Cooking Up Success: NHS Students Explore Entrepreneurship Through Chef Jeff’s Hustlepreneur Program

Seven students at Norwalk High School are learning what it truly takes to stay on the right path, choosing a legitimate route to becoming a “hustlepreneur.” Each student brings unique gifts and hard-earned traits that can’t always be taught in a traditional classroom, but are often developed through real-life adversity.

Rev. Roosevelt Ewell, pastor of Canaan Institutional Baptist Church, and Rev. Albert Ray Dancy, associate minister at Macedonia Church, are leading this small but determined group through the Hustlepreneur Mentality Youth Diversion Program. Created by award-winning Chef Jeff Henderson, the program is implemented through the PEN(itentiary) or Pencil Initiative and sponsored by the National Alliance of Faith & Justice.

This six-month entrepreneurship and mentoring intervention is rooted in the culinary arts. Norwalk High School marked the final school of this program cycle with Chef Jeff’s signature White Tablecloth Experience. During the culminating event, NHS students prepared an elegant three-course meal for distinguished guests, including Principal Dr. Lynne Moore, Assistant Principal Daniel Sullivan, B House School Counselor Michael Surace, and Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh.

“The goal of the POP Hustlepreneur Program is to teach young people a unique set of entrepreneurial skills that aren’t necessarily taught in a traditional business school,” Chef Jeff shared as guests sat down for the meal. “Many of those traits come from adverse lived experiences that are transferable to the workplace and to life.”

See how students brought the White Tablecloth Experience to life at Norwalk High.

Students took part in every step of the culinary process, from preparation to dishwashing. Working in teams or individually, they washed produce, sliced fruits and vegetables, seasoned roast chicken, and set tables and serving counters to create an authentic fine-dining experience.

As the meal was enjoyed, students engaged their guests in meaningful conversation, asking them how they achieved leadership roles, what inspired them to pursue their careers, and what lessons they learned along the way. In return, guests asked students about their own goals and what they have gained from the program to help them succeed.

“It’s not about the food,” Chef Jeff said. “It’s really about making sure these young people walk away with expertise and lived experiences, insights that our guests at the table have gained throughout their careers.”

Originally, Rev. Ewell and Rev. Dancy planned to work with young people already shown to be involved in the justice system, offering a diversion program to prevent further involvement. Instead, leveraging their strong relationship with the Norwalk High School administrative team, they identified students who would most benefit from early intervention and mentorship.

This year’s program is being run as a pilot, with the clergymen researching outcomes and evaluating its overall effectiveness. The program began in July and officially launched in the school in September.

“We want to create positive outcomes,” Rev. Ewell said. “Our goal is for students to build resilience, gain business and life skills, and learn how to become entrepreneurs.”

About Chef Jeff Henderson

Jeff Henderson started his culinary career in the unlikeliest of places: prison. While serving nearly ten years, he discovered an untapped passion for cooking, which led to executive chef positions at Bellagio and Caesars Palace.

His inspiring story has been featured on Oprah's Life Class, Good Morning America, Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, CNN, The Steve Harvey Show and in major publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, People Magazine, the Washington Post, and many others. He is an award-winning chef, a New York Times best-selling author, and an entrepreneur and motivational speaker.

When Jeff is not traveling the world teaching his life-changing lessons, he resides in Las Vegas with his wife Stacy and their five children.