The first Black woman-owned culinary academy in the Southeast opened its doors in DeKalb County, marking a historic moment for Atlanta’s hospitality industry. Located at 1927 Lakeside Parkway in Tucker, the Culinary and Hospitality Enthusiast of the Future Academy (C.H.E.F.) celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Founded by chef Simone Byron and hospitality leader Adeola Sokunbi, this innovative academy aims to transform the lives of aspiring chefs through education and community building.
The academy has evolved from a summer community program into a comprehensive incubator and educational space. Its mission is to build hospitality careers for young people and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, continuing the work Byron began years ago.
A Legacy of Culinary Education and Community Empowerment
The C.H.E.F Academy functions as an extension of the Navigate Foundation, which Byron established in 2017. Navigate focuses on hospitality workforce development, specifically empowering youth from underrepresented communities to become professional chefs. The foundation has successfully graduated 200 students since its inception.
While maintaining the core values of the Navigate Foundation, the academy’s vision extends beyond youth development. Byron and Sokunbi designed the C.H.E.F Academy to welcome people of all ages and backgrounds. Their offerings range from specialized mixology classes to providing filming locations for creative projects.
Hands-On Training from Professional Chefs
Students at the academy receive comprehensive culinary education through practical, hands-on training sessions. Professional chefs teach essential skills including knife techniques, baking fundamentals, artistic plating, and diverse cooking methods across various cuisines.
“We have people who are training and doing classes on certain skills. We’re doing pasta-making classes. We’re doing pairing classes. There are classes for young people interested in baking a pastry from an after-school standpoint, where they can come in and do classes and earn certifications,” Byron explained. “Working with the ACF [American Culinary Foundation] to provide a space for those certification programs to happen is really important for us.”
Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Culinary Arts
For both founders, opening this groundbreaking academy carries deep personal significance tied to their family histories and cultural identities. Their achievement as the first Black women to own such an institution in the Southeast region reflects generations of culinary tradition.
Sokunbi connects the academy to her family’s culinary roots. “To have that thought of the first Black woman-owned in the Southeast, I just think about all the strong women in my family. My grandmother was a cook,” she shared. “I think the biggest thing within the hospitality space is that if you ask anyone you know who taught you how to cook, they often say it’s their mother, their grandmother. But often they’re not the ones that are necessarily making waves when it comes from an industry standpoint, and so to be that example is important.”
Building on Family Traditions in Hospitality
Byron considers the academy a continuation of her family’s deep-rooted hospitality legacy. Her connection to the culinary world extends back generations, giving special meaning to this latest achievement.
“For me, this is a family legacy. My great-grandfather was the executive chef for the Black Star Line, Marcus Garvey’s ship. Our whole family is geared and based in hospitality, so for me to be in the industry since I was 17, moved through several large organizations, and do this as an individual means a lot to me holistically,” Byron revealed.
The founders see the academy as more than just a business venture. “This is not necessarily a graduation; this is a birthing of something we don’t expect to be in this space. What this will serve in several communities is very inspiring for me,” added Byron.
To learn more information on ways to get involved with C.H.E.F Academy, visit The Navigate Foundation at thenavigateprogram.org or follow the academy on Instagram @chefacademyatl.
