Under the banner of creativity, healing, and opportunity, ElevateWi is taking its mission to the kitchen this summer with the launch of the Culinary Kickstart Experience, the latest installment in its VI Creators Program.
Designed for young Virgin Islanders ages 8-18, the hands-on initiative is part of the studio’s broader mission to offer safe, inspiring spaces where youth can discover their potential and connect with purpose. With each new program, ElevateWi is expanding what that support can look like — whether it’s in a studio, behind a camera, or now, in the heart of a kitchen.
At the center of the experience is celebrated Virgin Islands chef Jucinto Durant, a Johnson & Wales graduate who brings global experience — from international kitchens to cruise ships— back home to inspire the next generation. Durant, who has long been passionate about creating programs that “ignite a spark” in young learners, said this is about more than food.
“If we give kids a place where their creativity can come alive, where they feel seen and supported, they’ll bring that energy into every part of their lives,” he said.
That belief is echoed by ElevateWi Founder Omar Ewen, whose own journey as a creative shaped the nonprofit’s mission. “Growing up, I didn’t have a space like this,” he said in a recent interview with the Source. “We built ElevateWi so young people wouldn’t have to go without one.”
Since its founding, ElevateWi has launched a range of youth-centered programs across the arts — from performance and filmmaking to audio engineering and now, culinary arts. Each experience is structured around developing technical skills but also confidence, voice, and emotional wellness. And for many participants, it becomes a gateway to new opportunities, meaningful mentorships, and a clearer sense of self.
For the Culinary Kickstart, ElevateWi is taking the program on the road, partnering with existing summer camps and youth organizations to host pop-up workshops around the territory. At each stop, Durant leads students through essential techniques, team challenges, and food-focused explorations that emphasize collaboration, cultural pride, and self-expression.
It’s a dynamic way to reach kids where they already are — and give them something they didn’t know they needed, Ewen said. Organizations can apply to host a session at vicreators.org, but with only five slots available this summer, the team hopes more partners will come on board in the future to expand access.
That community-based approach is intentional, Ewen said. “We know what’s happening in our neighborhoods. The violence, the isolation — it’s real. But if we can meet young people where they are, offer them another path, give them something that makes them feel like they matter? That can change everything.”
Ewan sees creative outlets as critical tools for prevention and healing, especially for youth navigating fractured systems and limited resources. He’s seen firsthand how a song, a script, or a perfectly plated dish can open the door to larger conversations about identity, ambition, and even mental health. “We are teaching skills but we’re also building connection,” he said. “This is arts and wellness. This is about saving lives.”
As the summer unfolds, ElevateWi continues to seek collaborators, donors, and community leaders willing to help scale their work. And with programs like the Culinary Kickstart Experience, they’re already cooking up what that future could look like – one young creator at a time.
