College dishes up support for Erica’s Embrace

By Julie Greco

February 10, 2023

Culinary pop-ups held on February 2 raised funds for an alumna’s non-profit, Erica’s Embrace Support Services – as well as awareness in the College community and beyond.

Two same-day pop-ups in support of Erica’s Embrace were held in the Benchmark Room at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring food prepared by Culinary Management students. They raised $1,500 for Erica’s Embrace.

Erica’s Embrace was founded by Social Service Worker (2018) alumna Erica Williams. Through Erica’s Embrace, Williams and her team gather and distribute Black hair care and beauty products to women’s shelters across Southwestern Ontario. It is the only known service of this kind in the area. Her team has also expanded to Black advocacy within the Niagara region.

Williams, who attended the both pop-ups to help spread the word about Erica’s Embrace, was among two NC nominees who won a prestigious Premier’s Award from Colleges Ontario in late 2022.

Black History Month at NC

As the College marks Black History Month, Williams will speak to students, staff and faculty at an upcoming virtual event – In Conversation with Erica Williams – on February 21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

View Alumna and social justice worker Erica Williams headlines NC’s Black History Month celebrations.

Culinary events

Find out what’s next on the menu, and get the latest information about upcoming pop-ups, festivals and ticketed dining events at niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/culinaryservices/ or by visiting the NC Culinary Services Facebook page for more information about culinary pop-ups and academic signature events, including menus, links to purchase tickets, pricing and more.

Related media coverage

The Feb. 2 culinary pop-ups spread awareness beyond campus boundaries, with media coverage including a spot on the CHCH Evening News, articles in Niagara dailies and more. View media coverage below.