“New” Pawtucket Culinary Arts Initiative

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation has agreed to be a founding member and supporting organization of a “new” Pawtucket Culinary Arts Initiative. The mission of the Initiative is to empower Pawtucket to become a creative center for vegan, vegetarian, and macrobiotic culinary arts.

The co-chairs are Paul Kazarian, formerly of Japonica Street, and current Pawtucket resident Richard Kazarian. Paul Kazarian previously worked with Richard Kazarian's father, Richard "Dick" Kazarian, on the Model Cities Program in Pawtucket during the 1960s and 1970s. Interviews are currently underway for other high value-add Initiative board members with a global perspective.

Paul Kazarian commented:

"Much like my parents who immigrated to Pawtucket in 1921, a creative culinary arts center will capture the pioneering spirit of the city."

Richard Kazarian commented:

"Pawtucket is an ideal location for healthy culinary arts, as the City already has several similar creative initiatives, including Hope Artiste Village, Pawtucket Arts Festival, Slater Mill and Wintertime Farmers Markets, the Gamm Theater, and Foundry Artists Show.”

The Initiative envisions the building blocks to include approximately a dozen vegan, vegetarian, and macrobiotic restaurants; state of the art culinary classes and educational facilities; health food grocery stores, as well as compatible retail stores. The Initiative will also support daily on-site musical and theatrical events. Initiative co-chairs are currently assessing several best-fit locations.

The City of Pawtucket, one of Rhode Island’s largest cities, is known as a center for arts and culture. Even the New York Times has taken note of this hidden gem—calling it an “Artistic Enclave”— and has commended the city's efforts to attract artists. The 2008 documentary Pawtucket Rising also chronicled the influx of artists and cultural activities into what were previously blighted areas of the city.

The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation is a private operating foundation established in 1998. The Foundation seeks to empower great aspirations in the whole human family, and focuses on global economic development, education, and healthcare initiatives. The Foundation’s mission is guided by two principles: (1) the knowledge contained in “New Philanthropy Benchmarking: Wisdom for the Passionate”, especially the principle that the social sector can achieve transformative change by cultivating intense positive competition among its stakeholders, and (2) that a society is best judged by its success in empowering the most disadvantaged, especially those with disabilities.

Those interested in learning more, or in supporting this Initiative may contact The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation, 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC: pk@kazarianfoundation.org