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How Charlotte's Culinary Connection is making a difference

Beginning during the pandemic as a way to feed children, Culinary Connection now provides more than just food. They also provide life skills.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The blessing of that warm meal might get lost in the bustle of the day.  For many kids across Charlotte, that warm meal isn’t always a guarantee. 

A few weeks back, WCNC Charlotte learned about the nonprofit Culinary Connections during one of our community listening sessions, a WCNC Charlotte effort to know the big issues in our neighborhoods and how we can help seek solutions. 

At Cuzzo’s Cuisine in northeast Charlotte,  meal preparation is underway.

"Cooking for me, it's kind of like a coping mechanism," Amina Maliki, a Culinary Connections student, said. "It just like calms me down." 

Maliki is 16 years old and has been part of the Culinary Connections cooking classes for a couple of months. The sessions are meant for kids in Charlotte’s underserved neighborhoods and offer various skills. 

Chef Andarrio Johnson is one of the program founders. The program launched amid the pandemic lockdowns when some kids lost access to meals they otherwise received at school. 

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"When the kids are out of school, we just feeding them for four or five days a week," Johnson recalled. 

Following the old proverb about teaching a man how to fish, he says the program eventually branched out into the lessons.

"If you receive, you got to give back and the communities take care of me," Johnson said. "I got to take care of my community."

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He says while many kids come away with a basic life skill and appreciation for nutrition, some students also have their “ahah” moment in the program.

"After high school, I want to go to culinary school and expand my business to different cities and things like that," Maliki said.

Until then, Maliki is already cooking professionally.

"It's called Mina’s Palette," Maliki said. "I cater. I do soul food and sweet treats as well like chocolate-covered pretzels, rice krispies, treats, things like that."

Maliki's success shows the program really is whipping up a recipe for success for these young culinary artists.

WCNC Charlotte in partnership with the TEGNA Foundation, the Parham Family Fund and Steel Skin Realty are proud to support Culinary Connections. All of us came together to present them with a $5,000 check.

Culinary Connection has an online wishlist. For those wishing to support the program, donations can be made online. 

Contact Vanessa Ruffes at vruffes@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com

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