I produce.
The truth is, I’m more than the labels. I’m an entrepreneur, a mom, a leader, a dreamer, a romantic, and someone who is still figuring it out day by day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.asipofparadisegarden.org / www.picturesandcocktails.com
- Instagram: @asipofparadisegarden / @picturesandcocktails_
Image Credits
Kimberly Howell – Natural Look Photography
