Fusion Youth Initiative

VISION

The vision of the Fusion Youth Initiative (FYI) is to become an independent 501(c)3 organization with a reliable income stream of $50k per year through fundraising, events and endowment programs. FYI will live beyond the current founders, becoming a known resource for business owners seeking top young talent in the region; and an ally and source of information and best practices for the Food and Beverage and Hospitality industries.

MISSION

To build youth leaders (ages 16 to 20) in the region, and showcase career and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Food and Beverage and Hospitality industries.

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SKYE MCKNIGHT, Business Journal 40 Under Forty Awardee

"In the forty plus years that I have been in the restaurant business, I have worked with many great chefs and restaurant owners whom I have learned a lot from and admired.It has been my fortune to have come across such a talented and devoted individual who I feel will continue to carry my dreams and passion into the future.Not only is Skyler a self-driven individual, but I also recently learned from her mom that at a very young age, her dream was to become a chef and restaurant owner.To prove it, her mom presented to me a drawing that Skyler made at a tender age displaying her dreams.Since then, her determination and ambition has only grown.

Skyler came to work for me as a hostess, then worked her way up in less than three short years from server, dishwasher, line cook and now kitchen manager.Her road has been paved with hard work, tears and struggles.She has had college experience, unlike me, but like me, she holds strong values for education.That is why I wholeheartedly give my recommendation, because at her very young age of twenty-four, she has made it her goal to inspire, guide, motivate and take action, to reach out to our youth and put her community as part of her priority of self-growth."

—Jaime Joaquin
Co-Owner, Fusion Restaurant