Cooking Up Careers: ATV Culinary Day
Published on March 14, 2024
Did you ever wonder what you wanted to be when you grow up but didn’t know where to start? For some young students, it could start in a kitchen at Southside Homes.
The City of Charlotte’s Housing and Neighborhood Services department recently organized a unique event to encourage young people aged between 13 and 15 to explore different career paths. The Alternatives to Violence (ATV) Culinary Day was a collaborative effort involving the ATV youth programs team, Inlivian, Chef Geo of Urban Sauce Connection, and Food Lion. The event provided hands-on experience to young participants, information on food storage, the health benefits of food, and an overview of job opportunities in the culinary arts.
Dr. Raquishela Stewart, Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services, shared that the event's purpose was to help young people understand the various opportunities available to them. The goal is to make this a regular type of event, focusing on different communities in Charlotte and introducing multiple career options that young people may have yet to consider. This particular event focused on the Culinary Arts field, which offers various opportunities, such as being a private chef, a kitchen manager, or a food truck owner, with the potential to earn up to $100,000 annually. It also taught students valuable lessons around teamwork and patience.
The event's success was made possible by the support of partners such as Inlivian, Urban Sauce Connection, and Food Lion. Inlivian provided the space and kitchen for the event, while Food Lion contributed to the purchase of ingredients. Chef Geo's expertise and passion for cooking were evident throughout the day, inspiring the young participants to explore their culinary interests.
Chris Campbell from Inlivian emphasized the importance of events like this for young people. "Many kids just don't know the different opportunities that may be out there,” he said. “An interest in cooking could lead to a career in the culinary arts, and many people have had a lot of success in that field in Charlotte. It gives kids that realistic path and perspective on this, which can be something I can do and enjoy."
Chris also shared that his favorite part of the day was when young people wore a chef's coat. He saw their demeanor change and excitement as they took a photo in their new coat.
In the kitchen, Chef Geo taught the young chefs about the health benefits of various vegetables and toppings. While some young chefs stuck to traditional pepperoni pizza, others experimented with BBQ chicken and colorful veggie pizzas.
He also shared how he discovered his passion for culinary arts at a young age.
“Food is the universal language,” Chef Geo said. “When you start teaching ‘food language’, you start helping everybody communicate inside the community. It helped me start communicating at a young age. Food brings everybody together, [in] good times or bad.”