Milwaukee is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, but also one of its most divided. Nearly 40% of residents are Black, yet health and wealth gaps remain among the worst in the country. Diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease strike Black families hardest—fueled by limited access to fresh food and an over-reliance on processed meals.
Sean Rush, founder of Modi Next and visionary behind Culinova Institute, believes the solution begins in the kitchen.
“Cooking isn’t just a job skill,” Rush says. “It’s a life skill. When you learn how to cook, you take control of your health, your mind, and your future.”
Atlanta Gave Him His Flight Path
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Rush saw firsthand how food insecurity shaped Black communities. But it was Atlanta that gave him the confidence to turn vision into reality. A proud Morehouse College alum, he credits the city’s entrepreneurial drive and unapologetic celebration of Black excellence with showing him what was possible.
In 2016 he launched Modi Next in Atlanta, sharpening his view of culinary arts as more than nourishment, but as workforce development, cultural preservation, and public health.
Bringing It Back Home
Now Rush is bringing that Atlanta-forged vision back to Milwaukee. Through his Garde Academy youth culinary program and the future opening of Culinova Institute in 2027, he is working to equip young people with food safety, nutrition, and cooking skills. Early pilots with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee have already trained students who showcased their talents in public events.
Rush calls cooking medicine, memory, and survival.
“Studies have shown that cooking reduces illness. Cooking reduces violence. Cooking builds community,” he says.
From Milwaukee to Atlanta and back again, his mission is clear: to change lives one skillet, one recipe, and one shared meal at a time.