In Washington, DC, there has been lots of intense discussion about young people, guns, and personal responsibility. Too few of those with the loudest opinions know Terrence Barnes—but they should. Two years after being shot, this 2025 graduate of our Culinary Job Training program (CJT) commemorated that horrible day by choosing to give back and model a different path. But before he could do that, he needed to change himself.
Terrence joined DC Central Kitchen’s CJT program because he says he wasn’t making the right choices. He knew he was disappointing his mother and grandmothers. “It was heartbreaking seeing them like that,” says Terrence. “They could see the potential in you and then you just keep messing up. It’s like, no, you can’t keep doing it.”
That potential was also seen by his CJT classmates and instructors. Chosen as the graduate speaker of Class 170 in February of this year, he told his story of recovery from a gunshot wound that destroyed multiple internal organs. He recounted his memories of his mother urging him to choose another path. Even though he was ultimately named the recipient of The Sunshine Award, given to the student in each class who has maintained a positive attitude and inspired those around them, Terrence admittedly did not come to DC Central Kitchen in the most uplifting state.
At first, “I thought I was too good for the program,” says Terrence. “Being the youngest in the class, I had a chip on my shoulder. But quickly I realized how much I needed this experience. This program saved me. I could’ve been anywhere, doing anything, but I was here learning, growing, and finding myself. Stuff I needed to take the next step.”
He made that next step. Months following graduation, Terrence returned to sit down for an interview, where he told us, “I’m definitely glad I stuck it out. I ended up getting a job, I definitely turned my life around. Now I’m doing way more positive stuff in the neighborhood.”
“I look forward to going to work every day,” says Terrence about his position as a driver for Dreaming Out Loud, a partner nonprofit that supports disadvantaged farmers and creates sustainable access to healthy foods and entrepreneurial opportunities in Washington, DC. “I like that they have a similar mission as DC Central Kitchen, they promote healthy eating, give back to the community, make sure everybody eats. They have vegetables I’d never heard of like bok choy and rutabaga and stuff like that, it’s exposing people to different stuff. I’m giving back to the community, making sure everybody eats.”
Which brings us to the anniversary of the worst day of Terrence’s life. “April 3rd is a heartfelt day to me because that’s the day I got shot. It’s been two years since I got shot. I wanted to use that day as a, not a day [of] pain, but a day to give back.”
Terrence hatched a plan and brought it to his former culinary instructors. He wanted to spend the two-year anniversary of his shooting serving meals to homeless neighbors in his community. We were happy to provide meals, toiletries, and a flyer that helped explain why Terrence was there to help. “People were happy, people were excited to get food, it made me feel better because I’m doing something good.”
“I’m not scared to tell people [my story], but when they hear it, I got to prepare myself for how they will react. I just keep promoting a positive image because people do see it as a negative thing when I say I got shot. But if I’m doing this [outreach] because I got shot, you should see me as a positive person.”
Now Terrence is hoping to start his own youth-centered nonprofit, S.O.O.N. To Be Great (Something Out Of Nothing), and consulting with DC Central Kitchen about how to bring it to life. “I feel like all of us are going to be great eventually in our own way. And it’s just going to happen with time.”
One of the people that has seen Terrence take those steps toward greatness is his mother, who once cried out of a sense of worry. “I saw my mom cry on Thanksgiving when I was passing out turkeys. Like, nobody has to force me to do [the right thing]. She definitely sees a difference.”