Justin Walker, a dynamic community leader and farmer, recently shared his remarkable journey, one deeply rooted in the power of food, community, and an unwavering commitment to cultivating positive change. His path, winding from the seafood houses of coastal North Carolina to the fertile ground of community building in Durham, illustrates a life dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs of others.
Justin’s connection to food began in childhood, shaped by the hands of his grandparents, mother, and great aunts. “All of the origin of me, as it relates to food, both prepared and grown… came from my grandparents, my mom, great aunts, and other elders who are no longer here on this plane,” he explained. Memories of shelling butter beans and cowpeas, and the visceral experience of preparing chickens from scratch at a young age, ingrained in him the profound value of food and its place in community. His first foray into the professional culinary world began at age 14, working in Calabash seafood houses. Growing up in Sunset Beach, with Calabash as his backyard and Ocean Isle Beach his front, these early experiences were foundational. He watched and learned from older women who took him under their wing. This early exposure solidified his desire to cook, a passion that continued through college breaks, and the realization that preparing food for others was his “love language.”
While his culinary skills were blossoming, Justin’s academic journey took an unexpected route. His college enrollment was a result of his mother’s intervention, a pivotal moment that redirected him from a path of involvement in crime. He recounts a dramatic moment when his mother’s ultimatum forced him to reroute his priorities. Even a brief consideration of joining the military was met with surprising discouragement from recruiters, who seemed to sense his independent spirit. Walker studied public relations and broadcasting at UNC Pembroke, finding a new sense of purpose in public relations. “I got excited when I found PR because they gave me a better idea of how to frame information,” he shared, envisioning how he could apply these skills to uplift his community through legitimate business ventures persuading friends away from illegal activities…