“Before Corona, I was trying to start my own catering business,” said Hammon. “Food speaks to people through the heart. Through my cooking and baking, I show people how I feel and make people feel better by eating good food.” In his spare time, in addition to cooking and baking, Hammon plays baseball, with third base his favorite position, likes to write and sing and has an affinity for reading horror novels. Hammon attests that he’s not always been a great leader, saying in middle school he was often argumentative and unwilling to listen to others. His mentor Darren, an engineer with whom Hammon connected through local organization Class Matters, talked with Hammon privately, a lesson Hammon took to heart as he now mentors others, about how his actions were affecting those around him and how he could instead use that same energy for good. “He taught me how to be a leader, how to resolve conflict with others and how to get others on task,” said Hammon. “After learning all that, I’ve been in situations to show what I’ve learned to others. I’ve had hardships and I’ve had to earn my leadership skills.”
Now Hammon relishes opportunities to show younger students, perhaps future interns, around Restore OKC. Hammon credits Darren, all the staff at Restore OKC and teachers throughout his educational career with shaping him into the young man he is now, as well as his family, including his mom and stepdad and four siblings. The sophomore hopes to one day attend college to major in hotel and restaurant management so he can work his way up the ladder in the culinary industry, but says it’s unlikely he’ll be able to go to college right out of high school. Instead he’ll need to get a job first to earn enough money to pay for college. Miller says that’s an issue for many of their interns, and the reason Restore OKC is working with nearby colleges and universities to try to establish full scholarship guarantees for their interns. “These are amazing kids but a lot of them have a barrier [to attend college] without financial assistance,” said Miller. “Most of them say if they don’t get a full ride, they won’t be able to go.”
KEYMONTI HAMMON WORKS IN RESTORE FARMS' GREENHOUSE.
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44 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / OCTOBER 2020
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