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PWN Wine & Words
September 7, 2022 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
PWN is proud to host a presentation by Dr. Evisha Ford, founder and Executive Director of the iCan Dream Center, an organization that serves students in the south suburbs of Chicago who are marginalized by neurodiversity, disabilities, trauma, and other learning challenges.
She will be discussing the book, “Spice & Spectrum: Recipes for Resilience”, by author and celebrity chef Jerome Brown. Chef Brown partnered with iCan Dream Center in the creation of the book, and is donating all proceeds to the organization.
“Spice & Spectrum” is a collection of Chef Jerome Brown’s most recent recipes broken into five sections that align with the iCan Dream Center mission – Dream, Restore, Empower, Amplify, and Mobilize. Throughout these sections, Dr. Evisha Ford shares the mission of the organization, stories of students navigating trauma, and the healing benefit of the organization’s culinary program.
Students with autism (neurodiversity) and disabilities are nearly twice as likely to be suspended or expelled from school than their non-disabled peers. What’s more, 35% of inmates in juvenile lockups have some form of neurodiversity (autism, ADHD, et. all) or other learning disability.
iCan Dream Center seeks to empower students with autism and other learning deficits with the skills needed to thrive in life, and to defy the statistics. Whether it is giving students opportunities to grow as student leaders, gaining vocational skills, self-advocacy and self-care skills like cooking, the organization works with students individually to thrive.
iCan Dream Center is a 501c3 nonprofit therapeutic school endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education who serves dozens of school districts throughout the suburbs of Chicago.
Proceeds from the book will help iCan Dream Center fund their own social enterprise that will help students practice their vocational skills in partnership with their social workers, instructors, and fellow classmates.
Chef Jerome Brown, who has championed the iCan Dream Center cause, has shared his passion for cuisine with a variety of A-list entertainers, dignitaries, and elite professional athletes such as President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, Shaquille O’Neal, the late Collin Powell, Priscilla Presley, Star Jones, Raymond Felton, Lamman Rucker, Carl Gustaf (King of Sweden), Byron Cage, Mike Bibby and more.
He was cast in the premiere season of the Food Network’s reality show “Extreme Chef,” and appeared in the United States Army series “I’ve Got Skills” that aired on ESPN. Throughout his journey, Chef Jerome Brown has always maintained a desire to help others and has given back to aspiring chefs and marginalized youth.
We hope you can join us for Dr. Evisha Ford’s presentation on her students’ involvement in Chef Jerome Brown’s book and the intersection of trauma, disability, and incarceration/school to prison pipeline.
PWN members can purchase copies directly through the I Can Dream Center and at Dunnings Market.
Pick up a copy of “Spice and Spectrum” here.
This is the link to the iCan Dream Center to read more about this great organization!
This will be an in-person event. We hope you can join us for this great evening and important discussion from an inspirational PWN member!
Members Free
Non-Members $10