Dariann Mack
2025 OBSERVER “30 Under 30” Honoree
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Age: 27
Occupation: Co-Founder
Dariann J’Nae Mack is the cofounder of UniverSOUL Cafe, a visionary movement that fuses food justice, workforce development, and radical community care in Sacramento. Driven by resilience and faith, she transformed personal tragedy, including the loss of her daughter and a beloved father figure, into purpose. Mack has helped train justice-impacted youth and build economic opportunities through food recovery and entrepreneurship. As a certified Peer Support Specialist, she mentors young mothers and differently abled women, bringing unmatched emotional intelligence to her work. Her leadership is both practical and spiritual — shaped by grief, motherhood, and an unyielding belief in Black healing and liberation. Mack’s impact stretches across generations. She is creating a future where Black women rise whole, rooted in love, and uplifted by legacy.
If you could grab coffee or a meal with any historical Black figure or current influential African American person, who would it be and what would you ask them?
If I could share a meal with anyone, it would be her maternal grandfather, Papa, who I was too young to remember but have always felt spiritually connected to. I would ask, “What parts of me come from you?”— longing to understand my lineage, my legacy, and the roots of my quiet strength. That connection to family I never got to fully know is something I carry with both grace and longing. If given a second seat at the table, I would invite Maya Angelou — a woman whose words mirror her soul. I would ask, “How did you learn to speak again after grief tried to silence you?” Because like Maya, I believe that even in the face of tragedy, there is still beauty, purpose, and power in finding your voice.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our “30 Under 30” sponsors for their generous support:
