BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Englewood, New Jersey — Dion Cucuta of Englewood has led stellar careers in three distinct fields: the military, culinary arts and community service. Now, the father of eight has brilliantly managed to hone skills from each of these arenas to create a mentoring program for children and teens in the city and surrounding areas. Called the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, it’s a holistic organization that promotes community engagement, mentoring and spiritual growth. In 2014, the group was granted nonprofit status.
Back in 1977, Cucuta attended Johnson & Wales University with the Department of the Navy and was assigned to the Second Marine Division, Special Forces. He served on the USS Kennedy aircraft carrier, where he cooked for up to 7,000 hungry Marines.
In 1981, during his second tour of duty, Cucuta was injured while on a patrol mission in Japan. On Sept. 30, 1983, he was honorably discharged from the Marines, after which he began working as a chef in top restaurants in New Jersey and New York. At the Park Avenue Cafe, a four-star restaurant, he worked alongside celebrity chef David Burke.
Cucuta now serves as the president of the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, or DCVYP. He says that their mission is “to provide our youth with a community of male and female role models who listen, accept and encourage them to become good men and women. We give boys and girls the opportunity to make conscious choices about what kind of men and women they want to become. We offer hope, support and guidance on their path to adulthood.”
Stephanie Cucuta, Dion’s wife, also plays a central role in the program. Besides leading workshops and working one-on-one with students, she is a role model for young women. Stephanie is a volunteer and mentor for Catholic Big Brother/Sisters and she has headed a mentoring program at A Better Bronx For Youth, a nonprofit organization based in the South Bronx, N.Y. She was also a mentor at Citibank, where she has been employed for over 20 years as an executive assistant.
The DCVYP holds three main workshops on a regular basis: “Man Up,” “No Boys Allowed” (led by Stephanie) and “Culinary Cadets.”
According to Dion Cucuta, “The goal of these programs is to develop young men and women who understand the importance of positive and critical thinking, responsible personal conduct, respect for self and others, educational achievement and cultural enrichment.”
“Man Up” is a boys-to-men leadership development program that is designed to teach, train and mentor young male adolescents from Englewood and the surrounding communities. “No Boys Allowed” is a program with similar goals for girls.
The “Culinary Cadets” program instructs students in the art of cooking. These classes are held in the cafeteria of the Janis E. Dismus School and the kitchen of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Culinary cadets learn to cook, calculate measurements and work together as a team to develop new skills and time management.
The Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program also includes two workshops, “Together We Serve” and “Career Day.” In “Together We Serve,” military professionals and non-profits come together to give back through workshops, mentoring and other activities with youth and others. During “Career Day,” professionals from all walks of life explain the requirements of career growth and the importance of education.
A day of education and inspiration
On Feb. 17, a three-hour Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program was held at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church. After a welcome from Pastor Eddie Spencer IV, Dion and Stephanie Cucuta and five facilitators supervised a group of 14 boys and girls ages 7 through 17.
The day’s agenda began with a workshop in which the students finished working on posters that they had been making. Each student had been asked to create a collage honoring a famous black person. Among the figures that the youngsters chose were Malcolm X, Whoopi Goldberg, Prince, Michael Jackson, Harriet Tubman and Janet Jackson.
At noon, special guest speaker Jason Juxon-Smith gave a presentation on Black History Month. Smith has a psychology degree from Kean University and is vice president of the Urban League for Bergen County Young Professionals.
Rather than a lecture, Smith led a lively interactive discussion that began with students tossing a football to each other. After catching the ball, each student recited his/her name and school grade. Anyone who “dropped the ball” had to state a fact about Black History Month.
Smith asked each student why black history is important and he interspersed facts with questions. A dozen parents were also at the program, and they eagerly joined in the discussion. Their comments gave the youngsters an eye-opening perspective on how different black community life was 50 years ago compared to today.
In the course of an hour, Smith related a wealth of information in a lively and entertaining format. He continually stressed the importance of respect, accountability and higher education. He also encouraged everyone to do volunteer work to help other members of the community and to use their vote to implement changes that are needed in society.
Smith’s takeaway and challenge was, “What can I do to improve the quality of life now?”
After the presentation, everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch and an array of baked desserts, many of which were made by parents of students in the youth program.
The final activity of the day was the presentation of the posters. Each student held up his or her poster and explained why the person in it was chosen.
At the conclusion of the day’s program, students as well as parents said that they are looking forward to upcoming events of the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program.
PHOTOS BY HILLARY VIDERS
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