Community Engagement 

The Anacostia culinary arts center is an entrepreneurial and community hub for local businesses and entrepreneurs.  The center will create local commerce, a culinary ecosystem and flexible public spaces.  The areas will be accessible year-round for local residents and surrounding neighborhoods.   

All of the Anacostia Culinary Art Centers concepts  will offer employment opportunities to the community at sustainable wages. With jobs readily available within the center, and money being able to be spent within the community. As more money flows through the community, more money will also come back to the center as the community utilizes the classes, restaurants, and potentially starting their own small culinary business within the kitchen incubator.  

ACAC will take you on a culinary tour of diverse regions throughout the world. Using a constructivist approach in teaching through hands-on product creation opportunities, in person discussions and classes with international and James Beard awarded chefs, successful food entrepreneurs, food bloggers and more will provide the needed exposure and inspiration to our staff, students and local community. ACAC will  act as a catalyst for building resilience, finding renewed purpose, and forging connections for emerging food concepts in ward 8 through education, providing amenities that this community needs which in turn instills pride and bolsters work ethic.

Having a culinary center in Anacostia will elevate and enhance our community and expand food culture and food tourism in Washington, DC.  Our community is hungry for dining venues. The food and hospitality industry is in need of locally grown and trained professionals. We have all the ingredients­—right here, right now—to create a recipe for success in Anacostia.