Hidden Gems: Meet Rhea Adkins of Vegan It IZ Eats and Adkins Paralegal and Mediation Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhea Adkins.

Hi Rhea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story has really been built around resilience, service, and a willingness to keep evolving. I became a mother at a young age, which taught me responsibility, determination, and perseverance very early in life. Those experiences shaped the way I approach both business and community today.

Over the years, I pursued my education, earning degrees in Sociology/Human Behavior and Management, along with additional training in areas including paralegal studies, mediation, holistic nutrition, and mental health. While my professional interests have always been diverse, the common thread has been helping people and creating meaningful impact.

That passion eventually led me into entrepreneurship and the creation of Vegan It IZ Eats. What began with my love for plant-based food has grown into a business that allows me to serve my community through food, catering, cooking experiences, and events. I’ve had opportunities to work with children, families, organizations, and community leaders, and those experiences have shown me that food can be much bigger than what is on the plate—it can create connection, education, and opportunity.

I’ve also continued expanding professionally through mediation, paralegal services, speaking, acting, and community involvement. I’m currently entering an exciting new chapter that includes greater public service and leadership opportunities.

I don’t believe my journey has been linear, and I’m grateful for that. Every experience has added another layer to who I am. Today, I’m focused on continuing to grow my businesses, expanding my impact, and using everything I’ve learned to create opportunities not only for myself, but for the people and communities around me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. There have been plenty of moments when I wanted to quit—and if I’m being completely transparent, there are still days when I do.

Entrepreneurship can be exhausting. There are financial pressures, long hours, unexpected setbacks, slow seasons, self-doubt, and the constant responsibility of knowing that so much depends on you. I’ve had to learn how to keep showing up even when I was tired, discouraged, or unsure of what the next step would look like.

One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to build something while still managing real life. I’m a mother, a business owner, and someone with several professional and personal goals, so balance has not always come easily. I’ve also had to learn not to undervalue myself or my work just because I care deeply about the people I serve.

What has kept me going is remembering why I started. I genuinely love creating, serving people, and building something that can make an impact in my community. I’ve learned to give myself permission to be tired without assuming that means I’m finished. Some seasons require pushing forward, and others require regrouping, adjusting, and trying again.

The road has been challenging, but it has also made me more resourceful, confident, disciplined, and clear about the kind of life and legacy I want to build.

We’ve been impressed with Vegan It IZ Eats and Adkins Paralegal and Mediation Group, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I currently own and operate two businesses that reflect different parts of who I am professionally, but both are rooted in service, advocacy, and helping people move forward.

Vegan It IZ Eats is my plant-based food business, where I specialize in creating flavorful, approachable vegan food that feels familiar, comforting, and exciting. My goal has always been to show people that plant-based food does not have to feel restrictive or boring. In addition to serving customers, the brand has expanded into catering, private events, cooking experiences, and community-focused programming.

What sets Vegan It IZ Eats apart is the experience behind the food. I care just as much about how people feel when they encounter the brand as I do about what is on the plate. I want people to feel welcomed, curious, and inspired to try something different. I am especially proud of the relationships I have built in the community and the opportunities I have had to use food as a way to educate, connect, and serve.

My second business, Adkins Paralegal and Mediation Group, allows me to serve people in a very different but equally meaningful way. Through that business, I provide mediation, independent paralegal support, notary services, and conflict-resolution services for individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. My background in human behavior, management, paralegal studies, and mediation allows me to approach conflict with both structure and compassion.

What connects both brands is my belief that people deserve to feel seen, supported, and respected. Whether I am preparing food for a family, leading a cooking experience, helping someone navigate a difficult situation, or facilitating a conversation between people in conflict, I want the experience to feel thoughtful and intentional.

Brand-wise, I am most proud that both businesses are growing beyond simply providing a service. They are becoming platforms for community impact, education, empowerment, and connection. I want readers to know that I am building businesses that are not only designed to be successful, but also to be useful. I want my work to leave people better than I found them.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I do consider myself a risk-taker, but not in the sense of being reckless. For me, risk is often about being willing to bet on myself before I have every answer figured out.

Starting and continuing to grow my businesses has been one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. Entrepreneurship requires you to invest your time, money, energy, and reputation into something without any guarantee that it will work exactly the way you imagined. There have been seasons when walking away would have been easier, but I kept choosing to build.

I’ve also taken risks by allowing myself to evolve professionally instead of feeling like I had to stay in one lane. I’ve pursued opportunities in food, mediation, legal support, speaking, acting, and community leadership. From the outside, that may look unconventional, but I see it as trusting that all of my experiences can work together and lead me where I am supposed to go.

My perspective on risk has changed over time. I used to think you had to feel completely confident before making a big move. Now I understand that sometimes confidence comes after the decision. You do your research, prepare as much as you can, pray about it, and then there comes a point where you simply have to move.

I believe some of the greatest opportunities in my life have come from being willing to say yes before I knew exactly how everything would unfold. Risk will always be uncomfortable, but I would rather take a thoughtful chance on growth than spend years wondering what could have happened if I had tried.

Pricing:

• Mediation $175 per hour
• Vegan It IZ Eats Menu Items $5-$20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.veganitizeats.com
• Instagram: Vegan It IZ Eats and Rhea Monee
• Facebook: Vegan It IZ Eats and Rhea Monee
• LinkedIn: Rhea Adkins