"Dare to Dream" Journey to The Golden Conch Shell

Hello Everyone! Before jumping into the flowery vision statement that you are probably expecting, allow me to share a little about the Dreamer behind the vision. My name is Wilson McKnight; I am a disabled Veteran, Husband, and father of four (soon-to-be five) beautiful children. I am currently a behavioral support assistant at a high school in Houston, TX. I thoroughly enjoy the transformational work I do in this season of my life; by the same token, I understand my current assignment is indeed that- a seasonal one.  My passion (and long-term life assignment) is making souls happy through my gift of cooking. In 2018, I entered The Culinary Institute Lenotre in the pursuit of an Associate degree in Culinary Arts. Two years later, I graduated with my degree in hand, accompanied by an even greater dream in my heart.  

My dream is to create an establishment and build a foundation of trust through the hearts and stomachs of the people. My dream is to do this by way of starting up a food truck, specifically The Golden Conch Shell, and growing it into something bigger than myself. I ultimately want to grow my business into an open door of opportunities for not only me but for others pursuing their dreams with a similar background. It is my dream to do what I love and share it with everyone.

I have already obtained the business name, logo, business account, and other required documents (e.g. DBA, EIN). Now I am at the final step of the start-up process- FUNDING. I am currently saving my personal excess funds and hosting monthly catering events as an additional source of funding. As I continue this uphill climb, one takeaway I already have is- it will certainly take a village to bring this dream to life. I am requesting you be a part of my village and trust that your gift will not be in vain.  

In order to get this dream off the ground and running efficiently, I plan to strategically use donations to purchase necessary start-up items- ranging from equipment to actual food products. Once that is accomplished, I vow to use my platform to pay it forward and assist those that also have a dream that needs a village behind it.

I understand this will not be an overnight journey.  I also understand that even when I reach my funding goal, the real work is just beginning. It will require tenacity and dedication to keep the dream alive.  I can assure you I am no stranger to hard work; my diligence and relentless pursuit is unmatched. With all that being said, I am requesting you all join me and dare to dream with me on this journey to The Golden Conch Shell. Big or small- every gift counts!