Kurt Evans

At a Glance - The work is tied to civic action: Evans uses food to open conversations and to push policy and organizational change around mass incarceration in America. He has said, “I have experienced mass incarceration through friends and family members.” - The table is treated as a site for inclusion, not just service. Evans has said, “For me, it’s about getting different people to the table, that’s the only way to achieve inclusivity – and food is the driver, the thing that brings people together.” - Visibility has mattered in the path to leadership. Evans has said, “I hadn't seen anyone that looked like me at that level,” a line that points to both the barriers he has seen and the weight of representation for those coming up behind him.

Signature

Kurt’s signature dishes include End Mass Incarceration and Black Dragon Takeout. The names carry the split that defines the kitchen: one dish names the advocacy directly, the other works through the force of flavor and recall. Together, they show how Evans uses the plate as both craft and message, making food that is built to feed and to register.

In Their Words “For me, it’s about getting different people to the table, that’s the only way to achieve inclusivity – and food is the driver, the thing that brings people together.” “I have experienced mass incarceration through friends and family members.”