02/16/2026
The Impact Culinary Community mourns the loss of Marcus Hawkins, a student from Impact’s first ever cohort. Marcus passed peacefully on January 23rd of 2026. He was a leader inside and outside of the kitchen and always brought a smile to the faces of his peers. He came back as a volunteer to teach the next cohort and completed his internship at Frontera Restaurant. Our deepest condolences to Marcus’s family and friends. This article from 2019 highlighted Marcus in a lovely way: https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/07/01/vegan-fast-food-on-the-west-side-after-bayless-training-program-future-chef-wants-to-make-it-happen/