GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) announced that this year's Culinary Apprenticeship Dinner will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 5:30pm at Barrington House, 246 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington.

 

A celebration of the accomplishments of local youth, this special event features a five-course meal prepared by young participants in the Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program, the awarding of the Railroad Street Youth Student Empowerment (RYSE) Scholarship, and honoring Melissa Mae, the long- serving past President of RSYP's Board of Directors.

 

Created by and for South County youth in 2000 during a crisis of opioid-related deaths among their peers, RSYP has steadily grown from a small, grassroots organization into the region's leading authority on youth empowerment. Its services and programs have evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of local young people, stated a press release.

 

The annual Culinary Dinner is the culmination of RSYP's signature Apprenticeship Program, launched in 2006 as a response to growing interest in the culinary field among the community's young people.

 

Through eight-week apprenticeships led by local professional chefs, youth are empowered to gain real- world work experiences that increase their skills in teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication. The annual dinner is the culmination of the program, allowing apprentices to use the skills that they learned to create the meal under the guidance of No. 10 Steakhouse Chef Zee Vassos, who has been working in various capacities with RSYP since 2013 and has been the lead mentor chef for

the Culinary Arts Apprenticeship program since 2019. 

 

"Each student gets something different from the program," said Vassos. "That's what I really love about it." 

 

The 2026 event also recognizes Berdy Cheramy, the recipient of the 2025 RYSE Scholarship. This $20,000 annual scholarship is awarded as part of the Railroad Street Youth Student Empowerment (RYSE) Program, which provides an opportunity for students to explore their options after high school in a safe and supportive space. The scholarship may be used over the next four years to assist with tuition at a state or private college or university, a community college or vocational school, a focused curriculum for

a gap year, or any GED program.

 

The evening will also offer an opportunity to honor Melissa Mae in recognition of her dedicated support of young people in the Berkshires. A Berkshires native, Melissa has served as a member of RSYP's Board of Directors for over ten years, and is the co-founder of EvoQue Investments, an investment firm focused on connecting financial planning with personal values.