Alexis Aquino is the Executive Director and Executive Chef at the Brownsville Community Culinary Center (BCCC). He kickstarted his culinary journey by catering intimate gatherings and counseling young professionals on nutrition during his Columbia University days. Post-graduation, Alexis pursued advanced culinary training at the Institute of Culinary Education, earning his chef diploma with the highest honors. Establishing expertise in workforce development and culinary education, Alexis assumed the roles of Executive Chef and Curriculum Chair at FEDCAP's Career Design School, where he crafted a program empowering adults with disabilities to redefine their narratives through the transformative power of food. As the visionary leader of the Brownsville Community Culinary Center, Alexis is guiding the organization into a new era of programming that explores the transformative impact of culinary arts on social justice, economic mobility, and health equity.