Prospect KC earns $10K grant from Jacques Pépin Foundation as Gumbo Fest set to return

A newly announced grant will be pivotal to advance The Prospect KC’s mission to empower lives, disrupt poverty, and cultivate community through culinary education, said chef and founder Shanita McAfee-Bryant.

The $10,000 grant from The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) is one of 16 recently awarded to organizations that use culinary arts to enhance lives and strengthen communities.

Shanita McAfee-Bryant, The Prospect KC; photo by Phon Wills

“At The Prospect KC, we believe in the transformative power of food — not just as a necessity, but as a tool for building skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful careers in the food industry,” said McAfee-Bryant, who also serves as The Prospect KC’s executive director. “The Jacques Pépin Foundation’s commitment to enriching lives through culinary education aligns perfectly with our vision, and this partnership strengthens our ability to serve individuals seeking a fresh start. Together, we are not just teaching cooking techniques but creating opportunities for growth, connection, and long-term success.”

Modeled as a high-impact solution to hunger, homelessness, and poverty, McAfee-Bryant’s non-profit was founded in 2019 and serves Kansas City’s east side. Its mission is to create lasting change through programs designed to address food access, nutrition education and culinary job training. 

ICYMI: Prospect KC finds new home for its fight against food apartheid; culinary training moves to The Paseo

The Prospect KC plans to serve 150 women, 215 youth, 80 unhoused and 150 housed but impoverished students — and at least a million meals — by the end of 2025. In addition to the $10,000 grant, The Prospect KC will receive JPF-branded aprons for their students and a group membership to the Foundation.

The funding comes as The Prospect KC plans for the return of its popular Gumbo Fest event, which was rescheduled from the fall to April 26.

The celebration brings together food lovers, local chefs, and businesses for a day of gumbo, live music and fun. Culinary teams compete with their own recipes for gumbo, hoping to earn enough votes from attendees to win best gumbo honors.

The Prospect KC’s own student team won the title at the most recent event in 2023.

From the archives: This gumbo hits The Spot: How Prospect KC’s own students cooked up a prize-winning competition entry

Click here to get tickets or learn how to join the competition or sponsor the event.

 

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Founded in 2016 by the Pépin family, the JPF empowers and inspires professional chefs, home cooks, and community kitchens nationwide by sharing chef Jacques Pépin’s legacy of culinary education. In 2019, the JPF became a grant-making organization, and in the last five years the Foundation has given over $1.6 million to more than 70 different non-profit, community-based, culinary arts training programs that offer life skills and culinary training to individuals with barriers to employment.

The JPF mission and vision are rooted firmly in the belief that culinary skills training leads to increased self-confidence, better health, and employment and career opportunities.

“The JPF’s mission is realized in part by supporting programs that create opportunities through culinary training, and giving grants to these important, impressive, local organizations,” said Rollie Wesen, executive director of the JPF. “The Prospect KC has programs that are designed to address the root causes of generational poverty and help serve the men, women and youth in their community. Their Workforce Development Initiative provides pre-apprenticeship training, hands-on apprenticeships and gainful employment opportunities, building a strong foundation and support system for every student.”

“We are proud to support the efforts of Chef Shanita and her team as they continue to transform the greater KC area and open up culinary industry jobs for more of their participants,” Wesen added.