Impact Culinary Training

The Impact Culinary Community mourns the loss of Marcus Hawkins, a student from Impact’s first ever cohort. Marcus passed peacefully on January 23rd of 2026. He was a leader inside and outside of the kitchen and always brought a smile to the faces of his peers. He came back as a volunteer to teach the next cohort and completed his internship at Frontera Restaurant. Our deepest condolences to Marcus’s family and friends. This article from 2019 highlighted Marcus in a lovely way: https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/07/01/vegan-fast-food-on-the-west-side-after-bayless-training-program-future-chef-wants-to-make-it-happen/

Grateful to catch up with our alumni and hear about their career ascension. It’s a privilege to witness their lives blossom!
Thank you to partners like whose support help make our internships and program possible.

Gathering together at , we know that food is more than essential- it's love, community, and connection. It's incredible to watch our alumni grow over the last few years. We're so proud of them and so grateful to the mentors who help support their journey.

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Wow! What an incredible evening we had at the ! We are absolutely thrilled and filled with immense gratitude for each and every one of you who joined us and made this event such a phenomenal success. Your presence and generous contributions have truly made a significant impact, and we couldn't have done it without your support. We are beyond excited for what's to come, and we look forward to seeing you at our future events! Thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts! 🎉✨
all photos shot by

Thank you to everyone who came out to , we had an incredible time celebrating community with great drinks, amazing food, and the best company!
all photos shot by Robins Foto. (https://www.robinsfoto.com/ )

Cohort 8 alum Wendy is still going strong at ! We love getting the chance to reconnect with our alumni when we stop by some of our favorite Chicago restaurants.