Cassandria Campbell never imagined she’d end up running a restaurant and yet today, she is the co-founder of Fresh Food Generation – a farm-to-plate restaurant, food truck, and catering company serving nutrient-rich local foods to communities across Boston.
Her journey started in Boston as the daughter of immigrant parents. But it was Summer Search that first gave her a glimpse of the wider world.
“I remember distinctly when I first learned about Summer Search. My English teacher, Ms. Gonfa, paused us after class to tell us about the program. It sounded too good to be true. I knew there was a world outside of my neighborhood and I was eager to explore…I couldn’t imagine hiking for 30 days in the woods without showering or traveling to another country solo.”
At just 16 years old, Cassandria nervously applied and was accepted. That first step would change everything.
“My first trip outside of the country was with Summer Search. I traveled to Brazil for 6 weeks. I chose Brazil, because I wanted to learn Spanish. Yes, I quickly learned that I was mistaken. Brazil is one of the few countries in South America in which Spanish is not the primary language… It turned out to be one of the best, most beautiful mistakes I’ve made. Brazil has such a rich and free culture that helped shape how I view the world and what I strive for in community.”
Her Summer Search mentors stayed close, supporting her through college and even helping her land her first internship at Harvard Business School, where she worked as a research associate studying police shooter bias. “To date, it’s still one of the coolest things I’ve done,” she says.
That combination of travel, mentorship, and curiosity ultimately led Cassandria to MIT for a Master’s in City Planning, which ignited her passion for increasing food access in low-income neighborhoods and later to founding Fresh Food Generation in 2015. Today, the company which focuses on food equality and job creation employs 25 people and feeds more than 2,000 people every week.
For Cassandria, it’s more than a business—it’s deeply personal.
“Fresh Food Generation has become a journey into my Caribbean culture and a love letter to the Boston neighborhoods that I grew up in.”
And she hasn’t forgotten the kindness she received as a Summer Search student. “I often remember how kind the Summer Search staff were in helping me navigate life. I try to pass that kindness on to others at work.”
Cassandria is living proof of what happens when opportunity meets determination. Her leap of faith into the unknown as a 16 year old has grown into a life rich in community and a career that allows her to help thousands of others!