Skip To Main Content

Home

Conflict Resolution Meets Culinary Arts

Conflict Resolution Meets Culinary Arts

North Charleston, SC – Things got "heated" during Daniel Jenkins Academy’s (DJA) last conflict resolution seminar. The program's Chief Executive Director and seminar facilitator, Sylvia Evans, introduced a unique, yet effective method of creating connections among students in ways that inspired communication, collaboration, and the creation of "flavorful outcomes.”

Students were grouped in pairs and tasked with preparing a three-course meal that consisted of a freshly prepared tossed salad, chicken and shrimp alfredo, steamed broccoli, and banana pudding for dessert. 

"Infusing culinary arts with conflict resolution was a deliberate decision that I hope would yield powerful outcomes for the students and create a memorable experience they would never forget,” said Evans. “It was more than even I could've imagined.”

Evans highlighted several goals and impacts of the initiative:

  1. Working together for a positive outcome - Many students come from environments where negative influences shape their decisions, often leading to poor outcomes. I wanted them to see that when they work together toward something positive, the results can be beneficial. The items selected for the meal were decided by the collaboration of the class.
  2. Building leadership and accountability - Each cooking station had a designated leader responsible for ensuring that everyone contributed and stayed focused. This built a culture of accountability and teamwork where students looked out for one another.
  3. Experiencing the power of a family meal - Several students shared that they had never prepared a meal for their family or experienced sitting down to eat together. This reality made it even more important to expose them to the emotional and social value of shared meals. 
  4. Reinforcing the importance of education - Cooking required the students to measure, follow recipes, read instructions, and use math skills - all essential life skills. This experience highlighted the real-world application of education, showing that without basic literacy, math, and comprehension skills, success is much harder to achieve.

“By integrating culinary arts with conflict resolution, I believe we are not just teaching students how to cook,’ added Evans. “This is a creative and innovative way of equipping students with the tools to navigate life successfully, build stronger relationships, and make better choices for their future. With the right tools and support, these students will not slip through the cracks.”

DJA students left the experience with positive memories, and a “taste” for more opportunities like this in the future.

“I enjoyed the fact that I was able to prepare foods that I had never cooked before, especially the shrimp alfredo,” explained freshman NyQuan Campbell. “I didn’t think I had the skills to do it. Now, I am willing to prepare this dish and more at home. My peers and I had a fun time; everyone respected each other, and the food was delicious.”

“What I enjoyed most about cooking and dining with my schoolmates was the sense of belonging,” Katredra “Kat” Cunningham, a sophomore, expressed. “Everyone was so nice and cheerful. There was so much laughter. We may not know each other well, but in that moment, we all got along and felt connected to one another. That to me, was most important.”

For more information, contact the school’s publicity representative, Tarikia White, at (843) 747-6609.

School Counselor Week
DJA's School Counseling Department:
Dr. Donna Huger, Director of School Counseling
 
What inspired you to become a school counselor and what do you love most about your role in a school?
 
Students are resilient; helping them realize just how resilient they are is the inspiration for the work we do. Working with students and witnessing breakthroughs, whether it’s passing a class, achieving college and career goals, learning to employ personal coping skills, and walking through life events with students are rewarding experiences.  
 
How do you support students in achieving their academic, personal, and college and/or career goals?
 
School Counselors work to remove barriers that impede and hinder students from gaining access to various learning environments. We work to establish genuine relationships where students feel welcome and comfortable with sharing their dreams and aspirations. These supportive relationships contribute to helping students overcome barriers to achieve their goals.
 
What encouragement do you want to offer students and families to help them succeed?
 
The future is bright and filled with so many opportunities available to students to prepare for promising careers. We encourage you to utilize your School Counselors as a resource. No question is too big! If we don’t have the answer, we will do our best to help find the answer! There are no questions that are ever too small. We welcome them all.
 
I would like to extend my appreciation to all of my colleagues because the work we do requires a team effort!
HBCU Fair

The month of November was an active, enlightening, and motivating one for students at Daniel Jenkins Academy (DJA). On November 8, 2024, students attended “Destination HBCU,” an event hosted by Charleston County School District that spotlighted historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as well as provided students and other attendees the opportunity to speak with college and career representatives. Students also participated in trivia for prizes and were entertained by student performances.
“I really enjoyed the trivia and learning about all sorts of careers,” said DJA student Brendan Johnson. “I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in firefighting because I want to save lives and working three days per week while earning full-time pay is a bonus as well.”

That following week, students traveled to three universities: Coastal Carolina University, Francis Marion University, and South Carolina State University. For some of our students, this trip afforded them their first time ever visiting a post-
secondary institution. Students were excited to visit the various campuses, learn what majors are offered at each university, and learn a bit more about what college life has to offer. Another student, Tiana Ponder, marveled at the warm welcome and wide array of food options provided at Francis Marion.

“Our tour guide [at Francis Marion] made us feel welcome as soon as we stepped off the bus,” explained Ponder. “When we went to Claflin University, I enjoyed learning about their robotics program, and I felt a sense of belonging.”

Farmars Market

Daniel Jenkins Academy’s students and their families participated in a unique and special experience earlier this month - a local farmers market sponsored by Charleston County School District’s Department of Nutrition Services and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. 

Each student and one of their loved ones “shopped” for the freshest produce and homegrown grains. Limehouse Produce (located in North Charleston) provided white potatoes, sweet potatoes, collard greens, peaches, an assortment of peppers, and more. Marsh Hen Mill (located on Edisto Island) provided sea island red peas, unicorn cornmeal, heirloom yellow grits, and Carolina gold rice “middlins.”

The greatest takeaways from this event were increasing awareness about these local businesses to students and their families as well as encouraging them to consume unfamiliar, healthy, delicious, and local food options.

Recipes were provided to boost creativity and inspiration in the kitchen. 

Lunch and Learn

October's Lunch and Learn session - "Positive Vibes"

Conflict Resolution

During our Conflict Resolution seminars, Ms. Sylvia and DJA students, along with faculty and staff, discuss realistic challenges that our students face on a daily basis and coping skills to help them navigate and conquer those challenges. 

SEL Periodic Table

The Elements of Social Emotional Learning

BoatBuilders

DJA students are taking full advantage of LMS's boatbuilding program. Students are exploring maritime culture and acquiring a variety of technical and "soft" skills through this initiative! Kudos to Mr. Sam and his outstanding team!

GullahGeecheeBoard

We are PROUD of our Gullah Geechee Heritage!

Principal Middleton

Principals across the nation work diligently to provide the best education and leadership possible. This month, we celebrate and honor our incredible school principal for her visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student.

Thank you, Principal Middleton!

RCCG
RCCG - Spanish

News & Announcements

Upcoming Events

View Full Calendar

What I enjoy most about Daniel Jenkins Academy is that there is never a dull moment! Whether I am interacting with my fellow faculty and staff members or students and families, it's always an enlightening experience. 

Tarikia White, Restoration Specialist

 

 
"A winner is a dreamer who never gives up."
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela