Our vision is to create a future where every child, regardless of their circumstances, feels empowered to navigate their emotions and build a strong sense of self through the transformative power of food. We envision a world where Black children, especially those with incarcerated parents, have access to the tools they need to heal, grow, and succeed—cultivating not only culinary skills but also emotional intelligence, cultural pride, and a deep sense of belonging.
Emotional Culinary Experience
Exploring Emotions Through Cooking
We use food textures to help children express,understand, and manage their feelings, fostering emotional healing, self-confidence, and resilience. Through cultural connection, creativity, and community, we teach essential life skills, promote self-discovery, and inspire a sense of pride in their heritage, all while building a positive and supportive environment where children can thrive.
Nurturing Resilience
Through hands-on cooking activities and guided emotional exploration, we encourage children to develop resilience and coping mechanisms. Our program focuses on building emotional strength and fostering a positive relationship with food and self-expression.
Meet Gigi
Gigi, Phillis Dumas, is a DSW-C, and holds a MSW. She is the grandmother of 6 grandchildren. Gigi, like so many of the children who will attend these classes, experienced the sense of loneliness, loss, and stigma of having an incarcerated parent.
Gigi also experienced the feelings of anger, grief and shame and of not knowing how to regulate these feelings. Cooking has assisted her and provided her with an outlet to manage emotions and feelings.
Our Values
Expression
We believe that food is more than just nourishment; it’s a powerful tool for expressing
feelings. By exploring different food textures, children can learn to identify, express, and
manage their emotions in a safe and creative way.
Awareness
We use the sensory experience of touching, feeling, and tasting different food textures
to help children connect with their emotions, promoting emotional healing and self-
awareness.
Comfort
We provide a safe and non-judgmental environment where children feel comfortable
exploring their feelings, knowing they can express themselves through the textures of
food without fear of rejection.
Compassion
Through cooking, we encourage children to be mindful of the feelings and experiences
of others, while also developing empathy for themselves. Each texture offers a lesson in
patience, understanding, and self-compassion.
Discovery
We empower children to experiment with food textures to create their own culinary
experiences, allowing them to discover new ways to express their emotions and
creativity.