EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — Nearly ten years after graduating from the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center, Janovian Williams has turned his passion for food into a mission-driven enterprise that’s feeding both stomachs and souls across the country.
A 2015 graduate of the center’s Culinary Arts program, Williams credits the training he received at Job Corps as the foundation for everything that came next. “That was my start,” he said. “It gave me the skills and the confidence to turn what I love into something bigger than myself.”
Building a Business and a Movement
After completing the program, Williams quickly found work in the dietary department of a nursing home in his hometown of Charleston, Missouri. It wasn’t long before residents and their families began asking for his food even after he left the job, a spark that led to the creation of his own catering business.
Word spread fast. Before long, Williams was cooking for community members, teachers, and local leaders and then, celebrities and diplomats. His talents even took him abroad, where he studied and worked alongside U.S. ambassadors. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with some incredible people,” he said, “but what means the most to me is being able to use what I’ve learned to give back.”
Giving Back Through the Janovian Williams Foundation
Named in honor of his family, the Janovian Williams Foundation is Williams’ nonprofit organization focused on supporting youth, families, and the homeless. A portion of his catering profits helps fund community meals and outreach programs in cities across the U.S., including Kansas City, Atlanta, Tampa, and Chicago.
“I built the foundation because I wanted to be the person I needed when I was younger,” Williams explained. “We give food to those in need, but we also give people a chance to serve, to connect, and to care for one another.”
Food as a Force for Community
Williams’ love for food runs deep, it’s rooted in the kitchen traditions of his grandmother and mother, who taught him the joy of feeding others. “Food brings people together,” he said. “No matter what’s going on in the world, you can always unite people around a warm meal.”
Though he’s operated from multiple cities, including Charleston and Kansas City, Williams remains grounded in community work. He hopes to one day open a community-based kitchen that serves as both a training ground and a gathering place. “When people book us for catering, they know they’re supporting something that stays right here, helping others,” he said.
From Excelsior Springs to Everywhere
For Excelsior Springs Job Corps, Williams’ journey is a living example of the power of opportunity. What began as a classroom lesson in culinary arts has evolved into a national story of perseverance, purpose, and passion.
“Every meal I make is a chance to connect,” Williams said. “Job Corps gave me the tools and I’ve been using them ever since.”
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