Amina Gillum-Brown
Chef-In-Training Alumni

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Generously Sponsored By: SFO Golf Tournament
Age, at time of Internship: 17
CIT Intern: 2019
Restaurant Host: Comal
Wraparound Program: Berkeley High School
Amina’s Story: Amina’s parents split up when she was young, and frequent moves coupled with coordinating between two different houses at a time meant life was often messy. While things can get tight living on a single income, Amina has always been supported by her family to explore her culinary interests. Amina’s initial interest in cooking started when her grandmother got her a toy kitchen as a child, and then carried into her high school years when she found the Chef-In-Training program in late 2018. Amina instantly felt that the Chef-In-Training program was the program for her, and jumped into her placement at Comal Berkeley with a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm that makes us proud to have her as one of our interns! In addition to being a full-time student at Berkeley High School and interning for Sprouts, Amina was awarded the Berkeley Mayor’s Award this spring, we are so proud of her and excited to see where she ends up attending college.
Future Goals: “I want to open the doors wider for my 3 younger siblings, and all the people following me so they know what’s truly possible no matter where you come from. My dreams are to complete college as a first-generation college student in my family, and possibly open a soul food restaurant in the Bay Area.”

TESTIMONIAL

“When I found the Chef-In-Training program, it seemed like it was meant to be. I knew I liked cooking, but I felt like before Sprouts I never had the chance to be in a real kitchen to see what it’s like. Sprouts gave me that opportunity for the first time.”