Meet Chef Shanita McAfee
Award Winning Chef
Executive Director & Founder
Hello!Chef Shanita McAfee is a Kansas City–born chef, social entrepreneur, and founder of The Prospect KC. She built the organization out of her lived experience in kitchens and communities where talent was abundant, but opportunity was not. After years in professional kitchens, owning her own restaurant, and competing on Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” she turned her focus from individual success to collective impact.
In 2019, Chef Shanita launched The Prospect KC to confront food apartheid and create real pathways to stability on Kansas City’s Eastside. Her model connects restaurant-quality food, hands-on culinary job training, and wraparound support so every meal served is also an investment in someone’s future. At the core of her leadership is a simple commitment: lead with dignity, demand excellence, and make sure the people most affected by inequity are at the center of the solutions.
“Food is my tool, but dignity is my non‑negotiable.” - Chef Shanita
Our Core Values
Every decision we make is shaped by a clear sense of purpose. Our journey has been anything but ordinary. Through every step, we've focused on staying true to our values and making space for thoughtful, lasting work.
Accountability: We drive impact, work in collaboration, and deliver meaningful outcomes with honesty, fairness, and transparency.
Generosity: We believe in being open, patient, accepting, respectful, and giving without expectation.
Access: Getting the individual and family access. Socioeconomic state should not determine access to food.
Empower: Safe and affirming environment to foster security, innovation, and growth.
Community: We nurture connections that lead to sustainable and impactful change.
