Third-year student Alexa Settel is driven by empathy and initiative. So much so that this Commerce student from Scottsdale, AZ, who is currently studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, has already launched and developed her own nonprofit.
Smiles & Spatulas, a thriving community service organization, has been growing as Settel leverages her concern for bettering her community and her passion for cooking to foster inclusiveness for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental and intellectual disabilities. In speaking with her, one can sense the authentic care she has for those she’s reached, demonstrating the true power of social impact and the entrepreneurial ambition and tenacity that are making it happen.
Settel’s foray into supporting people with intellectual disabilities began with an unexpected opportunity she found in her hometown. At GiGi’s Playhouse, an organization with centers focused on Down syndrome achievement, the then 16-year-old high schooler stumbled upon the type of volunteer opportunity she was seeking. Though she was unfamiliar with the center, she was determined to contribute meaningfully to her community despite facing the challenges of the pandemic and the changing conditions that came with the outbreak.
“I had a mask on, and the lady working there gave me a quick tour,” she recalls. “I thought that their mission sounded awesome, and she said I could be part of their youth board. I started getting involved by helping with fundraising efforts remotely.”
Her experience at GiGi’s was transformative, fueling her passion for community engagement and leading her to spearhead efforts such as the GiGi Fit program, a health and wellness initiative focused on fitness for center participants. Her commitment provided firsthand insight into the benefits such programs could bring to communities lacking similar resources.
She soon recognized such a gap in Charlottesville.
A Great Idea for Good
When Settel arrived at UVA, she felt compelled to act, hearing repeatedly from local families that there was little in the way of meaningful engagement and activities for their developmentally affected adult children. Though Settel was new to Central Virginia, her determination and vision catalyzed the creation of Smiles & Spatulas.
With an interest in health and a love of cooking, she decided to start a program focused on those areas. By chance, she learned that UVA’s Jefferson Trust offered flash grants, and her bold application emphasized her conviction, outlining her plans to run cooking sessions free of charge. “I didn’t really tell anyone about this idea. I just wrote up an application,” Settel explains. Securing $3,400 from the grant, she set up the program by allocating funds for renting space, purchasing utensils, and securing ingredients.
Smiles & Spatulas now runs cooking sessions one Sunday per month. Participants, assisted by a few handfuls of volunteers taken from a growing list of 200 enthusiastic UVA student students, engage in developing culinary skills, which incorporates lessons in math, communication, nutrition, and kitchen safety. The holistic approach addresses physical well-being and socio-emotional development, as participants gain confidence and capabilities.
The impact of Smiles & Spatulas has reverberated throughout the community. Volunteer testimonials highlight transformational experiences, mirroring Settel’s original inspirational spark.
A volunteer shared, “Smiles & Spatulas has helped me realize how important it is as a student to get involved in the community.” Another volunteer described the unique joy of witnessing “participants using their unique set of skills and gifts as a source of strength,” highlighting the shared commitment to fostering inclusive spaces and experiences that benefit both volunteers and participants alike.
Although Smiles & Spatulas was conceived before she began her coursework at the Comm School, Settel sees how her initiative encapsulates the McIntire’s ethos of “commerce for the common good,” a concept that harmonizes with her personal mission. “McIntire really helped me achieve my goals of spreading impact,” the Marketing and Management concentrator notes, acknowledging how her academic journey has refined her skills in business strategy with a focus on ethical considerations and community enrichment.
Planning for a Hopeful Future
Settel’s efforts have established the groundwork for sustainable growth. She created an executive board of peer UVA students, with two treasurers, a program lead and co-lead, a coordinator who oversees the ingredients and space for sessions, and a secretary who serves as a social media manager. She and her team are actively seeking to expand the program as much as possible without sacrificing the critical one-on-one mentoring dynamic. While her grant funding will conclude in May, Settel, undeterred, is exploring collaborations with other organizations, such as Special Olympics at UVA and Best Buddies, to fundraise and keep the program financially viable without burdening the families they aim to serve.
As she prepares for a strategy consulting internship with EY-Parthenon in Boston this summer, Settel remains dedicated to problem-solving and societal enrichment. She reflects on her drive to reconcile her two worlds: “There’s something about solving problems and figuring out unique ways to address them that connects.”
Settel remains determined to ensure that Smiles & Spatulas thrives beyond her tenure at the University. “I want this program to be able to stay and live on past me,” she emphasizes, underscoring that she’d like to see it become self-sustaining and continue to empower participants and volunteers alike long after her graduation.
